Could Jonathan Be The King?

Chris Bogstad

The First Kings of Israel • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

1 Samuel 13:16–14:23

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Introduction

Here is the sermon I am trying to do

prompt?

Tuesday in the Torah 4/16/19

test 2

1. Catch- Whatever your political affilation, you probably know the discouragement of election day

i. You had your candidate who you thought was going to be the one to turn things around

yes, it si a good one.

I. Introduction

1. You check the polls and see a tight race

2. Then you receive the disappointing news that they have conceded the race

ii. This was the feeling of the ancient Israelite people when they read about the rejection of Saul

1. A king who they had great hope in is now letting them down

2. There was discouragement and a search for a new king

1. Catch-

3. Leading us to look at Jonathan and ask… Could he be this king?

iii. We too are constantly look at which voice to follow The influencers on social media The pastors or advice we seek who should we been listening

iv. So, I want to give you 6 examples of why we should follow to people like Jonathan

2. Review

i. Saul’s unlawful sacrifice was initiated by all his troops leaving him and at the end, he still only has 600 men with him

1. They retreat away from Michmash where the Philistinse are

2. They are terrified about the large forces of their enemies Read 13:5

3. But who isn’t afraid? Jonathan

1. Jonathan should be king because he stays faithful when things got desperate (13:16-23)

2. Review

II. Body and Prop-

1. Jonathan should be king because he stays faithful when things got desperate (13:16-23)

i. The free run of the enemy (16-18)

A. The Philistines did not just stay in Mishmash, but because of Jonathan’s actions in v4- Israel was a stench to the Philistines

B. So the raiders set out on their strong chariots in 3 directions (Put up Map)

1. Towards Ophrah

2. Towards Beth-horon

3. Towards the Valley of Zeboim these 3 locations show their dominance in every direction

C. Saul, who was supposed to save Israel could not stop these “destroyers” and sits helplessly, setting up his field command post

ii. The military disadvantage of Israel (19-23)

A. This seems like such a random historical footnote that when you’re reading your bible seems super boring? What do I care how much 2/3 of a shekel is?

B. The cost of shekel was based on some weight… being about 0.4 oz So it cost them whenever they went out

ii. Illus

C. But this so importantly lays out how desperate Israel is

1. They have no weapons… they ahd no way to win

D. This is the beginning of Iron Age (Show chart)

iii. Application

1. While the text doesn’t specifically say Iron, we know from our sources this was a the new strength of the period

2. The Philistienes had blacksmiths and Kilns to make the weapons, the Israelites did not

3. And so, even their plowshares, axes, and sickles had to be sharpened by the Philistines who had other Iron devices & I bet you they kept them from being effective weapons

E. Only Saul and Jonathan had weapons to fight

Trans.

F. So chapter 13 shows the people outgunned and out numbered with a whole garrison at Michmash

i. Illus

1. Bad leaders give up when the going gets tough

A. They look at the situation and say… it hopless, I don’t have the strength within me to do this

B. Like Peter at the home of the high priest… he is present, but he gives up and denies Jesus because he doesn’t see a way out of this (Pastor Yurie sermon is excellent)

C. But this was just like when he fell into the water… he started think about his own position and power rather than seein the Lord’s strength in front of him

2. Jonathan wasn’t a great leader because he was so strong… but because he trusted in the all power God. So he didn’t give up

ii. Application

1. & neither should we

2. If children are not living the way they should… we parents do not stop trying to be biblical in front of them

3. If coworkers or bosses are pressuring us… we keep going forward

4. Not because you are so strong and you can take the heat… but because you trust the God who works in our weakness

5. As Paul wrote about his ministry

- But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

6. Remember, tough times just give God’s surpassing power to shine through your cracked jar.

Trans: The situation looks dark but Jonathan is not knocked out

2. Jonathan should be king because he boldly leads (14:1-5)

1. Jonathan attacks and leaves his father out

A. The day comes where Jonathan proposes a military strategy to his armor bearer the two of them will, alone, to the Philistine garrison

1. This cannot just be a scouting missions as is made clear later

2. He intends to attack and defeat

B. And he purposely leaves his father out? Why?

1. In 13:3 we read that Jonathan was the one engaging in battle, but it is not clear if Saul sent him. The people clearly think that Saul did (v4). But now we are clearly shown that this is Jonathan’s faith when Saul has been rejected

2. Notice who Saul is doing and with…

i. Saul is sitting under the pomogrante tree Which is not him being lazy possibly have a “judicial-administrative significance” like “under the tamarisk tree” in 22:6

ii. Illus

- Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.

