1 Samuel 14:1-7
All victory that we experience is not really ours exclusively; it is the victory that was purchased by Jesus at Calvary. We can claim no battle as having been won by our own intelligence or goodness since we are merely joint-heirs with Jesus in what He has won by His finished work. Anything that God does on our behalf He does for two reasons: He loves us, and He honors the sacrifice of His Son.
Jonathan, son of Israel’s first king Saul, was a mighty warrior who fought loyally for the crown. Realizing that his father was awash in doubt and anger, Jonathan saw the need for an Israeli victory over the oppressing Philistines and knew that it would only come without his father’s involvement. Taking only his armor-bearer, Jonathan ascended a mount and looked into the camp of the enemy. His statement to his companion speaks volumes of his faith and dependency:
“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” (1 Samuel 14:6).
Two important things surface in this verse that shows us the mentality of Jonathan. First, he refers to the Philistines as “uncircumcised”. The sign of circumcision was given of God to the Jewish nation as a mark of identification with the Abrahamic covenant. Every child born had to pass through the sign of covenant, thus placing them under the promises of God. To cite the lack of circumcision had nothing to do with physicality, but had to do with the fact that the Philistine was not under the covenant provision of God.
Second, Jonathan refers to God as “LORD”, which is the English rendering of the Hebrew word Yahweh, or Jehovah. It means, “Covenant keeper”. As “LORD”, God is obligated to recognize the covenant that He cut, giving Abraham protection from His enemies. Jonathan is appealing to God’s righteousness and justice for the victory that only He can provide.
“There is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few”, holds a double meaning for us under the New Covenant. Primarily, it means that God honors covenant no matter what. If it is to protect the entire nation He honors it, or if it is to provide victory to only Jonathan and his armor-bearer. Covenant is covenant, and God is God. By appealing to covenant, Jonathan was guaranteed victory before ever lifting a sword.
Another meaning to us under the New Covenant is that God is not restrained to save sinners by many or by few. He will go to all lengths to save a nation or to save one lost soul. There is no respect or persons great or small with God, for all are in need of His saving power and loving grace. If there are 99 sheep in the fold, He will leave them there to hunt for the one lost lamb. There is truly no difference in God’s eyes from one sinner to the next; He loves them all equally.
Appeal to the covenant that Jesus cut with His Father, where you get the benefits while He paid the price. This will bring great victories in your life; all of which will have been His victories first.
All victory that we experience is not really ours exclusively; it is the victory that was purchased by Jesus at Calvary. We can claim no battle as having been won by our own intelligence or goodness since we are merely joint-heirs with Jesus in what He has won by His finished work. Anything that God does on our behalf He does for two reasons: He loves us, and He honors the sacrifice of His Son.
Jonathan, son of Israel’s first king Saul, was a mighty warrior who fought loyally for the crown. Realizing that his father was awash in doubt and anger, Jonathan saw the need for an Israeli victory over the oppressing Philistines and knew that it would only come without his father’s involvement. Taking only his armor-bearer, Jonathan ascended a mount and looked into the camp of the enemy. His statement to his companion speaks volumes of his faith and dependency:
“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” (1 Samuel 14:6).
Two important things surface in this verse that shows us the mentality of Jonathan. First, he refers to the Philistines as “uncircumcised”. The sign of circumcision was given of God to the Jewish nation as a mark of identification with the Abrahamic covenant. Every child born had to pass through the sign of covenant, thus placing them under the promises of God. To cite the lack of circumcision had nothing to do with physicality, but had to do with the fact that the Philistine was not under the covenant provision of God.
Second, Jonathan refers to God as “LORD”, which is the English rendering of the Hebrew word Yahweh, or Jehovah. It means, “Covenant keeper”. As “LORD”, God is obligated to recognize the covenant that He cut, giving Abraham protection from His enemies. Jonathan is appealing to God’s righteousness and justice for the victory that only He can provide.
“There is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few”, holds a double meaning for us under the New Covenant. Primarily, it means that God honors covenant no matter what. If it is to protect the entire nation He honors it, or if it is to provide victory to only Jonathan and his armor-bearer. Covenant is covenant, and God is God. By appealing to covenant, Jonathan was guaranteed victory before ever lifting a sword.
Another meaning to us under the New Covenant is that God is not restrained to save sinners by many or by few. He will go to all lengths to save a nation or to save one lost soul. There is no respect or persons great or small with God, for all are in need of His saving power and loving grace. If there are 99 sheep in the fold, He will leave them there to hunt for the one lost lamb. There is truly no difference in God’s eyes from one sinner to the next; He loves them all equally.
Appeal to the covenant that Jesus cut with His Father, where you get the benefits while He paid the price. This will bring great victories in your life; all of which will have been His victories first.
