Faith That Shakes the Enemy.

Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.

1 Samuel 14:1

Meanwhile…

And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron:* and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.   1 Samuel 14:2-3

So, Jonathan prepared to go up…

through a passage framed by two sharp rocks…

And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez*, and the name of the other Seneh.*

The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.    1 Samuel 14:4-5

With a heart full of faith…

and confidence in the Living God…

Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour…

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.

And his armourbearer said unto him…

Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee;

behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

Privily, they planned a strategy…

to undertake the challenge…

Then said Jonathan…

Behold, we will pass over unto these men,

and we will discover ourselves unto them.

If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you;

then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

But if they say thus, Come up unto us;

then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them

into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

Cautiously, they advanced…

And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing.

And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer…

Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them

into the hand of Israel.

Courageous. Valiant. Strong.

Jonathan was moved to ACTION…

And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. 1 Samuel 14:6-14

So effective was their assault…

the Philistines trembled …

And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled,

And the earth shook…

and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.  1 Samuel 14:15

And God delivered them over to fear and confusion…

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

So the LORD saved Israel that day:

and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

1 Samuel 14:16, 19-20, 23

And so the enemy was overcome…

through the FAITH and fearless efforts…

       of Jonathan and his loyal armorbearer.

Two courageous, willing hearts…

advancing against an enemy stronghold…

Strong. Valiant. Brave. Heroic.

The heart of FAITH…

Knows NO LIMITATIONS…

It only knows…

GOD DELIVERS!

*Of special note:  I found it interesting that the sharp rocks were actually named…so I looked up their meanings:

Bozez= mud; bog.

Salneh= brambles; enemy.

For further consideration…the place  where Saul tarried…Migron, it means FEAR.

Saul, Transformed!

In the beginning…

He was very zealous….

to eradicate Christians…

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.  Acts 8:3 

Saul was vehemently opposed to them…

and diligently sought to destroy them…

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.  Acts 9:1-2 

Until…

He was intercepted…

By a supernatural encounter…

with Jesus Christ!

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  Acts 9:3-5

Bewilderment. Trepidation. Fear.

 Astonishment. Conviction. Obedience.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.  Acts 9:6

Saul was blinded…

                                and  his companions were speechless…

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.  Acts 9:7-9

Meanwhile…

God was speaking to His servant…

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.  Acts 9:10-12 

Preparing his heart to assist Saul…

a well known “enemy of the Saints”…

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.  Acts 9:13-16 

Help was on the way…

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.  And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.  Acts  9:17 -19

Saul was a new man…

as evidenced by his drastic change in heart…

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.  Acts 9:20 

People were stunned  and amazed…

and God was with him…

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.  Acts 9:22  

Convincing. Persuasive. Impressive.

Saul preached so effectively….

that the Jews sought to kill him…

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.  Acts 9:23-24 

The hunter became the hunted…

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Acts 9:25 

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.  Acts 9:29 

Nevertheless…

Emboldened with the TRUTH…

He pressed onward…

Towards the high calling of Christ Jesus!

A supernatural encounter with the Living God…

Ignited one darkened heart …

 
And set it ablaze…

As a bold witness of His transforming power!

 

Have you been transformed by His hand?