Read: 1 Samuel 13:23-14:52; John 7:30-53; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7
The battles of the Old Testament are given to us as lessons on spiritual warfare. Saul stands for the ways of man and Jonathan stands for the ways of God. Jonathan had to walk down a pass where on one side was a cliff called Bozez that stood to the north. The other was a cliff called Seneh and it stood toward the south. Bozez means “surpassing whiteness; glistening” which is a picture of God’s glory. It stood toward the north toward Mismash which means “a report which is heard” which stands for the Good News. The other cliff was called Seneh which means “thorny” which is another picture of the curse. It stood facing Geba which means “elevation” which stands for pride.
In every trial we face we have to walk down this pass. On one side is the Lord in all his glory wanting us to hear his Word of faith so we will not fear. On the other is the devil and he is loud and fearful. He wants us to play it “safe” and not step out into the unknown and stand against our fears. His reward is curses and defeat. He tells us that if we step out in faith we will lose our reputation and our position. He is a liar.
Jonathan walked down this pass and chose to believe that God could deliver them with 2 as well as he could with thousands. He was not depending on his own strength but the power of God. He and his armor bearer defeated 20 men after climbing a cliff.
Their courage and faith caused God to fight in their defense. God sent an earthquake and put panic in the hearts of the enemy so that they killed themselves. Jonathan’s courage spread to his own countrymen and they climbed out of their hiding places and fought also. People who had defected to the Philistines returned and fought for Israel.
Saul, who didn’t have anything to do with their victory had to get some control back so he ordered his men not to eat anything till they had totally won the war. Jonathan hadn’t heard his father say that or the curse he had put on anyone who did. He ate honey and was immediately strengthened. He was found out later but the people saved Jonathan and once again embarrassed Saul.
Saul was driven by insecurity, self-centeredness, control and pride. Jonathan was driven by a desire for God. This put them at odds all through their lives.
In John, Jesus was still at the Feast of Tabernacles. Every day the priests would go down to the pool of Siloam and draw a pitcher of water and bring it up to the altar and mix it with the wine and pour it on the altar. Siloam means “living water”. As they were doing this Jesus cried out, “if anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking. Whoever puts his trust in me, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being.” He was explaining the ritual they were doing. He was the living water sent to the world. This resonated in the spirits and hearts of many of the people, but made the religious leaders madder. They had to do something about Jesus once and for all. Even some of the priests could not come against Jesus because of the way he talked.
They went back to the fact that Jesus wasn’t from Bethlehem but from Galilee and the scriptures said nothing about a prophet coming from Galilee. This was Jesus’ little secret because he didn’t want them to figure it out in their minds but in their hearts. To believe in his required faith not reason.
Lord, help us to believe with our hearts and not our minds. Thank you that you are the living water that refreshes and gives life.
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