hurs.’s Devo - The Boldness of Jonathan

TRead: 1 Samuel 14:1-52; John 7:31-53; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7 Jonathan decided to take his armor-bearer over to spy on the Philistine military post without telling his father, Saul To get there, they had to go between two rocky cliffs. Jonathan wanted to go on to the outpost and made a very bold statement. He said, “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!” His armor bearer was totally behind him whatever he decided to do. So Jonathan decided to let the Philistines see them. He told his armor bearer that if the Philistines told them to stop or they would kill them, then they would stop and not go up. But if they told them to come up and fight, then they would. That would be their sign that God would give them the victory. They told them to come up, so they did, knowing God would help them defeat them. They killed some 20 men leaving their bodies scattered over about half an acre. When this happened, an earthquake struck and everyone panicked. Saul’s lookouts saw the Philistine army melting away as they killed each other. Saul ordered a roll call to see who was missing that might have started this war and they found out it was Jonathan. Saul shouted to the priest to bring the ephod so they could ask the Lord whether they would win or not. The noise of the battle had gotten so loud he just told the priest, “Never mind,” and told his men to move. They rushed out on the battle field and saw the confusion everywhere. There had been Hebrews who had defected to the Philistine army who turned on the Philistines and joined Saul. God saved Israel in a day! The Israelites chased the Philistines out of their land. The men were exhausted because Saul had placed a curse on anyone who ate that day. Jonathan hadn’t been there to hear the curse so he ate some honey he saw on the ground. One of the men told him about the curse his father had said. Jonathan thought it was a foolish idea. When the evening came and the fast was over, the men were so famished they attacked the animals and ate them without draining the blood from them first. Saul had his men roll over a big stone so they could kill the animals and drain the blood like the law said. He asked the Lord if they should continue chasing the Philistines and the Lord did not answer. Saul knew someone in the camp was guilty of sin. He vowed to kill that person when he found out who it was. They cast lost and Jonathan was found guilty. Jonathan confessed to eating a little honey. Saul would have killed Jonathan but the people broke in and defended Jonathan and saved his life. Saul decided to let the Philistines go home and secured his kingdom. He fought against his enemies on all sides and was victorious. Saul had three sons: Jonathan, Ishbosheth and Malkishua. He also had two daughters named Merab and Michal. His cousin, Abner was his army commander. Saul fought the Philistines his whole life and drafted any young man he wanted. In John, the Pharisees realized that the people were beginning to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They sent men to arrest Jesus, but he told them that he was only going to be with them a little while longer. His words confused them so they didn’t arrest Jesus. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood and said, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me.” He told them that he would give them rivers of living water from his heart. He said this during the water libation ceremony. The water libation ceremony was where the priest would take a pitcher to the Siloam Springs and fill it up and then bring it and pour it on the altar. Jesus was trying to explain the symbolism of what they had practiced all these years. He was telling them that the Holy Spirit was coming. When the ones who were suppose to arrest Jesus returned without him, the Pharisees wondered why they hadn’t brought him in. The temple guards said that they had never heard anyone talk like he did. Nicodemus also tried to defend Jesus. He said that Jesus deserved a fair trial. His fellow Sanhedranites didn’t agree. Lord, may we be as bold as Jonathan and Jesus. They lived to please God without worrying about their own lives.