Jonathan's Victory - The Book of 1 Samuel

In this Bible Story, Jonathan shows bravery against the Philistines by breaking up the enemy’s camp and sending them into a frenzy. Saul capitalizes on Jonathan’s bravery and sends his army in to defeat the Philistines. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 13-14. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.

Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 14:12 from the King James Version.

Episode 82: As Israel was preparing for battle against the Philistines, Jonathan and his armor bearer decided to investigate the Philistine camp to see if God would give them favor in launching an attack. Jonathan trusted God, and God used Jonathan and his servant to conquer the entire camp. But Saul, wanting to seize the momentum, made the Israelites under his camp vow not to eat anything until the rest of the Philistines had been driven out. Jonathan knowing nothing of this vow disobeyed his father, who would have killed him if not for the people of Israel who interceded.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray. And the men of the garrison answered
Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, come up to us,
and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said
to his armor bearer, come up after me, for the
Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel First
Samuel fourteen twelve. Dear Lord, to day, I ask that

(00:25):
you give me the courage of Jonathan, who was able
to see victory in a seemingly impossible situation. When the
odds seems stacked against me, I choose to see myself
overcoming all challenges that are before me, whether two or
two thousand. I will move with precision then execute my

(00:47):
plan of attack, knowing that your hand of favor is
upon me and all those who were fighting alongside me
to claim the territory and promises you've laid before us.
The day of vindication and validation is upon me. Thank
you God, that through you and your power, no weapon

(01:10):
formed against me will prosper. When prideful people and positions
of influence try to abuse their power and try to
strike down my ideas and purpose, I declare that you
will surround me with men and women of influence who
will protect my post as the soldiers did for Jonathan.

(01:32):
I announced to Day that I am your person. I
am the one you've chosen to step into new camps
and doors of opportunities. I am victorious in Jesus name. Amen,
Thank you for praying with us to day. Continue your

(01:53):
time with God by listening to to Day's Bible story
brought to you by Bible in a Year dot Com.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Jonathan's victory. In our last story, we learned of Saul's
pride and disobedience. Although he claimed many victories, his attitude
against God was muddied by his own pride and anxiety.
Now we peer into the heart of Jonathan, Saul's son.
His bravery and resolve to do what is right is

(02:32):
contrasted against Saul's descending heart. Inspired by the Book of
First Samuel.

Speaker 3 (02:41):
Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. In our previous story, we
heard of Saul's growing pride and how it led him
to dishonor God with a thoughtless, disobedient sacrifice. When confronted
by Samuel about his disobedience, Saul chose to make excuses
and attempt to justify himself rather than repenting and seeking

(03:03):
God's forgiveness. This would tragically become a pattern in the
life of Saul. Today, we'll see a contrast to this
prideful and insecure king in his own son, Jonathan. We'll
hear how Jonathan faces the Philistines and emerges victorious, while
Saul struggles to do things his own way, causing his
own men to suffer unnecessarily. Father and son will clash,

(03:27):
and loyalties will be tested. Let's listen now to today's reading.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
The camp of Israel was still preparations for battle were
almost complete, and the men waited silently in their tents
for orders. In his tent, Saul stowed in his own self,
loathing because of what Samuel had said. Would his kingdom
be taken away from him? So soon? Saul thought to himself. Meanwhile,

(03:54):
Saul's son Jonathan, beckoned his armor bearer and said, let
us go over the other of the hill to the
Philistine camp. Perhaps there are weaknesses we are unaware of.
So Jonathan and his servant crossed over the hills silently,
for Jonathan did not desire for any attention or objections.
They climbed over the rocky hill and hid under one

(04:16):
of the crags beside a rock. There they could see
the Philistine camp going about their business. The sun was
making its descent, and the soldiers were getting ready for
the night to fall. Jonathan peered at the Philistine garrison.
There were about twenty men standing on the outskirts of
the rest of the camp. He did not see them
as others did. While others trembled at their numbers, Jonathan

(04:39):
saw men too consumed with their own wickedness to fight bravely.
He knew that the Lord would go before them. Jonathan
and the armor bearer crouched silently under the rock. Jonathan
turned to his armor bearer and whispered, perhaps God will
work for us this day. If God wants victory, he
shall get it. It does not matter whether it is

(05:00):
two men or two thousand. His armor bearer looked at
Jonathan and nodded, I am with you, heart and soul.
The two smiled and stood upright for the Philistines to
see them. They sauntered into camp, and the Philistine soldiers
noticed them approaching. The Philistines were not threatened in the
least by Jonathan and his servant Hebrews. They laughed, come

(05:24):
on over, here, Hebrews, we will show you around. The
Philistines cackled and spat on the floor. Jonathan and the
armor bearer walked slowly. Jonathan could feel the favor of
God in that place. To him, it was only a
matter of swinging his axe. The Lord would do the rest.
God is before us, Jonathan said, and the two leapt

(05:46):
into the group of men. Jonathan swung his axe with decisiveness,
with his armor bearer fighting beside him. The two of
them fought off the advances of twenty men. Metal clashed
against metal, and Jonathan struck down every man that ran
towards them. The two of them danced with their blades,
and the rest of the Philistines scattered in confusion. Darkness

(06:07):
began to settle unto the sky, and all of a sudden,
the Philistines began to fight one another in confusion. They
thought they were under attack by over one hundred men,
so they stumbled into each other's swords. The watchmen of
Israel could see a restlessness in the Philistine camp below.
They brought word to Saul, and he had his men

