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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I NE S S
MAY SO, 1920
JONATHAN AND HIS ARMORBEARER Golden Text: “ Be strong and of good courage.” Josh. 1:6. LESSON TEXT 1 Sam. 14:1-13. (Read 1 Sam. 14:1-46; Eph. 6:10-20.)
(1) Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bear tils armour, Come and let us go over to the Philis tines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. (2) And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were witn him were about six hundred men; (3} And Ahiah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son’; of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, wear ing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. (4) And be tween the passages by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of’ the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. (5) The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. (6) And Jonathan said to the young man that bare , his armour, Come and let us go over into the garrison of these un- circumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there Is no restraint Introduction. In the eleventh chapter of 1 Samuel we have a description of Saul's victory over the Ammonites, and the renewal ol the kingdom at Gilgal. Saul was now fully established as EESSON king and heartily EXPOSITION supported, for the T. C. Horton most part. In the twelfth chapter we have an account of Samuel's challenge to Israel concerning his own stewardship, and their acknowledgment of his loyalty to them and to God. Samuel also reproves them for asking for a king and commands the' thunder and rain to prove that God answers prayer, and to set His seal upon Israel's $in in asking for a king. He answers their plea for his prayers by a promise to be faithful to them. The thirteenth chapter records Saul's sin and self will in intruding upon the
to the LORD to save by many or by few. (17) And his armour-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold I am with thee according to thy heart. (8) Then said Jonathan, Be hold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. (9) If they say thus unto us, Tarry un til we come to you; then we will stana still in our place, and will not go up unto them. (10) 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 unto us. ( 11 ) ; And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of thè Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holés where tney had hid themselves. (12) And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and w his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD natn ae- bvered them unto the hand oY Israel. (13) And Jonathan climbed up upon ms hands and upon his feet, and his armour- bearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. office of the priest, and of God’s rejec tion of him as king. Outline. ( 1 ) The Inspiration of Jonathan, vs. I- 3. ( 2 ) . The Invasion of the Enemy’s Camp, vs. 4-10. (3) The Irresistible Assault, vs. I I - 13. (1) THE INSPIRATION OP JONA THAN, vs. 1-3. This chapter opens with a wonderful story of faith and courage unequaled in the history of Israel. Saul is out of fellowship with the Lord through un belief and disobedience. His army had dwindled from 330,000 to 600 men. It pays to take time to be holy; to take time for God’s Word and for prayer, and Saul’s impatience and un governable will cost him the title to the throne.
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