May 2, 2025 • 48 mins
Chapter 03 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 1 Samuel 14:1-46.
The Failed Father & Warrior Son - We are introduced to the son of Saul - Prince Jonathan. His courageous heart defies his father, brings glory to God, and delivers Israel’s armies from the grip of the Philistines.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in
the Bible. If you've been enjoying this series, please write
a review and let us know how this podcast has
impacted your life. Welcome to the epic Adventure of David,
a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
(00:22):
few know about David the Man. I'm glad you're here
with me as we mind the depths of this renowned tale.
In this episode, we are introduced to a very important
new character, Jonathan, the firstborn of Saul. Jonathan is pure,
courageous and has the loyalty of his men. In this episode,
Jonathan's righteousness and trust in God is contrasted with Saul's
(00:45):
growing pride and self absorption. Like a ruler held up
to a jagged line. Looking at Jonathan gives us a
better understanding of just how crooked Saul is becoming. Jonathan's
humility will reveal just how prideful Saul has become. Jonathan's
sober mind will show us just how duraigne Saul's mind
has become. And lastly, Jonathan's devotion to God will show
(01:09):
us just how far from God Saul has fallen. This
episode is filled with vivid scenes of epic battles, but
none of them are won by Saul. In fact, he
will be more of a hindrance than a help. We
will start to see just how much of a weight
bad leaders can be. This episode begins with a prelude,
a glimpse into another space and time when God proved
(01:32):
himself faithful. We are shown that God does not need
vast armies or charismatic leaders to carry out his purposes.
At the end of this episode, we will be faced
with a tense moment between Saul and Jonathan. A sword
will be aimed at Jonathan's throat, and Saul will find
himself captive to his own pride. Will Jonathan's story end
(01:53):
before we even get a chance to know him. Will
Saul's quick descent into paranoia proof fatal for the people
of Israel? Let's find out together in episode three of
our series, through David, the failed King and Warrior Son.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Prelude to chapter three, Wake up, Gideon yelled, arise from
your beds, for God will give his victory over the Midianites.
Tonight Gideon took his three hundred men and divided them
into three companies. He armed them not with swords, but
with trumpets, empty jars, and torches. He scanned his modest army.
(02:30):
They were greatly outnumbered. God had dwindled down their number
from thirty two thousand to three hundred in a matter
of hours. Gideon was the weakest man, from the weakest tribe,
leading an army of three hundred against an army of thousands. However,
there was a confidence welling up within Gideon. He knew
that the Lord had gone before them. Gideon split the
(02:54):
three companies and had them placed on every side of
the canyons, overlooking the enemy camp.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Look at me into why as I do when I
blow my trumpet, you will do the same on every side.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
He said. The jars above their torches made the light disperse,
giving the illusion of thousands instead of hundreds. Gideon looked
down at the Midianite horde below. They were vast, like
the sea. Gideon gulped and closed his eyes. This is it,
he said to himself. He looked across the hills and
(03:24):
saw his three hundred men surrounding the camp. All was
quiet for a moment. Then Gideon raised his trumpet to
his mouth and blew. It echoed across the canyons, and
three hundred trumpets.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Joined in for the Lord and Gideon.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
The men shouted the sound of trumpets ballowed and quaked
across the canyons. The sounds of war shook the ground,
and the midi knighted army awoke in a confused frenzy.
The Israelites broke the jars in their hands, and the
piercing sounds of broken glass frightened the livestock and king
rose and began to knock their tents into fires. The
(04:03):
Midianites were flustered and did not know whether to arm
themselves or retrieve their animals. The trumpets continued to wail
and make it difficult to think. It was dark, but
the torchlights from the hill scattered in a million directions
over the camp. They had the appearance of fiery arrows,
armed and ready to descend on the camp.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
A sword for the Lord and Gideon.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Every man shouted. The Midianites began to flee in every direction.
The confusion sent them into a frenzy, and they began
to draw their swords out and fight one another. Gideon
listened as the cries of dying soldiers filled the canyon.
Gideon sent his arm down, and the small number of
soldiers picked off the vast army with ease. He sent
(04:46):
messengers up to the rest of Israel, saying.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
The Midianites are fleeing in every direction.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Raise up your swords and slaughter them.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So the rest of Israel joined in finding scared Midianites
and slaying them. God revealed something to Giddy in that night.
He revealed he is able to use the weak and
small the number to accomplish great things. He does not
need a vast army of soldiers in glimmering armor. He
desires a willing hand, a humble spirit, and a heart
(05:16):
that seeks him. Chapter three, The Failed King and Warrior Son.
The iron pulsed with heat as the blacksmith gently took
it out of the flame. For hours, he attentively forged
the metal into finally crafted scales. Each iron scale was
placed on a thick leather armour, then laced with newly
(05:39):
molten gold. The breastplate was magnificent, truly a wonder to behold.
Its meticulously crafted scales shimmered brightly in the sunlight. It
was heavy, bright, and could not be missed on the battlefield.
Saul held up his new armor with awe and splendor.
Now there will be no mistaking who is king when
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we march into battle, he whispered to himself. The heavy
mail was placed on his back and chest. Then the
breastplate was strapped tightly to him. It fit perfectly. Saul
puffed out his chest and held his sword firmly at
his side. He truly felt like a king, and he
awaited the day he could ride into battle as the
(06:23):
anointed ruler of Israel. As Saul admired himself in the mirror,
a messenger came in through the tent, My.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
King, the Philistines had formed a garrison in Gabe.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Saul turned around in surprise.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
They were supposed to be headed here to Micmash. Are
you sure they have occupied Giba completely?
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Yes, my lord, they have settled there and fortified. The
inhabitants of Gaba were unable to defend themselves. The Philistines
marched right in and took it.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Saul stormed out of his tent with a messenger behind him.
Two thousand soldiers of his newly formed army had marched
with him to Micmash. In order to meet the Philistines.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Planning to march any further.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Saul asked the messenger. The young man shook his head.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Even if they were, my lord, I doubt they would
get far. Your son, Jonathan has planned to march with
a thousand men you put under his command.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Saul stopped in his tracks. How did you hear of this,
Saul demanded.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Jonathan sent me himself, my king. When he got word
of the Philistine horde taking the city, he marches men
straight to Gaba.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Saul was speechless. He took his crown off his head
and looked at it. Its weight almost seemed too heavy.
For a moment, he brushed his fingers against the engravings.
My son is outmatched, he said, We will march to
his aid. He thanked the messenger, then gathered his commanders.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Brothers, we are marching south to Geba. We leave at dawn.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Saul prepared his men to march to his son's aid
at Giba, but first he made sure his armor was
sufficiently finished. The firelight illuminating from the Philistine garrison blocked
out the stars. The night watch marched round the encampment
every hour. Drunken cackles could be heard from behind the
short wooden walls. The Philistines had marched into Giba without resistance,
(08:13):
and they were celebrating the ease of their conquest. Fifty
yards south of the walls, behind the reeds in the swamp,
Jonathan stood with water up to his neck. The mud
covered him head to toe as he spied on the
Philistine garrison. He counted every guard meticulously and timed every
march around the fortress. For hours, he stood completely still
(08:35):
in the cold water. Finally, when he had enough of
a look, he waited quietly back to his camp. Upstream
from the Philistine garrison, tucked behind the stony hills, was
Jonathan's army, a thousand men crouched under the moonlight. There
was no fire. They did not want to be seen
by the Philistine horde a few hundred yards away. Jonathan
(08:57):
greeted his men with a smile. Mud dripped from his
leg armor. He smelled of swamp and dirt. The men
covered their noses as he approached. Although Jonathan was not
the king himself, he had the loyalty of his men.
