INTRODUCTION: In this lesson, we learn from Jonathan’s faith in God and bravery in battle and from Saul’s fearfulness and foolishness in making an unreasonable oath.
- THE ACTION OF JONATHAN (1 Samuel 14:1-12)
- In Separating from the Army (1 Samuel 14:1-3)
- Jonathans eagerness (1 Samuel 14:1a; cp. 1 Samuel 13:3) let us go over.
- Jonathans secrecy (1 Samuel 14:1b) he told not his father.
- Sauls fearfulness (1 Samuel 14:2a)
- In the uttermost part of Gibeah
- Under a pomegranate tree
- Sauls army (1 Samuel 14:2b; cp. 1 Samuel 13:2) 600 men
- Sauls priest (1 Samuel 14:3)
- Samuel was available (1 Samuel 13:15).
- But Ahiah was subservient (cp. 1 Samuel 14:18-19).
- In Approaching the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:4-8)
- The strength of the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:4-5)
- Their location
- Their army (1 Samuel 13:5)
- The strength of Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6)
- His righteous cause
- Against these uncircumcised (see Judges 14:3)
- Is there not a cause? (1 Samuel 17:29)
- The favor of the Lord it may be that the LORD will work for us.
- The power of the Lord there is no restraint to the LORD (see 2 Chronicles 14:11; Romans 8:31).
- The courage of Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:7-8)
- Encourages his armor bearer (1 Samuel 14:7)
- Develops a plan of action (1 Samuel 14:8)
- In Seeking Gods Direction (1 Samuel 14:9-12)
- His test (1 Samuel 14:9-10; cp. Judges 6:36-40)
- If they say, Tarry (1 Samuel 14:9)
- If they say, Come up (1 Samuel 14:10) this is a sign.
- His answer (1 Samuel 14:11-12)
- THE DEFEAT OF THE PHILISTINES (1 Samuel 14:13-23)
- Under the Hand of Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:13-15)
- Their climb up the cliff (1 Samuel 14:13)
- Their slaughter of twenty men (1 Samuel 14:14)
- The trembling in the field (1 Samuel 14:15)
- The Philistines
- The earth
- In the Sight of Saul (1 Samuel 14:16-18)
- The report of the watchmen (1 Samuel 14:16)
- The discovery of two missing men (1 Samuel 14:17)
- The call for the ark (1 Samuel 14:18)
- Before Various Enemies (1 Samuel 14:19-23)
- Beaten by Sauls army (1 Samuel 14:19-20a)
- Beaten by themselves (1 Samuel 14:20b; cp. Judges 7:22)
- Beaten by the Israelites in the Philistine camp (1 Samuel 14:21)
- Beaten by the Israelites out of hiding (1 Samuel 14:22)
- Beaten by the Lord (1 Samuel 14:23)
- THE FOOLISH OATH OF SAUL (1 Samuel 14:24-35)
- Robbing the People of Strength (1 Samuel 14:24)
- Cursed for eating food
- Until the evening
- Tempting the People Unjustly (1 Samuel 14:25-26)
- Honey on the ground
- Which the people feared to eat
- Cursing His Unknowing Son (1 Samuel 14:27-29)
- Jonathan eats the honey (1 Samuel 14:27; see Proverbs 24:13).
- Jonathan is informed of the oath (1 Samuel 14:28).
- Jonathan denounces the oath (1 Samuel 14:29).
- Decreasing the Victory That Day (1 Samuel 14:30-31)
- Causing the People to Sin (1 Samuel 14:32-35)
- They ate animals with the blood (1 Samuel 14:32; Leviticus 17:10-14).
- Saul corrects this sin (1 Samuel 14:33-34).
- Saul builds an altar to the Lord (1 Samuel 14:35).
- His first altar
- After God rejected him (1 Samuel 13:12-14)
- THE DELIVERANCE OF JONATHAN (1 Samuel 14:36-46)
- Gods Refusal to Answer (1 Samuel 14:36-37)
- Sauls attempt to correct his mistake (1 Samuel 14:36a); since he failed to win because of his foolish oath, he sought to make up by attacking at night.
- The priests suggestion to ask of God (1 Samuel 14:36b)
- The Lords refusal to answer (1 Samuel 14:37)
- Jonathans Condemnation by Saul (1 Samuel 14:38-44)
- Sauls rash condemnation (1 Samuel 14:38-39)
- Jonathans perfect lot (1 Samuel 14:40-42)
- Sauls declaration of the death penalty (1 Samuel 14:43-44)
- Israels Refusal to Obey (1 Samuel 14:45-46)
- Israels rescue of Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:45)
- Sauls departure from the battle (1 Samuel 14:46)
- THE KINGDOM OF SAUL (1 Samuel 14:47-52)
- Sauls Battles (1 Samuel 14:47-48)
- Sauls Family (1 Samuel 14:49-51)
- His children (1 Samuel 14:49)
- His wife (1 Samuel 14:50a)
- His captain (1 Samuel 14:50b-51)
- Sauls Heritage (1 Samuel 14:52)
- Continual war against the Philistines
- Continual seeking of new soldiers (see 1 Samuel 8:11-12)
CONCLUSION: What could have been the greatest victory of Saul’s reign became a time of uncertainty because of Saul’s foolish oath. Nevertheless, the people of God do experience temporary victory over the Philistines.