1 Samuel Chapter 14 - Fear versus Faith

1 Samuel Chapter 14 - Fear versus Faith

v1-5: Stalemate

Saul, Jonathan and their soldiers (probably less than 1500) were camped at Gibeah (near to Giba), while the Philistines were camped at Michmash. These two camps were divided by a gorge with rocky cliffs. 

Not all the Philistines soldiers were there for 3 companies have marched out to attack different parts of Israel (1 Sam 13:17). However, in order to attach each other, you would have to climb up the cliffs and you will become a sitting duck from arrows.  At this point, there's a stalemate between the two sides.   

Saul has the priests and the ephod, wear he can seek for God's direction. But he did not do so. Perhaps he does not want to accept God's answers, especially being fearful if God says to attack.

v6-15: Jonathan's Fearless Decision

Jonathan decided to do a solo attack (with his armor bearer) without informing his father or anyone. Was this due to a young man's impulsive behavior or has this been thought (or prayed) through? 

One possibility was that he intended to break the stalemate and, more importantly, to rob the Philistines of their superior weapons. Recall 1 Sam 13:22 where it said "So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them."  The Philistines have learned how to make swords and spears with iron, while the Israelites were still using farm tools like plowshares, mattocks, axe and sickle. If Jonathan can defeat them, then the Israelites can help themselves to these weapons and even the chariots. 

That may be Jonathan's plan, but unlike his father, he relied on God's divine help for his success. He said to his armor-bearer: "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” (v6)

Jonathan knows the risk of being shot down while going up the cliff. He asked for a sign from God. He asked God that the Philistines will give him an invitation. And that's what he got for they told him: "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” (v12) It meant they will not kill him on the way up.

Jonathan must have been a highly skilled swords man. He and his armor-bearer killed 20 men in their first strike. God brought panic to the camp by creating an earthquake and the rest of the men ran away.

Saul and his soldiers can see the commotion from the other side. Then he realized that Jonathan was missing. Saul asked the priests to bring the Ark of God to him, presumably to ask God for direction. However, when he saw the Philistines running away, he decided he doesn't need God's answer and began to join the battle. 

There were Hebrews among the Philistines, which meant that these may be Israelites defectors. However, when they saw that the Philistines are losing, they turn against them as well. This may have caused the Philistines to become confused and kill each other.  Those soldiers in hiding also joint the fight against the Philistines, and chased them beyond Beth-aven. 

v24-46: Saul's Foolish Decree

After several hours of fighting, Saul's army became tired and hungry. However, Saul wants them to continue their pursuit and would not let them rest, by casting a curse on anyone who eats anything, until the evening and when he is avenged. This means they would be punishable by death. This was a thoughtless and self-centered decision.

However, Jonathan was not aware of this decree. When he saw honey in the woods, he refreshed himself with it, before another soldier told him about the instruction. Jonathan made a sensible comment: "How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.” (v30)

By the time the Israelites chased the enemy to Aijalon (15 miles away), they were so famished and weak that they slaughtered the sheep and oxen and ate them together with their blood. It is a major sin for Israelites to drink blood. Saul instructed them to bring the animals to a central location to be slaughtered and cooked. Saul also build the first altar to the Lord. 

Saul asked God if he should go after the Philistines through the night and if God will let him win. However God did not answer him. He suspected someone has broken his vow and ate something before the evening. Using lots (Urim and Thummim), it was found that Jonathan was the "guilty" one. 

Saul showed that he has no mercy, by pronouncing that Jonathan must die. However, the Israelites protected Jonathan, saying that Jonathan was the one who brought salvation to Israel and was working with God that day. Jonathan was thus saved. 

v47-52: Saul's Other Battles

For a season, Saul had many victories against Israel's enemies, including the Moab, Ammonites, Edom, Zobah, Philistines and the Amalekites. Saul had very good commanders and protected himself among strong men during the battles. Though he had won many battles and was considered a hero to the Israelites, he has a critical flaw that angered God. This is revealed in the next chapter.

Questions:

1. Jonathan made a sign between him and God, to confirm his decision. This is similar to the signs that Gideon set up using the fleece of wool, to confirm God's call for him to lead the army.

Is making a "sign" something a Christians should often do? Why yes or no? If yes, how do you do it?  

2. Unlike Jonathan, Saul did not ask God for a sign whether to attack the Philistines. He saw an advantage in the situation and decided to get involved. Are there situations where you knew what was logical to do and did it without asking God? Will God ask you not to do something that is logical to you? Give an example.

Author: Collin Leong; June 13, 2021