They followed Jonathan willingly and joyfully. Wherever he led. Jonathan
crouched down on the ground and beckoned for his commanders
(09:18):
to kneel as well. He drew a square in the dirt,
symbolizing the garrison. He drew an ax on the front
of the square and pointed.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
The southernmost side of the garrison is heavily guarded. That
is the side facing the road.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Then Jonathan drew a curved line around the square.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
However, there is a stream that circles around the western
side that is unmanned. It ends in a swamp that
sits less than fifty yards from the enemy. They will
not expect an ambush from that end.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
The commanders were in agreement, and they assembled their men.
Jonathan stood before them. The moon illuminated his muddied face.
He raised his sword in the air and said.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
For too long the Philistines have subjugated our people. They
have taken our land, kidnapped our children, and had their
way with our women. We shall not meekly surrender to
them any longer. We will stand and fight for the Lord.
Our God is with us.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
The men stood firm in silence, ready to follow Jonathan
into battle. Jonathan cleaned his sword, sheathed it, and led
his men back into the stream. The moon's presence retreated
back into the horizon as dawn approached. Still under the
cover of darkness, Jonathan led his army through the swamp
and close to the enemy garrison. They waited for the
(10:33):
precise moment when the knight watch shifted. Then, with the
command of Jonathan, the men charged. Jonathan was the first
to burst through. Although he did not have his father's size,
no one in all of Israel had better sword work.
Jonathan swung his sword like a brush to canvas. With
every swing, the Philistines grew more afraid to approach him.
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The thousand men shouted aloud and stormed the fortress, catching
nearly every Philistine off guard. It only took a few
hours for Jonathan and his men to overpower the Philistine camp.
Every man was either killed or fled back west. Jonathan
stood at the gates of the garrison, freeing each family
that had been taken captive. As he united them and
(11:17):
escorted them back to their homes, nobody knew he was
the Prince of Israel. Saul and his army of two
thousand marched swiftly to Geba. Plumes of smoke rose in
the distance, and Saul feared the worst for his son.
The men settled at the top of the hills above
Giba and camped there. Saul sent out men discout of
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the battlefield to ensure it was safe. They returned to
report Jonathan's victory. Saul smiled, puffed out his chest with pride,
and rode with his men down into the fortress. He
came in with trumpets sounding and flags waving. His arms
were stretched out wide as he entered the garrison with
a booming laugh.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
He shouted, ha ha, ha, ha ha. Let all the Hebrews,
who's here of our victory?
Speaker 2 (12:02):
The men behind him cheered. Jonathan was nursing the wounds
of a few men when he saw his father enter.
The son reflected his father's shimmering new armor. It was
blinding for the men who had had a long night, Father,
Jonathan said, with a tired smile. He beckoned Saul to
come near. Saul dismounted his horse and greeted his son.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
He should have seen the men's bravery, Father, They were excellent.
The Lord was before us this.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Day, Jonathan said, gesturing to his men. Saul embraced his
son and laughed.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
All of Israel will know of our victory. Here Saul exclaimed,
this is the victory we needed to let the Philistines
know we are not a weak nation that can be
trampled upon.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
This is the victory that will get more men to
join our army.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Jonathan bowed humbly as his father left to gather messengers.
He pulled them in close and.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Said, take trumpets into every city of Israel. Tell them
of my victory here, and have more men gather with
me at Gilgal. The Philistines will be looking to retaliate,
and we must be riddy. The messengers took trumpets into
every city, village, and town in Israel, proclaiming Saul's victory
over the Philistine garrison. Every Israelite heard it said that
(13:20):
it was Saul who stormed the fortress. No one heard
of Jonathan's bravery, nor did Jonathan care to have the
glory in the first place. The name of Israel became
a stench to the Philistines. Before Saul's army, the people
of God were militiamen and farmers with swords. However, Jonathan's
defeated the garrison had provoked them to anger. Their hatred
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was ignited. In a matter of weeks, the Philistines amassed
an army of over three thousand chariots and six thousand
horsemen to press up against the nation of Israel. Their
foot soldiers were like the sands of the shore, too
great to count. Their presence was fierce, like a wild
beast prowling at their door. Panic began to settle into
(14:07):
the hearts of the people, and the men who followed
Saul doubted their ability to succeed against such a vast army.
The Philistines were wise tacticians, not lacking in skill or strategy. Slowly,
over the weeks they.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Sent assassins to kill and kidnap the blacksmiths of Israel,
forcing the armies of Sault to carry farming tools, axes
and daggers. Victory was within reach, and the Philistines had
not even begun the battle. They came up and encamped
in Micmash to the east of beth Haven. Messengers of
Israel gazed upon the vast army. They were like a
(14:42):
swarm of locusts, prepared to devour everything in their way.
Israel feared them, and they knew it. Fear was their
first weapon. Saul called the people to join him at
Gilgal the same place where he was ordained as king.
Before them, Samuel would make a sacrifice to God on
behalf of the people, and then Israel would descend into
(15:04):
battle against the Philistine Horde. However, Saul's confidence began to
wane as he saw his army diminish. By the day,
men hid themselves like dogs in the caves and cisterns.
Other men had fled into the lands of Gad and
Gilead with their families. Saul marched up the hill towards Gilgal.
He could sense the men behind him trembling with fear.
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He knew it was only a matter of time before
they too left him. When they arrived at Gilgall, Saul
gathered the people and lifted his arms. The Son's glare
bounced off his armor, nearly blinding them. Saul stood tall,
with an air of confidence in his voice. He raised
his sword high in the air and shouted.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Men of Israel, do not fear the horde of Philistines
lurking at our borders. Samuel is coming to make a
sacrifice on our behalf. He will lead us in worship
to our God, and we will descend with the strength
of the Lord on our side. Believe in me, as
your king, I shall deliver you.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
The men listening perked up with hope. They were comforted
by their king's words and eagerly awaited Samuel's arrival to
make the sacrifice. Every hour spent away from battle was
more time for the Philistines to gather strength and for
Israel to grow more fearful. Saul needed Samuel to come quickly.
He cared less for the sacrifice unto God. He cared
(16:28):
more about what it would do for moral However, Samuel's
donkey was nowhere on the horizon. Seven days was the
anointed time for Samuel to arrive, but it had been
a week and there was still no side of him
on the road. Saul paced the camp of his soldiers,
growing concerned about their lack of passion. Men began to
scatter and leave camp. Saul felt his control waning time
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not the Philistines was becoming his true enemy. Each night,
Saul gathered his men to strategize. However, he had lost
their ears. More reports had come in of the Philistine army.
More men were being added to their numbers by the day,
and Saul was losing control of his men's hearts. The
sun had begun its descent over the horizon on the
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seventh day, and Saul sat at the stone where he
was ordained as king. He remembered the lightning falling from
the sky and the people scattering in fear. From the
very beginning, Saul felt out of control. Even his own
coronation had been interrupted. Now on the eve of his
greatest battle, yet Samuel was absent. Saul felt the surge
(17:37):
of paranoia well up from within him. The people will
leave me, he thought to himself.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
They need to know that the Lord is on my side.
They need to know that I am just as anointed
and blessed as Samuel.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Saul measured the sun's distance from the horizon. He only
had an hour left before nightfall. Saul stood to his feet.
His heart was racing and his hands were sweating. His
eyes darted over to the altar, where Samuel would make
sacrifices to God. Samuel was the appointed priest of Israel
and chosen by God to represent them. However, he was
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not there, and Saul needed his men to trust him, so,
out of paranoia and distrust in God's providence, Saul sent
for an animal bring me the burnt offerings and the
peace offerings, he said to his servants. The servants were perplexed,
but did as they were told. Saul gathered the people
together at the altar. He cleaned, prepared, and made the
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sacrifice before them. He had the violent and savage touch
of a soldier. He butchered the animal without delicacy or grace.
The beautiful and honorable practice of burnt offerings was reduced
to a frantic act of paranoia. Saul's voice lifted up
to the heavens with vain and repetitious platitudes. As the
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burnt offerings ascended and smoked to the sky, Saul could
feel the people's anxiety lifting as they saw their king worship.
All he wanted was for their approval. For years, he
had been seeking the praise they gave him during his coronation.
He longed for their worship. He craved their approval. Samuel
ascended the hill at Gilgall. He looked to the horizon.
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He was pleased that he had arrived before the seventh
day was over. Samuel's old legs slowly made their way
up the hills. He meticulously moved forward, avoiding the holes
and rocks along the way. He reached the encampment of Gilgall.
Winded from his long journey, Samuel paused and scanned the area.
Most of the men had left their sights and gathered
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at the camp's edge near the altar. He heard chants
and prayers being lifted to the Lord. Samuel walked closer,
afraid of what he was going to find. Smoke rose
to the heavens in the center of the crowd. As
he approached the group, Samuel saw Saul at the altar
amidst the sacrifice. He was smiling ear to ear, basking
(19:59):
in the praise the people. Samuel's blood boiled with righteous anger.
It was not Saul's place to make a sacrifice on
behalf of the people. He had overstepped and disgraced the
practices of the priesthood with his vain worship. The people
made their way back to their tents. They left with
smiles on their faces, reassured that the Lord was on
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Saul's side. However, Samuel knew the real heart of God.
He leaned underneath the cypress tree, waiting for Saul to approach.
Saul watched the people retreat for the night. He was
pleased with his ability to comfort them. The flames continued
to rise on the altar. He wiped the blood off
(20:42):
his hands and rested the filthy rag on the altar,
knocking over some coals onto the floor. The rag burned immediately,
and the burning red coals turned cool. He turned and
saw Samuel leaning against the tree with his arms folded. Saul,
being caught up in the delusion that he was a
priest of the Lord, approached Samuel with a priestly greeting.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Samuel, the Lord bless you and keep you.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
His blessing was a counterfeit greeting. It was as empty
and meaningless as the sacrifice he had just made on
the altar. Samuel peered at him silently. God warned them,
he thought to himself, a prideful king for a prideful nation.
Saul began to place his hand on Samuel's shoulder, but
it was quickly batted away. Samuel stood up straight. Although
(21:30):
Saul was a head taller than Samuel, the priest's presence
seemed to be looming over the king. What have you done,
Samuel asked. Saul feigned confusion for a moment, then looked
back at the altar. Oh, you mean the sacrifice he
asked ignorantly. The people were losing heart, Samuel. They were
scattering from me and retreating to the hills for safety,
(21:51):
and you had not come when you said you would,
so I took action. Saul paused to look for validation
from Samuel, yet he received none. Growing nervous, Saul continued
to ramble.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
The Philistines have mustered a large army at Mickmash. A
choice was sent before me as king. I could march
down without the favor of God, or I could lead
the people to the altar of the Lord and make
an offering. Naturally, I chose to honor God. I forced
myself to take on the role of priest.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Forced yourself, Samuel asked.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Saul nodded and shroud Yes, Samuel, I would have preferred
you arrived sooner so you could perform the sacrifice. However,
I had to do what I had to do.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
You are a fool, Samuel snapped.
Speaker 7 (22:43):
You have disregarded the command of the Lord, your God.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
He shook his head at Saul and sighed, Saul.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
Your kingdom would have been established forever you had the
opportunity to see the glory and mercy of God. Bless
your hands, but now your kingdom shall not continue.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Saul's eyes widened as he listened to the old priest speak.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
But Samuel, these are my people.
Speaker 7 (23:07):
They are God's people, Saul.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Not yours, Samuel yelled. His voice was booming like the
very wrath of God. Samuel took his staff and pointed
it at Saul, saying, the.
Speaker 7 (23:19):
Lord has sought out another to replace you. He has
sought out a man who is after his own heart.
He has sought out a man who cares more about
pleasing the heart of God than looking for the approval
of man. This king shall be prince over the Lord's people.
He shall steward God's people well, and it will be
(23:40):
his kingdom that continues into eternity.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Saul stood silently, looking down at Samuel. His words rang
in his ears. He looked back at the altar. The
flames had dissipated and the wood had split and fallen
off the edge. Before Saul could ask forgiveness or give
a defense for himself, Samuel departed. All the empty words
Saul desired to give him would remain in his mouth.
(24:05):
The priest had left. The people were ignorant of Samuel's
words to Saul. They did not know that the Lord
had turned his face from him. However, Saul knew he
knew his days as king were numbered, yet he would
hold on to the throne for as long as he
possibly could. The next day, Saul and Jonathan mobilized what
was left of the men. The army of three thousand
(24:28):
men had dwindled down to a measly six hundred. Saul's
inability to inspire left his army and nemek. They marched
to the borders of mcmash and camp there. The Philistine
horde was only a few miles over the other side
of a small mountain. That night, Saul paced by the
fire restlessly. He did not want to go into battle.
(24:48):
The Philistines outnumbered them six to one. He knew that
they were no match for them without more men. He
did not call for reinforcements, nor did he strategize on
how to use his men. He simply paced around the fire,
paralyzed by fear and faithlessness. Jonathan arose early in the
(25:09):
morning to be with the Lord. He scaled the tall
mountains swiftly, seeking to beat the sunrise. He raised the
sun up the summit and placed himself on a stone
resting at the very top. The sun's rays spread across
the valley below, splashing the land with different shades of
orange and yellow. Jonathan basked in the glory of God.
(25:30):
He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh morning air.
He knelt down, seeking God's strength for the coming battle.
Jonathan knew that the battle would come sooner or later. However,
he feared that it would be the Philistines to attack first.
His father had been paralyzed by fear for weeks.
Speaker 6 (25:47):
Now.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Instead of strategizing or gathering more men, he lounged underneath
the pomegranite tree. God's presence brought solace to Jonathan's mind.
He scanned the land below with the sober eye to
take in the terrain that led down to the camp
of the Philistines. Their numbers were growing by the day.
With each passing moment, the strength of the Philistines grew,
(26:10):
and the hope of Israel waned. As he scanned the land,
Jonathan saw a narrow path through the pass with large
sharp rocks on either side. The path led all the
way up to the northern side of camp, where the
enemy set a watch. The path was wide near the
Philistine garrison then bottleneck closer to the mountain. Jonathan studied
(26:30):
it closely.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
A few men could easily fight a much larger number.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Here, Jonathan thought to himself. He drew the path from
the sand and pondered. Jonathan felt the surge of prompting
from God. He knew that the Lord would not abandon
his people. He had faith that if he marched forward,
it didn't matter how outnumbered he was. Jonathan descended down
the mountain back to camp. Many of the men were
(26:57):
still sleeping below, including his young armor Barresbys. Jonathan stuck
into his tent and woke him. He placed his finger
over his mouth and whispered.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
Quick, put on your armor and gather your weapons.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Are remarching, Cobys asked, rubbing his eyes.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
You and I are going over the Philistine garrison on
the other side of the.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Mountain, Jonathan said intensely. There was a joy in his
voice that Cobos had heard before. Cobys chuckled and scratched
his head At your word, Jonathan smiled, and the two
began their ascent up the hill. They reached the top
of the mountain and crouched down. Jonathan pointed out the
sharp rocks and the path between them. One of the
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rocks faced northward opposite of Micmash, and the other southward
opposite of Gibea. The large jagged rocks crossed one another.
Arching over the path, Jonathan and Cobys could approach the
garrison unseen. Then, when they were ready, they could lure
the enemy in and fight them in a smaller number.
The two of them descended the mountain and hid under
(27:57):
the arch of the two rocks. They remained there for
the day, watching the guard of the Philistines march around
the perimeter of the camp. Jonathan smirked. They had learned
their lesson from before. No sight of camp was left unmanned.
The warrior's spirit in Jonathan was pleased that he had
left such an impression on them. Noon had passed, and
(28:17):
the later hours of the day took away the heat.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Shall we report back to Saul and tell him what
we have.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Found, Cobys asked. Jonathan did not respond right away. His
eyes were locked on the camp. He was lost in thought,
wrestling in his heart about what the next step should be.
Jonathan turned to his servant with an intense gaze.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Does anything restrain God?
Speaker 2 (28:40):
He asked, Cobys did not answer. He knew the point
Jonathan was making. Jonathan gestured to the garrison.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
Let us go over these uncircumcised Philistines. The Lord may
work for us. If the Lord is for us, it
does not matter whether two or two thousand men charge
against them.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
The armor bear placed his hand on his men master's
shoulder and nodded, Do.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
What is in your heart, my lord, he said, reassuringly,
I and my hammer are with you.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Jonathan slapped his servant's shoulder and laughed. Very well, he exclaimed.
He pointed forward and said.
Speaker 5 (29:15):
Let us cross over to these men that are on
the Northern Guard. We will reveal ourselves to them and
make ourselves known. If they tell us to wait where
we are, we will know to retreat. However, if they
tell us to come to them, we will take that
as a sign from God and charge forward.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Jonathan felt the confidence in his decision. He was prompted
by faith. He did not demand to know the entire
strategy of God in advance. He was willing to take
it one step at a time and let the Lord
unveil his will with each passing moment. Jonathan did not
need the whole plan. He only needed one more step.
(29:52):
The two of them stood up and marched forward. Jonathan
wore his leather armor with bronze strappings. His sword was
securely sheathed on his left side. He did not look
like a prince or carry himself like royalty. Cobis marched
in pace behind him. His armor was lighter and more
afraid of the edges since the blacksmiths had been taken
away from them. He wore a hammer strapped to his
(30:15):
side and three cooking knives strapped to his ankles in waist.
They carried themselves like simple messengers. The Philistines might even
believe they had abandoned Saul and gone to them. Many
others had already done that very thing. The Philistine camp
was resting on a small hill at the mouth of
the trail. The watch saw them immediately. One of the
(30:36):
men shouted to the others.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Two Hebrews approaching the north side.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Few of them chuckled look at them.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Like rats emerging from their holes.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
They leaned against one another, unthreatened by their presence.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Have you come to seek refuge, Hebrews?
Speaker 6 (30:53):
They chided, Come here to us, and we'll show you
our camp.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Their invitation was out of jest, but it was the
exact sign Jonathan was looking for. He turned to his
armor bare and nodded, follow me.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
The Lord has already given us victory.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
The two of them climbed up the hill on all fours.
Once they reached the garrison, the Philistine guards were chuckling
at them. One of them came close to mock Jonathan more,
but before he could say a word, Jonathan's sword was
taken out of its sheath and swung upwards of the
man's head. With a quick swipe of his sword, Jonathan
cut the Philistine's head clean off his body. The other
(31:32):
guards stumbled back in surprise. Jonathan gave them no time
to compose themselves. He ran forward, like a lion to
its prey. He launched himself into the men, swinging into
their flesh with poracity. You Hobus was close behind him,
swinging his hammer with momentum. The Philistines drew their swords
and attacked, but Jonathan was too quick for them. With
(31:55):
each advance, he was able to cut them at their
legs and rips. Cobis then came from behind and smashed
their heads at Jonathan's speed was unlike anything they had
ever seen before. One of the Philistines swung down to
Jonathan with an axe. Jonathan pivoted to his left and
shabbed the man with a hilt of his sword, cracking
two of his ribs. Jonathan pushed him forward, throwing him
(32:18):
bright into the swing of Cobus's hand. The two of
them were in tandem, frustrating every new Philistine that approached them.
Jonathan and Kobis slowly backed into the bottlenecked trail outside
the camp. The Philistines took the bank. Men were only
able to enter three at a time. Each time, the
two Hebrews were able to handle them with ease. One
(32:40):
Philistine was able to gain an advantage over Cobis, pressing
the shaft of his spear against his throat. Cobis gasped prayer,
drew the knife from his side, and thrust it into
the man's ribs. Jonathan gained an advantage over men twice
in size. Over twenty men were killed before panic began
to set into camp. The garrison of the Philistines could
(33:00):
hear the slaughter coming from the outside. Judging by the
sounds of the screams, they were convinced that they had
been attacked with over one thousand men. The two men
of God held their ground. Jonathan dodged every attack and
blocked every advance. No Philistine could quench the fire of
God's spirit within him. The Philistines gathered hundreds of men
(33:23):
to run outside the garrison. The two men saw a
large group running towards them. At that moment, the Lord
of all creation joined in the battle. As if the
fists of God itself had slammed against the earth, the
ground began to shake. A mighty earthquake shook the garrison,
causing a panic to errupt among the Philistines. The earth
(33:44):
itself was God's Hannah. The watchmen of Saul's army peered
closely at the Philistine garrison below. He could see that
there was a commotion in the enemy camp. He could
hear the battle raging, but could not make out which
warriors had charged. He saw a multitude of Philistines retreating.
The watchmen brought news to Saul that a platoon of
(34:06):
men must have attacked the Philistines. Saul numbered his men.
All were accounted for except Jonathan and his armor.
Speaker 6 (34:13):
Bear.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Panic began to set in for Saul. Jonathan had set
an attack in motion, forcing Saul to attack.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Bring the ark of God.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Saul said to one of the priests.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
Pray to God and cast lots to see if we
should into the battle.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
As the priest began to pray with the Urim and
the Thumbim, the noise of the battle below grew deafeningly loud,
So loud it was impossible for Saul to wait any longer.
Saul drew his sword and led his men around the mountain.
It was at that moment when Saul and his army
could feel the trembling of the ground beneath them. God
was already in the battle. The Philistines had been tossed
(34:50):
into such a confusion that they were attacking one another.
Jonathan and his servant were nowhere to be seen. However,
it was apparent that the battle could be won. Saul
wasted no more time. He charged into battle with his men,
taking advantage of the Philistines confused frenzy. Saul rode atop
a white horse, with his armor glivering in the sun.
(35:12):
Even the Hebrew slaves who were captive under the Philistines
joined in the battle. It was a glorious slaughter, and
the drums of war echoed across the valley. Men who
had hidden in the mountains heard the battle prize of
their brethren. Inspired by the sound of victory, they grabbed
their weapons and joined Saul. The Philistines outnumbered the Hebrews,
(35:33):
but they were severely outmatched by the God of all creation.
The god who had split the seas so long ago,
was able to split the enemy in half with the
power of a few faithful men. Victory belonged to Israel
that day, and the battle shifted across the valley to Bethaven.
(35:53):
Saul became bloodthirsty in battle. His frustration over what had
happened in Gilgal fueled him in battle. He wanted vengeance.
He wanted to feel powerful. Although his men were beginning
to grow faint and in need of food, Saul ordered
them to press in further.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening
before I have had my vengeance on the Philistines, He shouted.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Saul withheld food from his men and led them further
into the battle. He placed them under an oath that
would doom them to fatigue. Saul's forced oath came from
a deep insecurity. He felt powerless and as if his
authority was weakened by Samuel's words, so he imposed his
will on the soldiers. Their strength was waning and they
(36:40):
became more discouraged by the minute. Jonathan had not heard
his father's orders. He was far ahead of the rest
sabotaging the Philistines who had retreated in the forest. Jonathan
had been fighting longer and harder than the rest of
the men, so when he saw honey dripping from the
trees in the forest, he took it and ate. He
filled his belly with honey, and his countenance brightened. One
(37:04):
of the men following him saw Jonathan eating and said, your.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Father, the king has ordered us not to eat. What
have you done.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Jonathan continued to eat the honey and march forward. He
turned to the man and responded, saying.
Speaker 5 (37:19):
My father has burdened you. I have eaten and now
feel like I have the strength to press in further.
If my father had allowed you to eat from the
Philistine rations we raided, we would have victory much quicker.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Jonathan did not spend too much time on the matter.
He was determined to press further into enemy territory. He
could see victory was close. He ran forward with renewed vigor,
jabbing his sword into the heart of the enemy. Resisting
food became a battle in itself for the army of Israel.
The men had grown so hungry that when the day
(37:51):
had ended, they rushed on the spoil of war and
took sheep, oxen, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground,
eating the meat raw like animals. It was a ghastly sight,
and the eating of the blood was directly against the
law of Moses. Saul's rash vow had led his men
to desperation. Out of that desperation, he caused them to sin.
(38:14):
Saul's insecurity as a leader had caused his people to
disobey the law of God. Instead of repenting, Saul duck
his heels in deeper, saying, you.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Treacherous people, compose yourselves and handle the meat correctly.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
So he led them to make an altar to the Lord,
sacrifice the animals, and eat the meat correctly. The entire
army rested that night before advancing further against the Philistines.
That night, Saul brooded in his tent. They had the
Philistines on the run, and the king was anxious to
finish the battle Saul sat beside the priest who was
(38:51):
with him, and asked.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Shall we continue to go down after the Philistines? Will
God bless me if I continue?
Speaker 2 (38:59):
The priest inquired of God, but there was no answer.
All of Saul's prayers were met with silence. The lord
had turned his face from the king. Saul buried his
face in his hands and shook his head. Instead of
looking inward, he lifted his head and looked outward. Someone
here must have sinned for God to meet us with silence,
(39:21):
Saul said to himself. He stood to his feet and
gathered the elders and chiefs who were with him. Saul's
eyes were tired, his hair was disheveled, and his beard
was haggard. The king drew out his sword.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
And yelled, who among you has sinned?
Speaker 2 (39:35):
The paranoia of Saul was leaking out. He swung his
sword violently. The elder stepped back in fear as the
flustered king raged in front of them.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
Who broke my oath? Who among you was the traitor?
I will slaughter him where he stands. I will kill
even my own son if I have to.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
The people were silent. They all knew that Jonathan had
broken the oath to sad. However, they were more loyal
to him than they were to their king. They said nothing,
even if it meant enduring the wrath of Saul. The
king cast lots to see who was responsible for breaking
the oath first, and the lots fell on Jonathan. The
(40:16):
rest of the men stepped back, and Jonathan stood in
front of his father. Saul's jaw quivered and his nostrils flared.
He marched up to his son and looked down at him.
What have you done, he snarled. Jonathan looked up at
his father unashamed. I ate, honey, he said, plainly.
Speaker 5 (40:34):
If that means death, then so be it. Kill me
where I stand, father, make an example of me.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Jonathan's calm demeanor was contrasted to Saul's frantic raves. Saul
lifted his sword to Jonathan's neck anger filled his heart
very well, Saul said, harshly, it shall be done. Saul
drew his shoulders back, prepared to kill his own son.
As the sword came closer to his son's dead the
(41:00):
men interrupted.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
Shall Jonathan die? After all he did for us? They yelled,
the Lord is used to give us victory today.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
The men stepped forward and placed themselves in front of Jonathan.
Saul stepped back in dismay. The men protected him and
put themselves in danger for him. Jonathan held the loyalty
and praise he so desperately craved. Saul put his sword
back in the sheath without a word. He retreated to
(41:28):
his tams.
Speaker 1 (41:36):
A new hero has risen through the ranks. Jonathan has
come onto the scene and proves himself to be a
man worth fighting for. He is brave, humble, and close
to God. In the prelude, we were reminded through Gideon's
life that God doesn't need flash elitas and huge armies
to accomplish his will. He needs willing hands, humble spirits,
(42:00):
and hearts that seek him. Jonathan embidies these qualities excellently,
while Saul strays further away from them. This episode is
all about contrast. The disjointed army of Israel is contrasted
with the organized army of the Philistines. The undying loyalty
of Jonathan's men are contrasted with the flighty followers of Saul.
(42:22):
Even the humble leather armor of Jonathan is supposed to
be contrasted with Saul's flashy golden armor. It is clear
by the end of this episode that Jonathan is everything
Saul was supposed to be, but sadly is it. The
beginning of the episode shows us how Saul has crumbled
under the pressure. With a few years as king under
(42:43):
his belt, Saul has become more vain and image obsessed.
Remember what we talked about last episode. Saul is like
a golden calf, a replacement for God. The people worshiped him,
therefore putting undue pressure on him. It is only fitting
that he paraded himself a rond in gold scaled Almah.
Saul's armor is going to be an important icon in
(43:06):
this series. It will weave into the story in later episodes,
so be sure to look for it. After getting a
glimpse at the growing pride of Saul, we're introduced to Jonathan,
the Prince of Israel. He storms a Philistine garrison out
number two to one. It is clear through Jonathan's words
and actions that he is a simple man whose only
(43:27):
ambition is to honor God and protect his country. Jonathan
has no clear ambition for the throne, glory, or praise.
This is exemplified in the way he allows Saul to
take credit for his victory. Saul takes credit for an
achievement he did not earn, but Jonathan doesn't care. All
Jonathan cared about was the battle God set before him.
(43:48):
Saul and Jonathan are placed before us as two completely
different leaders. Jonathan has the undying loyalty of his men.
He has no fear and no sense of self importance. Saul, however,
feels the need to be seen and validated by everyone
around him, even for acts he did not commit. Ironically,
he finds himself continually battling for people's attention, where soldiers
(44:13):
naturally gravitate toward Jonathan. This is a theme in scripture
and will be a theme further explored when we meet David.
Those who are primarily concerned with the approval of people
rather than the approval of God will find themselves without either.
In the end, Saul desperately wants the people to worship
him again, so when he feels their support waning, he
(44:34):
makes a grave mistake. Samuel is late to bless the army,
so the men become unsure if Saul even has the
favor of God. Saul, in an attempt to gain their trust,
makes the sacrifice himself. This is an egregious error and
proof that Saul doesn't truly respect God's law at all.
Saul cares more about the appearance of holiness than being holy.
(44:55):
He cares more about the image of righteousness than being righteous,
the role of priests, and tricks his men into thinking
he is a conduit for God. He gained the people's
trust at the expense of God's favor. Samuel finally enters
the scene, rightfully enraged when he sees Saul's sloppy sacrifice
filled on the altar, all his nightmares of a prideful
(45:17):
and manipulative king are coming true before his eyes. Saul
has sullied the name of God for cheap applause, and
he will not let him get away with it. And
did you notice the coals?
Speaker 2 (45:30):
Saul?
Speaker 1 (45:31):
When he sees Samuel knock some coals away from the fire,
he is oblivious to them and they fizzle out behind him.
Saul is deep in his own delusion, but Samuel cuts
through with a warning. He looks at Saul with his
staff in his hand and says, Saul, your kingdom would
have been established forever you have the opportunity to see
(45:53):
the glory and mercy of God. Bless your hands. But
now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought
out another to replace you. He has sought out a
man who is after his own heart. He has sought
out a man who cares more about pleasing the heart
of God than looking for the approval of man. This
king shall be a prince over the Lord's people. He
(46:14):
shall steward God's people well, and it will be his
kingdom that continues into eternity. Who is this mysterious king
Samuel is speaking of. There is another rising hero who
hasn't made his appearance yet, but we won't speak of
him quite yet. Episode three ends with a great battle.
Jonathan and his armor bear takes on a horde of
(46:36):
Philistines on their own, proving that God does not need
flashy leaders and large armies to accomplish his purposes. Two
faithful men who were able to stir up an entire army, huh,
which is pretty incredible. We didn't need more reasons to
root for Jonathan, but he certainly gives us plenty more
reasons when we hear about his fighting skills. But more
(46:57):
than that, his sensitivity to God's spirit is put in
contrast to Saul's ignorance. Jonathan is very attuned to the
will of God, but Saul seems oblivious to it. This
is further exemplified by the way Samuel acts when he
enters the battle. Drunk with power. Saul makes a rash oath, saying,
cursed is the man who eats any food until evening
(47:19):
before I have made my vengeance on the Philistines. It
is a preposterous oath and completely unnecessary. In fact, it
causes way more harm than good. Saul is seeking control
because he was late to the battle. At the end
of the episode, Jonathan goes against Saul's warning and eats
Saul in a mad frenzy to maintain the respect of
(47:41):
his men, draws a sword to Jonathan's throat. This is
the most intense image we have explored yet. Saul, in
this moment, is prepared to kill his own son for
the sake of his pride. But Saul is not just
pointing a sword at his son. He is pointing a
sword at the small sliver of righteousness that remains in
(48:02):
his heart. Jonathan represents Saul's last remaining connection to God.
If he kills him, that will be the end of
it all, Jonathan's men come to his defense, Saul, embarrassed, leaves.
We're all left at the end of this episode with
a bad taste in our mouths and a growing sense
that Saul's prideful heart is bound to get the best
(48:24):
of him. He has darker moments ahead of him. In
the next episode, we will see him at his lowest
and we will witness God's patience wearing thin. When is
this promised king going to show up? Hopefully soon? Thanks
again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and
wisdom to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com.
(48:45):
If you've been enjoying this series, please write a review
and let me know how this podcast has impacted your life.
God bless
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in
the Bible. If you've been enjoying this series, please write
a review and let us know how this podcast has
impacted your life. Welcome to the epic Adventure of David,
a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
(00:22):
few know about David the Man. I'm glad you're here
with me as we mind the depths of this renowned tale.
In this episode, we are introduced to a very important
new character, Jonathan, the firstborn of Saul. Jonathan is pure,
courageous and has the loyalty of his men. In this episode,
Jonathan's righteousness and trust in God is contrasted with Saul's
(00:45):
growing pride and self absorption. Like a ruler held up
to a jagged line. Looking at Jonathan gives us a
better understanding of just how crooked Saul is becoming. Jonathan's
humility will reveal just how prideful Saul has become. Jonathan's
sober mind will show us just how duraigne Saul's mind
has become. And lastly, Jonathan's devotion to God will show
(01:09):
us just how far from God Saul has fallen. This
episode is filled with vivid scenes of epic battles, but
none of them are won by Saul. In fact, he
will be more of a hindrance than a help. We
will start to see just how much of a weight
bad leaders can be. This episode begins with a prelude,
a glimpse into another space and time when God proved
(01:32):
himself faithful. We are shown that God does not need
vast armies or charismatic leaders to carry out his purposes.
At the end of this episode, we will be faced
with a tense moment between Saul and Jonathan. A sword
will be aimed at Jonathan's throat, and Saul will find
himself captive to his own pride. Will Jonathan's story end
(01:53):
before we even get a chance to know him. Will
Saul's quick descent into paranoia proof fatal for the people
of Israel? Let's find out together in episode three of
our series, through David, the failed King and Warrior Son.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Prelude to chapter three, Wake up, Gideon yelled, arise from
your beds, for God will give his victory over the Midianites.
Tonight Gideon took his three hundred men and divided them
into three companies. He armed them not with swords, but
with trumpets, empty jars, and torches. He scanned his modest army.
(02:30):
They were greatly outnumbered. God had dwindled down their number
from thirty two thousand to three hundred in a matter
of hours. Gideon was the weakest man, from the weakest tribe,
leading an army of three hundred against an army of thousands. However,
there was a confidence welling up within Gideon. He knew
that the Lord had gone before them. Gideon split the
(02:54):
three companies and had them placed on every side of
the canyons, overlooking the enemy camp.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Look at me into why as I do when I
blow my trumpet, you will do the same on every side.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
He said. The jars above their torches made the light disperse,
giving the illusion of thousands instead of hundreds. Gideon looked
down at the Midianite horde below. They were vast, like
the sea. Gideon gulped and closed his eyes. This is it,
he said to himself. He looked across the hills and
(03:24):
saw his three hundred men surrounding the camp. All was
quiet for a moment. Then Gideon raised his trumpet to
his mouth and blew. It echoed across the canyons, and
three hundred trumpets.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Joined in for the Lord and Gideon.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
The men shouted the sound of trumpets ballowed and quaked
across the canyons. The sounds of war shook the ground,
and the midi knighted army awoke in a confused frenzy.
The Israelites broke the jars in their hands, and the
piercing sounds of broken glass frightened the livestock and king
rose and began to knock their tents into fires. The
(04:03):
Midianites were flustered and did not know whether to arm
themselves or retrieve their animals. The trumpets continued to wail
and make it difficult to think. It was dark, but
the torchlights from the hill scattered in a million directions
over the camp. They had the appearance of fiery arrows,
armed and ready to descend on the camp.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
A sword for the Lord and Gideon.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Every man shouted. The Midianites began to flee in every direction.
The confusion sent them into a frenzy, and they began
to draw their swords out and fight one another. Gideon
listened as the cries of dying soldiers filled the canyon.
Gideon sent his arm down, and the small number of
soldiers picked off the vast army with ease. He sent
(04:46):
messengers up to the rest of Israel, saying.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
The Midianites are fleeing in every direction.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Raise up your swords and slaughter them.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So the rest of Israel joined in finding scared Midianites
and slaying them. God revealed something to Giddy in that night.
He revealed he is able to use the weak and
small the number to accomplish great things. He does not
need a vast army of soldiers in glimmering armor. He
desires a willing hand, a humble spirit, and a heart
(05:16):
that seeks him. Chapter three, The Failed King and Warrior Son.
The iron pulsed with heat as the blacksmith gently took
it out of the flame. For hours, he attentively forged
the metal into finally crafted scales. Each iron scale was
placed on a thick leather armour, then laced with newly
(05:39):
molten gold. The breastplate was magnificent, truly a wonder to behold.
Its meticulously crafted scales shimmered brightly in the sunlight. It
was heavy, bright, and could not be missed on the battlefield.
Saul held up his new armor with awe and splendor.
Now there will be no mistaking who is king when
(06:01):
we march into battle, he whispered to himself. The heavy
mail was placed on his back and chest. Then the
breastplate was strapped tightly to him. It fit perfectly. Saul
puffed out his chest and held his sword firmly at
his side. He truly felt like a king, and he
awaited the day he could ride into battle as the
(06:23):
anointed ruler of Israel. As Saul admired himself in the mirror,
a messenger came in through the tent, My.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
King, the Philistines had formed a garrison in Gabe.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Saul turned around in surprise.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
They were supposed to be headed here to Micmash. Are
you sure they have occupied Giba completely?
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Yes, my lord, they have settled there and fortified. The
inhabitants of Gaba were unable to defend themselves. The Philistines
marched right in and took it.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Saul stormed out of his tent with a messenger behind him.
Two thousand soldiers of his newly formed army had marched
with him to Micmash. In order to meet the Philistines.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Planning to march any further.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Saul asked the messenger. The young man shook his head.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Even if they were, my lord, I doubt they would
get far. Your son, Jonathan has planned to march with
a thousand men you put under his command.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Saul stopped in his tracks. How did you hear of this,
Saul demanded.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Jonathan sent me himself, my king. When he got word
of the Philistine horde taking the city, he marches men
straight to Gaba.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Saul was speechless. He took his crown off his head
and looked at it. Its weight almost seemed too heavy.
For a moment, he brushed his fingers against the engravings.
My son is outmatched, he said, We will march to
his aid. He thanked the messenger, then gathered his commanders.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Brothers, we are marching south to Geba. We leave at dawn.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Saul prepared his men to march to his son's aid
at Giba, but first he made sure his armor was
sufficiently finished. The firelight illuminating from the Philistine garrison blocked
out the stars. The night watch marched round the encampment
every hour. Drunken cackles could be heard from behind the
short wooden walls. The Philistines had marched into Giba without resistance,
(08:13):
and they were celebrating the ease of their conquest. Fifty
yards south of the walls, behind the reeds in the swamp,
Jonathan stood with water up to his neck. The mud
covered him head to toe as he spied on the
Philistine garrison. He counted every guard meticulously and timed every
march around the fortress. For hours, he stood completely still
(08:35):
in the cold water. Finally, when he had enough of
a look, he waited quietly back to his camp. Upstream
from the Philistine garrison, tucked behind the stony hills, was
Jonathan's army, a thousand men crouched under the moonlight. There
was no fire. They did not want to be seen
by the Philistine horde a few hundred yards away. Jonathan
(08:57):
greeted his men with a smile. Mud dripped from his
leg armor. He smelled of swamp and dirt. The men
covered their noses as he approached. Although Jonathan was not
the king himself, he had the loyalty of his men.
They followed Jonathan willingly and joyfully. Wherever he led. Jonathan
crouched down on the ground and beckoned for his commanders
(09:18):
to kneel as well. He drew a square in the dirt,
symbolizing the garrison. He drew an ax on the front
of the square and pointed.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
The southernmost side of the garrison is heavily guarded. That
is the side facing the road.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Then Jonathan drew a curved line around the square.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
However, there is a stream that circles around the western
side that is unmanned. It ends in a swamp that
sits less than fifty yards from the enemy. They will
not expect an ambush from that end.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
The commanders were in agreement, and they assembled their men.
Jonathan stood before them. The moon illuminated his muddied face.
He raised his sword in the air and said.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
For too long the Philistines have subjugated our people. They
have taken our land, kidnapped our children, and had their
way with our women. We shall not meekly surrender to
them any longer. We will stand and fight for the Lord.
Our God is with us.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
The men stood firm in silence, ready to follow Jonathan
into battle. Jonathan cleaned his sword, sheathed it, and led
his men back into the stream. The moon's presence retreated
back into the horizon as dawn approached. Still under the
cover of darkness, Jonathan led his army through the swamp
and close to the enemy garrison. They waited for the
(10:33):
precise moment when the knight watch shifted. Then, with the
command of Jonathan, the men charged. Jonathan was the first
to burst through. Although he did not have his father's size,
no one in all of Israel had better sword work.
Jonathan swung his sword like a brush to canvas. With
every swing, the Philistines grew more afraid to approach him.
(10:55):
The thousand men shouted aloud and stormed the fortress, catching
nearly every Philistine off guard. It only took a few
hours for Jonathan and his men to overpower the Philistine camp.
Every man was either killed or fled back west. Jonathan
stood at the gates of the garrison, freeing each family
that had been taken captive. As he united them and
(11:17):
escorted them back to their homes, nobody knew he was
the Prince of Israel. Saul and his army of two
thousand marched swiftly to Geba. Plumes of smoke rose in
the distance, and Saul feared the worst for his son.
The men settled at the top of the hills above
Giba and camped there. Saul sent out men discout of
(11:37):
the battlefield to ensure it was safe. They returned to
report Jonathan's victory. Saul smiled, puffed out his chest with pride,
and rode with his men down into the fortress. He
came in with trumpets sounding and flags waving. His arms
were stretched out wide as he entered the garrison with
a booming laugh.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
He shouted, ha ha, ha, ha ha. Let all the Hebrews,
who's here of our victory?
Speaker 2 (12:02):
The men behind him cheered. Jonathan was nursing the wounds
of a few men when he saw his father enter.
The son reflected his father's shimmering new armor. It was
blinding for the men who had had a long night, Father,
Jonathan said, with a tired smile. He beckoned Saul to
come near. Saul dismounted his horse and greeted his son.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
He should have seen the men's bravery, Father, They were excellent.
The Lord was before us this.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Day, Jonathan said, gesturing to his men. Saul embraced his
son and laughed.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
All of Israel will know of our victory. Here Saul exclaimed,
this is the victory we needed to let the Philistines
know we are not a weak nation that can be
trampled upon.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
This is the victory that will get more men to
join our army.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Jonathan bowed humbly as his father left to gather messengers.
He pulled them in close and.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Said, take trumpets into every city of Israel. Tell them
of my victory here, and have more men gather with
me at Gilgal. The Philistines will be looking to retaliate,
and we must be riddy. The messengers took trumpets into
every city, village, and town in Israel, proclaiming Saul's victory
over the Philistine garrison. Every Israelite heard it said that
(13:20):
it was Saul who stormed the fortress. No one heard
of Jonathan's bravery, nor did Jonathan care to have the
glory in the first place. The name of Israel became
a stench to the Philistines. Before Saul's army, the people
of God were militiamen and farmers with swords. However, Jonathan's
defeated the garrison had provoked them to anger. Their hatred
(13:44):
was ignited. In a matter of weeks, the Philistines amassed
an army of over three thousand chariots and six thousand
horsemen to press up against the nation of Israel. Their
foot soldiers were like the sands of the shore, too
great to count. Their presence was fierce, like a wild
beast prowling at their door. Panic began to settle into
(14:07):
the hearts of the people, and the men who followed
Saul doubted their ability to succeed against such a vast army.
The Philistines were wise tacticians, not lacking in skill or strategy. Slowly,
over the weeks they.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Sent assassins to kill and kidnap the blacksmiths of Israel,
forcing the armies of Sault to carry farming tools, axes
and daggers. Victory was within reach, and the Philistines had
not even begun the battle. They came up and encamped
in Micmash to the east of beth Haven. Messengers of
Israel gazed upon the vast army. They were like a
(14:42):
swarm of locusts, prepared to devour everything in their way.
Israel feared them, and they knew it. Fear was their
first weapon. Saul called the people to join him at
Gilgal the same place where he was ordained as king.
Before them, Samuel would make a sacrifice to God on
behalf of the people, and then Israel would descend into
(15:04):
battle against the Philistine Horde. However, Saul's confidence began to
wane as he saw his army diminish. By the day,
men hid themselves like dogs in the caves and cisterns.
Other men had fled into the lands of Gad and
Gilead with their families. Saul marched up the hill towards Gilgal.
He could sense the men behind him trembling with fear.
(15:25):
He knew it was only a matter of time before
they too left him. When they arrived at Gilgall, Saul
gathered the people and lifted his arms. The Son's glare
bounced off his armor, nearly blinding them. Saul stood tall,
with an air of confidence in his voice. He raised
his sword high in the air and shouted.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Men of Israel, do not fear the horde of Philistines
lurking at our borders. Samuel is coming to make a
sacrifice on our behalf. He will lead us in worship
to our God, and we will descend with the strength
of the Lord on our side. Believe in me, as
your king, I shall deliver you.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
The men listening perked up with hope. They were comforted
by their king's words and eagerly awaited Samuel's arrival to
make the sacrifice. Every hour spent away from battle was
more time for the Philistines to gather strength and for
Israel to grow more fearful. Saul needed Samuel to come quickly.
He cared less for the sacrifice unto God. He cared
(16:28):
more about what it would do for moral However, Samuel's
donkey was nowhere on the horizon. Seven days was the
anointed time for Samuel to arrive, but it had been
a week and there was still no side of him
on the road. Saul paced the camp of his soldiers,
growing concerned about their lack of passion. Men began to
scatter and leave camp. Saul felt his control waning time
(16:53):
not the Philistines was becoming his true enemy. Each night,
Saul gathered his men to strategize. However, he had lost
their ears. More reports had come in of the Philistine army.
More men were being added to their numbers by the day,
and Saul was losing control of his men's hearts. The
sun had begun its descent over the horizon on the
(17:15):
seventh day, and Saul sat at the stone where he
was ordained as king. He remembered the lightning falling from
the sky and the people scattering in fear. From the
very beginning, Saul felt out of control. Even his own
coronation had been interrupted. Now on the eve of his
greatest battle, yet Samuel was absent. Saul felt the surge
(17:37):
of paranoia well up from within him. The people will
leave me, he thought to himself.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
They need to know that the Lord is on my side.
They need to know that I am just as anointed
and blessed as Samuel.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Saul measured the sun's distance from the horizon. He only
had an hour left before nightfall. Saul stood to his feet.
His heart was racing and his hands were sweating. His
eyes darted over to the altar, where Samuel would make
sacrifices to God. Samuel was the appointed priest of Israel
and chosen by God to represent them. However, he was
(18:11):
not there, and Saul needed his men to trust him, so,
out of paranoia and distrust in God's providence, Saul sent
for an animal bring me the burnt offerings and the
peace offerings, he said to his servants. The servants were perplexed,
but did as they were told. Saul gathered the people
together at the altar. He cleaned, prepared, and made the
(18:33):
sacrifice before them. He had the violent and savage touch
of a soldier. He butchered the animal without delicacy or grace.
The beautiful and honorable practice of burnt offerings was reduced
to a frantic act of paranoia. Saul's voice lifted up
to the heavens with vain and repetitious platitudes. As the
(18:54):
burnt offerings ascended and smoked to the sky, Saul could
feel the people's anxiety lifting as they saw their king worship.
All he wanted was for their approval. For years, he
had been seeking the praise they gave him during his coronation.
He longed for their worship. He craved their approval. Samuel
ascended the hill at Gilgall. He looked to the horizon.
(19:18):
He was pleased that he had arrived before the seventh
day was over. Samuel's old legs slowly made their way
up the hills. He meticulously moved forward, avoiding the holes
and rocks along the way. He reached the encampment of Gilgall.
Winded from his long journey, Samuel paused and scanned the area.
Most of the men had left their sights and gathered
(19:38):
at the camp's edge near the altar. He heard chants
and prayers being lifted to the Lord. Samuel walked closer,
afraid of what he was going to find. Smoke rose
to the heavens in the center of the crowd. As
he approached the group, Samuel saw Saul at the altar
amidst the sacrifice. He was smiling ear to ear, basking
(19:59):
in the praise the people. Samuel's blood boiled with righteous anger.
It was not Saul's place to make a sacrifice on
behalf of the people. He had overstepped and disgraced the
practices of the priesthood with his vain worship. The people
made their way back to their tents. They left with
smiles on their faces, reassured that the Lord was on
(20:21):
Saul's side. However, Samuel knew the real heart of God.
He leaned underneath the cypress tree, waiting for Saul to approach.
Saul watched the people retreat for the night. He was
pleased with his ability to comfort them. The flames continued
to rise on the altar. He wiped the blood off
(20:42):
his hands and rested the filthy rag on the altar,
knocking over some coals onto the floor. The rag burned immediately,
and the burning red coals turned cool. He turned and
saw Samuel leaning against the tree with his arms folded. Saul,
being caught up in the delusion that he was a
priest of the Lord, approached Samuel with a priestly greeting.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Samuel, the Lord bless you and keep you.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
His blessing was a counterfeit greeting. It was as empty
and meaningless as the sacrifice he had just made on
the altar. Samuel peered at him silently. God warned them,
he thought to himself, a prideful king for a prideful nation.
Saul began to place his hand on Samuel's shoulder, but
it was quickly batted away. Samuel stood up straight. Although
(21:30):
Saul was a head taller than Samuel, the priest's presence
seemed to be looming over the king. What have you done,
Samuel asked. Saul feigned confusion for a moment, then looked
back at the altar. Oh, you mean the sacrifice he
asked ignorantly. The people were losing heart, Samuel. They were
scattering from me and retreating to the hills for safety,
(21:51):
and you had not come when you said you would,
so I took action. Saul paused to look for validation
from Samuel, yet he received none. Growing nervous, Saul continued
to ramble.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
The Philistines have mustered a large army at Mickmash. A
choice was sent before me as king. I could march
down without the favor of God, or I could lead
the people to the altar of the Lord and make
an offering. Naturally, I chose to honor God. I forced
myself to take on the role of priest.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Forced yourself, Samuel asked.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Saul nodded and shroud Yes, Samuel, I would have preferred
you arrived sooner so you could perform the sacrifice. However,
I had to do what I had to do.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
You are a fool, Samuel snapped.
Speaker 7 (22:43):
You have disregarded the command of the Lord, your God.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
He shook his head at Saul and sighed, Saul.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
Your kingdom would have been established forever you had the
opportunity to see the glory and mercy of God. Bless
your hands, but now your kingdom shall not continue.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Saul's eyes widened as he listened to the old priest speak.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
But Samuel, these are my people.
Speaker 7 (23:07):
They are God's people, Saul.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Not yours, Samuel yelled. His voice was booming like the
very wrath of God. Samuel took his staff and pointed
it at Saul, saying, the.
Speaker 7 (23:19):
Lord has sought out another to replace you. He has
sought out a man who is after his own heart.
He has sought out a man who cares more about
pleasing the heart of God than looking for the approval
of man. This king shall be prince over the Lord's people.
He shall steward God's people well, and it will be
(23:40):
his kingdom that continues into eternity.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Saul stood silently, looking down at Samuel. His words rang
in his ears. He looked back at the altar. The
flames had dissipated and the wood had split and fallen
off the edge. Before Saul could ask forgiveness or give
a defense for himself, