It is so important that you as a soldier in the army of the Lord do not give up in the battle that you are waging against the enemy. You may feel that you are not accomplishing anything and that your part doesn’t make a difference. You may not realize the impact that your life has on others. I would like to talk about the difference that Jonathan, the eldest son of Saul, made in the battle.
We find in 1 Samuel 12: 5-7 that Israel was facing a hard battle against the Philistines. “And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and peoples as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude; and they came up and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the peopled followed from him trembling.” Not only was Israel greatly outnumbered but they had no swords or spears to fight with. There were no iron workers or smiths found in the land of Israel. But the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get their axes and mattocks sharpened. So there was neither sword or spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan.
It looked like there was no way to overcome. In Chapter 14, Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto his young armour bearer, “Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But they told no one and no one knew they were gone. The path that Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison was a difficult path. There was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side. How many times have you felt like you were in this situation? You may have felt like there was no hope or no way out. Jonathan said again to his armour bearer, “Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” What faith that Jonathan had. Heremembered God’s promises and covenant with Israel. He was taking God seriously and claiming what God had already given Israel. Many are the times we don’t receive from God because we don’t believe what He has already promised us.
The armour bearer told Jonathan to do all that was in his heart, behold, I am with thee. This had to be encouragement for Jonathan. I like to think that the armour bearer represented the Holy Spirit that is always present with us and goes with us through all our battles and trials. Jonathan said we will pass over to these men and if they say unto us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand and this shall be a sign to us. Jonathan was putting his fleece out, waiting on an answer from God. Unlike his father, Saul, who had just committed sin in the earlier chapter by not waiting on Samuel to come to offer the sacrifice, Jonathan was depending on God to do the leading and willing to go forward when God sent His approval.
When Jonathan made known their presence unto the Philistines, they said, “Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing”. Jonathan knew it was time to move into the battle. He said unto his armour bearer, “Come up after me: for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” Jonathan defeated a small number of Philistines in the mountain pass. Then God Himself moved in the battle. He sent an earthquake which caused a great panic among the Philistines. All the noise and commotion of the retreating Philistines were noticed by Saul’s watchmen. Saul decided to join in the battle. In verses 21 & 22, it says that the Hebrews who had joined the Philistines earlier went up from them and turned to be with the Israelites. Alsothe men of Israel which had been hiding in the mountain also joined in the battle against the Philistines. Verse 23 says so the Lord saved Israel that day.
Jonathan didn’t know that he would be a “recruiter” for the Lord’s battle that day. He was just following in his heart what he thought the Lord wanted him to do. Your life can have a similar impact. By staying in the battle, you will have an influence on others. Those who had left Israel and joined the Philistines, turned back to fight with Israel. Those who had been afraid and discouraged and had hid themselves in the mountain, gained courage and strength and joined the battle. If others see that you are faithful to God in the good times and in the bad, they will be encouraged and want to do as you do. So don’t ever give up but keep fighting the good fight of faith and performing the labor that God has given you. Jonathan was humble in his obedience to God. It was God’s victory that daybut Jonathan allowed himself to be used in the battle and as a result many who had turned away from God came back that day to fight in the battle.
As we begin a new year in 2019, be determined to stay in the battle of faith believing that God will answer your prayers, will bring you wayward family back home, will deliver individuals from the chains of addiction, and will save those who are lost. Your fight is important not only to God but to those around you.