- She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment

ii. Saul is with Ahijah The author takes time in the midst of this battle to detail this man’s family history because he is from Eli’s rejected line (Show picture)

iii. Samuel left Saul in 13:15 and Saul has a new advisor… the Ephod is what was used to determine God’s will for something… thus he was Saul’s spiritual adivsior And he is the spitting image of his grandfather Phinehas it would be like walking into a room and someone saying… here is the grandson of Stalin… and he’s just like him

iv. There is a rift between faithful Jonathan and his disobedient dad

Trans: and his strategy is a crazy one

2. Jonathan attacks with a difficult strategy (4-5)

A. The Philistines have control over this pass here (Show map)

iii. Application

B. And it was position right over this river valley here (Show two pictures)

1. This is a giant cliff face, so famous that they get names

2. Bozez (bôṣēṣ) means “the Gleaming One” or“the Miry One” Senneh (senneh) “the Thorny One” or “Bramble-bush[i]

3. Does anyone know the name of hill back here? But have you heard of halfdome? Why, because it’s a famous landmark that is impressive

ii. Illus

1. Jonathan is attempting to a bold stategy

2. Has anyone see Free Solo? I haven’t, but just a few clips… wow, just wow, climbing El Capitan alone is impressive… but all by yourself?

3. & the director has actually said they were worried when filming this thing… what if he dies while we make it?

4. Jonathan shocks the Philistines because no one would do this

Trans:

But we cannot think of Jonthan as a self-confident guy… as his strength came from his faith

[i] David Tsumura, The First Book of Samuel, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007), 359.

3. Jonathan should be king because he trusts Yahweh for victory (14:6-10)

i. Explanation

1. Jonathan faith is firmly in Yahweh

A. He wants to go after his enemies, why? Because Yahweh can save with few or many

1. Saul was terrified by his soldiers leaving

2. Jonathan thinks too men can take on a garrison

3. Why? Because nothing can stop Yahweh from saving

B. His armor-beaer agrees

2. So Jonathan proposes a plan

they will climb and boldly surprise the Philistines

C. Then, if the Philistiens say we’re comging to you… they’ll hold in place

ii. Illus

D. But if the Philistines say come here… then they will know Yaheh have given them victory

E. It would be a sign

ii. Application- But was it good to ask for a sign?

1. Sometimes we want to ask God for signs to test before we trust what God says

2. This was Gideon’s mistake… he was clearly told what to do, but he kept testing God

3. Paul says: - For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

4. So, we must be careful Jonathan looks for a sign here, but he is trusting in a promise God had already made,

5. v6- nothing will stop God from savings his people

iii. Application

A. He maybe knew the promise Smauel received - “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.”

B. Or he remembered God’s other victories

6. the specifics here are are situational.

iii. Illus

1. : It is not biblical to say, Lord, I’m going to sit here, give me a sign of who I should share the gospel with by having them come up to me… God may do that,

2. We are told to GO and make disciples… not just wait

3. But you can say… I’m going to talk to this person, but if they say, no I don’t want to talk to you about stupid religion, well, that is a sign that I’d be casting my perals before swine, something not good

This is the decision Jonathan is making

4. Jonathan should be king because his efforts terrify Israel’s enemies (14:11-15)

i. Explanation

1. His plan works (11-12)

He comes up with his armor beaer and showed themselves the philistines must have been shocked so they said they’re popping out of holes they probably couldn’t believe it was someone who came from the valley but someone who had been hiding and they tell them to come!

2. His battle succeeds (13-15)

A. After climbing up this steep rock face (show clip) So imagine how exhausted he must be he engages in battle and they kill 20 men right away

B. Because the flanked the defenses the whole camp starts freaking out because they don’t know who is attacking them or why men are dying

C. And just to make sure we know where the credit really goes… and earth quake occurs something Jonathan had no power over or ability to time…. It was all God’s success.

ii. Illus

1. During the First World War, a brigade major in Allenby’s army in Palestine succeeded in taking Michmash by copying tactics of Saul and Jonathan according to a report by Major V. Gilbert. The Turks were utterly confused and all were killed or taken prisoner. [i]

iii. Application

1. So, where should I faith be in? God of course. Not clever battles strategies… God defeats his enemies his way

2. A battle against things that worry us… we pray

3. A battle against someone whose ideas go against us

- And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

iii. Application

4. The text makes clear where his victory came from… so how can we know the victory comes from God unless we’re doing it his way…

[i] David Tsumura, The First Book of Samuel, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007), 364.

