THE KING’S BUSINESS
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or by few.” It is our God’s delight to use the weak things (1 Cor. 1:26-29; 2 Chron. 14:11; Judges 7:4-7; Zech. 4:6; Matt. 19: 26). Indeed, Jehovah is more likely to save by the few than by'the many in order that we may not be puffed up and think that we ourselves have done it. Quite likely Jona than had Jehovah’s promise in mind that “One shall chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight” (Deut. 32:30 cf. Joshua 23:10). It matters not at all whether we have few or many with us when we go forth to battle for the LORD, at His com mandment, and under His specific guidance. v. 7. “And his armour bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee\ behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.” The armour bearer was ready to follow his brave leader all the way. Jona than’s eourage had inspired him. He bids Jonathan stop at nothing but whatever was in his heart, because God had put it there, that to do, no matter how great the odds might seem and not only does he bid Jona than to do all that was in his heart but promised his own fellowship and co-opera tion to the limit. Jonathan was worthy of his confidence; but ou r Jonathan is far more worthy of our confidence, yet how few of us are willing to go out with Him alone. Would that Christians today were as ready to say to their fearless leader in the great plans He has before Him, “Do all that is in thy heart; behohl, I am with thee.” Oh, how much there is that our Jonathan would do if only His people were “with Him ac cording to his heart.” vs. 9, 10. “I f they say thus 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.” Jonathan’s plan shows his dependence upon God for provi dential guidance. He sought this guidance by a sign (cf. Gen. 24: 13, 14; Judges 6: 36-40). We also may have God’s guidance at every step (James 1 :5-7), but we are no longer dependent upon signs for we have the Holy Spirit to reveal to us God’s will at each step of the way (Rom. 8:14). Jon
athan planned to do step by step whatever God indicated for him to do. He will go as far as Jehovah led him and no further. AH he sought to know was what was God’s will. If God indicated it was His purpose to de liver the Philistines up into his hand then he was going forward, even though there were but two against a multitude. v. 11. “And bath of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philis tines." There is something wonderfully in spiring in the fearless conduct not only of Jonathan but of his armour bearer. Trust ing in the strength of the LORD, these two men had not feared to come out into the open and let the whole garrison of the Phil istines see that they were ready to fight. There they stood and calmly waited for the next indication from Jehovah as to what they should do. vs. 11, 12. “And the Philistines said, Be hold the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armour bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing.” The Philistines spoke of ' Jonathan, and indeed of the whole people, with utter contempt (cf. ch. 17:43, 44). But they soon found that Jonathan, with God on his side, had a far better right to despise them than they had to despise him. “Come up to us,” they said, “and we will show you a thing.” Yes, they did show him a thing, they showed him their heels; that was not what they expected to show him. God’s enemies to day are ridiculing His faithful people. They regard them as few and despicable, but it will not be long before these enemies will be taking to their heels, as did the Philis tines. “And Jonathan said unto his armour bearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Is rael.” Without one moment’s hesitation, Jonathan sprang forward to the conflict, calling his armour bearer to follow. God had given the sign, all he had to do was to keep his word. As Jonathan called upon his armour bearer, “Come up after me,” so
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