(06:27):
count to see who was missing from among them, Jonathan
and his armor bearer. They reported so Saul rallied the
rest of the army, and the entirety of Israel's armies
stormed the Philistine camp. The battles stretched for miles as
Philistines scattered in a thousand different directions. Confusion and hysteria

(06:48):
overcame the Philistines, for they were caught completely off guard.
Some of the surrounding villages caught word that the Philistines
were running away, so they sent some of their soldiers
to join the Israelite army. God had used Jonathan to
scatter the Philistines, and one by one they fell at
his feet. So the Lord saved Israel that day, and

(07:10):
the battle passed beyond Bethlehem. There were still a vast
number of Philistines to be slain. Saul, in a rash
moment of passion, gave orders for the men to not
eat until every Philistine had been killed. He wanted to
incentivize as soldiers, but instead he left them without fuel
or energy for battle. Jonathan, however, continued to eat. He

(07:33):
would snack on honey to replenish his energy and then
return to the battlefield for more victory. Eat and be filled.
Jonathan said to his men, look at me, I have
eaten and now have the strength to continue. So Jonathan
had his men eat the food they found in the
Philistine camp. Saul soon realized that his men were growing

(07:53):
weaker by the hour, so he ordered for a feast
to be prepared to serve the men before sending them
out again to raid the Philistine cities. He discovered that
Jonathan had been feasting on honey and giving some to
his men as well. Saul's pride sparked rage inside of him.
What have you done, Saul yelled. Jonathan was breathing heavily

(08:15):
from battle. He looked closely at his father. He was
growing mad. He could see it in his eyes. Saul
was becoming irresponsible and his mind was fogged. Jonathan did
not know at this time that God's favor had been
removed from him. Jonathan stood up straight and said, I
ate honey. Jonathan stretched out his arms and said, here

(08:37):
I am. If I must die, then so be it.
Saul's brow furrowed and his mouth tensed up with anger.
He pointed to his son and said, you shall die
for it, and Saul lifted his sword to strike down
his son. In that instant, the soldiers surrounded Jonathan and said,
you shall not harm one hair on his head, for

(09:00):
he is the one who has worked out this salvation
for Israel. The soldiers formed a wall between Saul and Jonathan.
In that instant, Saul knew that he was no longer
king entitled, yes, but he did not have the hearts
of his men.

Speaker 3 (09:19):
Today's story begins on a battlefield, is a fight with
the Philistines, but rather than being focused on the enemy
at hands, Saul is sulking, licking his wounds after Samuel's chastisement.
He's finally coming into his own as king, and now
God has told him his days as leader are numbered.
His son, Jonathan, on the other hand, isn't interested in

(09:40):
fame or glory, but in the battle that was in
front of him and how the Philistine army might be defeated.
He quietly sneaks away with his armor bearer into the
Philistine camp, confident that God can give him victory if
that is his will. Listen to the words of Jonathan
in First Samuel fourteen six. Come let us go over

(10:01):
to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that
the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder
the Lord from saving by many or by a few.
Jonathan realized something that we all should remember. When something
is God's will, nothing can stop it. Centuries later, the
apostle Paul would write in Romans chapter eight, if God

(10:24):
is for us, who can be against us? So Jonathan
and his armor bearer face off against twenty Philistines and
defeat them. This sends fear throughout the Philistine camp, and
soldiers begin to scatter in confusion. This clash catches the
attention of the Israelites, and soon word reaches Saul that
Jonathan and his armor bearer are missing. No doubt, Saul

(10:48):
did not want his son Jonathan to get credit for
the victory, so he marshals his troops for battle. He
even calls for the ark to be brought, But this
was no act of devotion on Saul's part. While Saul
maintain an outward appearance of piety and righteousness, his heart
was really focused on his own glory and power. Once again,

(11:09):
Saul acts impatiently and Israel goes into battle against the
confused Philistines. Many of their enemies are defeated, but not all. Still,
Israel was saved that day because of Jonathan's courage and action,
and this didn't go unnoticed by the people. Saul isn't
satisfied with the results of the battle, and he wants
to keep going until all the Philistines are defeated, so

(11:32):
he issues a ridiculous command that no sensible commander would
dare give to his men. He vows that no man
will eat until every Philistine is dead. As you would expect,
this foolish command weakens the men and they are not
strong enough to face a powerful enemy, but Jonathan wise.
Jonathan does not allow the restrictions to apply to him,

(11:55):
and he nourishes himself with honey. He has his men
also eat from food in the Philistine camp, so Saul
finally relents. He throws a feast for the people so
they can be strengthened for battle. By now, he's all
about the grand gestures and displays of his personal power.
His terrible leadership is on full display. But when he

(12:16):
discovers Jonathan has Eden despite the prohibition, Saul confronts his son. Jonathan,
rather than making excuses or hiding the truth, comes clean
with no apologies, but he also submits to whatever punishment
would come his way, including death. Jonathan is a clear
contrast to his father. Jonathan is humble and committed to

(12:40):
the Lord, willing to own his actions. And when Saul
tries to kill his own son to show Israel that
he's the man in charge, the people stand up for
Jonathan and will not allow it. Saul, for all of
his posturing and pride, had lost the command of his people,
just as God said he would. Dear God, help us

(13:01):
to be a man like Jonathan, humble and always trusting
in You and willing to make decisions that honor you.
Thank you for his example in this story today. In Jesus' name, Amen,
thank you for listening to today's Bible of a Year podcast.
I'm Jack Graham of Dallas, Texas, and you can download

(13:21):
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pray that you would know him and look to Him

(13:41):
for eternal life. As we see all of these stories,
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(14:02):
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