It is so important that you as a soldier in the army of the Lord do not give up in the battle that\u00a0you are waging\u00a0against\u00a0the enemy. \u00a0You may feel that you are not accomplishing anything and that your part doesn\u2019t make a difference. \u00a0You may not realize the impact that your life has on others. \u00a0\u00a0I would like to talk about the difference that Jonathan, the eldest son of Saul, made in the battle.<\/p>\n
We find in 1 Samuel 12: 5-7 that Israel was facing a hard battle against the Philistines. \u00a0\u201cAnd 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\u00a0Michmash, eastward from\u00a0Bethaven. \u00a0When the men of Israel saw\u00a0that 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. \u00a0And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. \u00a0As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the peopled followed from him trembling.\u201d \u00a0Not only was Israel greatly outnumbered\u00a0but they had no swords or spears to fight with. \u00a0There were no iron workers or smiths found in the land of Israel. \u00a0But the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get their axes and mattocks sharpened. \u00a0So\u00a0there was neither sword or spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan.<\/p>\n
It looked like there was no way to overcome. \u00a0In Chapter 14, Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto his young\u00a0armour\u00a0bearer, \u201cCome, and let us go over to the Philistines\u2019 garrison that is on the other side.\u201d \u00a0But they told no one and no one knew they were gone. \u00a0The path that Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines\u2019 garrison was a difficult path. \u00a0There was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side. \u00a0How many times have you felt like you were in this situation? \u00a0You may have felt like there was no hope\u00a0or no way out.\u00a0\u00a0Jonathan said again to his\u00a0armour\u00a0bearer, \u201cCome and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: \u00a0it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.\u201d \u00a0What faith that Jonathan had. \u00a0Heremembered God\u2019s promises and covenant with Israel. \u00a0He was taking God seriously and claiming what God had already given Israel. \u00a0Many\u00a0are the\u00a0times we don\u2019t receive from God because we don\u2019t believe what He has already promised us.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0armour\u00a0bearer told Jonathan to do all that was in his heart, behold, I am with thee. \u00a0This had to be encouragement for Jonathan. \u00a0I like to think that the\u00a0armour\u00a0bearer represented the Holy Spirit that is always present with us and goes with us through all\u00a0our battles and trials. \u00a0 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. \u00a0But if they say thus,\u00a0Come\u00a0up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand and this shall be a sign to us. \u00a0Jonathan was putting his fleece out, waiting on an answer from God. \u00a0Unlike 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.<\/p>\n
When Jonathan made known their presence unto the Philistines, they said,\u00a0\u201cCome up to us, and we will shew you a thing\u201d.\u00a0Jonathan\u00a0knew it was time to move into the battle. \u00a0He said unto his\u00a0armour\u00a0bearer,\u00a0\u201cCome up after me: for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Jonathan defeated a small number of Philistines in the mountain pass. \u00a0Then\u00a0God Himself moved in the battle. \u00a0He sent an earthquake which caused a great panic among the Philistines. \u00a0All the\u00a0noise and commotion of the\u00a0retreating Philistines were\u00a0noticed by Saul\u2019s watchmen. \u00a0Saul decided to join in the battle. \u00a0In 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. \u00a0Alsothe men of Israel which had been hiding in the mountain also joined in the battle against the Philistines. \u00a0Verse 23 says so the Lord saved Israel that day.<\/p>\n
Jonathan didn\u2019t know that he would be a \u201crecruiter\u201d for the Lord\u2019s battle that day. \u00a0He was just following in his heart what he thought the Lord wanted him to do. \u00a0Your life can have a similar impact. \u00a0By staying in the battle, you will have an influence on others. \u00a0Those who had left Israel and joined the Philistines, turned back to fight with Israel. \u00a0Those who had been afraid and discouraged and had hid themselves in the mountain, gained courage and strength and joined the battle. \u00a0If 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. \u00a0So\u00a0don\u2019t ever give up but keep fighting the good fight of faith and performing the labor that God has given you. \u00a0Jonathan was humble in his obedience to God. \u00a0It was God\u2019s victory that\u00a0daybut 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.<\/p>\n
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. \u00a0Your fight is important not only to God but to those around you.<\/p>\n
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