5. Jonathan should be king because his plan brings all of Israel to battle (14:16-22)

i. Explanation

1. Saul hears at Gibeah (14:16–20)

A. A watchman looks out and sees this large army pancaking

B. Saul then must know something is up because he asks who is missing from their army… so he finds Jonathan and his attendant are missing

C. So he commands Ahijah to bring for the ark of God

1. It has been sitting in Kiriath-Jerraim, but has come to be with Saul for this battle

2. Interesting that he says Ark of God, not Ark of Yahweh

3. It is used both ways, but I find it interesting he doesn’t speak the name of Yahweh & it is not called the ark of Yahweh again until David attempts to bring it to Jerusalem saying

- And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”

Right after - And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart,

4. There is a disrespect here because while he asks Ahijah to determine what their next step should be (Remember he is wearing the Ephod) Saul refuses to wait

5. V19- As they were talking things got crazier and crazier over at the Philistines… saul can’t wait any longer to hear the will of Yahweh, so he tells priest to stop

6. Commenator David Tsumura writes, “He commands Ahijah to seek divine guidance by means of the ephod, but, at a crucial time, he interrupts the consultation. Saul is a person who prays when he should act and acts when he should pray.” [1]

D. And as they go into battle the find the Philistines are fighting each other

1. Being from different city states, they probably didn’t know each other in such a large group

ii. Illus

2. When a bunch of them started dying, they didn’t know who was friend and foe and just started killing

2. Hebrews and the Men of Israel hear (14:21–23)

A. Two groups join the battle now

B. The Hebrews could be Israelites who sided with the Philistines or a nomadic mercenary group called “habiru” They join Jonathan’s battle

C. And do you remember all those people from 13:6 who hid?

1. They heard there was victory and they join the battle

2. Jonathan’s faith in Yahweh has led the people to fight against their enemy

ii. Illus

1. I love this quote by John Piper about leadership Leadership= knowing where God wants people to be and taking initiative to get them there by God’s means and relying upon God’s power – John Piper

2. Let’s not forget that there are plenty of people who can lead…

3. Jim Jones was able to get 918 people to follow him Guy-ana, 'drank the Kool-Aid'... and die he was extremely charismatic…. Spoke in a way that made sense to the age But he did not speak for God

iii. Application

1. What was Saul’s mistake? he stopped listening to God’s word and started listening to the voices around him And then even then… he wouldn’t listen

2. If you’re leading someone… a child, a wife, a disciple or even if you’re leading yourself

iii. Application

A. You must keep asking the question… what does God say about this

B. Sometimes, scripture isn’t easily accessible like google… but it’s like good coffee… you need to let it seep for a while, to mediate on it

C. Yes… the text keeps forcing us back to Saul’s failure to listen to God’s word

Trans: And one finally reminder of who really did the saving

[1] David Tsumura, The First Book of Samuel, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007), 366.

6. Jonathan should be king because Yahweh saves when he acts (v23)

i. Explanation

1. The victory was brought about by Yahweh, not by Jonathan or others,

2. They just joined in for the mop-up action[1]

3. The Lord could use even a single person or two to do his saving work.[2]

ii. Illus

1. The director of Clone wars saying you like this because I sat under George Lucas and I listened… anything good I’ve done is because I learned from the best

iii. Application

1. Let’s make it about God, shall we?

iii. Application

So What Questions?

So what questions?

[2] David Tsumura, The First Book of Samuel, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007), 368.So what questions?

1. What makes it so tempting to make victories about the person rather than God?

2. How do you keep from being overly in awe of any spiritual person?

3. What situations in life have made you want to give up? How did God keep you going?

4. What happens if we forget to keep going back to what God’s word says?

5. What are acceptable signs to ask for? What is testing God?

1. Cohesion

2. Resolution

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