Defying Impossible Odds

Mr. Valiant-for-the-Truth’s Song – by John Bunyan

1. JONATHAN SEPARATED FROM THE MULTITUDE (1 Samuel 14:1-3)
1. Jonathans Fervor (1 Samuel 14:1a; cp. 1 Samuel 13:3) let us go over
2. Jonathans Forwardness (1 Samuel 14:1b) he told not his father
3. Sauls Fearfulness (1 Samuel 14:2-3)
1. In the uttermost part of Gibeah (1 Samuel 14:2a)
2. Under a pomegranate tree (1 Samuel 14:2b)
3. Sauls army (1 Samuel 14:2c; cp. 1 Samuel 13:2) 600 men
4. Sauls priest (1 Samuel 14:3)
1. Samuel was available (1 Samuel 13:15)
2. But Ahiah was subservient (cp. 1 Samuel 14:18-19)
2. JONATHAN STRENGTHENED HIS RESOLVE (1 Samuel 14:4-8)
1. The Strength of the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:4-5)
1. Their location
2. Their army (1 Samuel 13:5)
2. The Strength of Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6)
1. His righteous cause
1. Against these uncircumcised (see Judges 14:3)
2. Is there not a cause? (1 Samuel 17:29)
2. The favor of the Lord it may be that the LORD will work for us
3. The power of the Lord there is no restraint to the LORD (see 2 Chronicles 14:11; Romans 8:31)
3. The Courage of Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:7-8)
1. Encourages his armor bearer (1 Samuel 14:7)
2. Develops a plan of action (1 Samuel 14:8)
3. JONATHAN SOUGHT GODS DIRECTION (1 Samuel 14:9-12)
1. His Test (1 Samuel 14:9-10; cp. Judges 6:36-40)
1. If they say, Tarry (1 Samuel 14:9)
2. If they say, Come up (1 Samuel 14:10) this is a sign
2. His Answer (1 Samuel 14:11-12)
1. They discovered themselves to the enemy (1 Samuel 14:11)
2. The enemy mocked them (1 Samuel 14:11)
3. The enemy challenged them to come up (1 Samuel 14:12)
4. Jonathan and his armorbearer took the challenge (1 Samuel 14:12)
4. JONATHAN SECURED THE VICTORY (1 Samuel 14:13-16)
1. They Climbed up the Cliff (1 Samuel 14:13)
2. They Fought the Front Troops (1 Samuel 14:14)
3. The Host Trembled in the Field (1 Samuel 14:15)
1. The Philistines
2. The earth
4. They Beat Each Other Back (1 Samuel 14:16)

CONCLUSION: In Times Like These – Charles Spurgeon gave this advice to those who spend all their energy worrying about the evil times in which they live:  “The benefit of railing at the times it would be hard to discover, for railing does not mend them. What have you to do with the times? Do your own work. Charles the Twelfth of Sweden had his secretary sitting by his side writing from dictation, when a bombshell fell through the roof into the next room. The secretary, in alarm, dropped his pen, upon which the king exclaimed, ‘What are you doing?’ The poor man faltered, ‘Ah, sire, the bomb!’ The king’s answer was, ‘What has the bomb to do with what I am telling you?’ You will say that the secretary’s life was in danger. Yes, but you are safe in any case, for you are side by side with Jesus in holy service, and no evil can befall you. Watch on, and work on, even to the crack of doom. Leave the times and the seasons with God, and go on with your work.” –from An All-Round Ministry by C. H. Spurgeon (page 72).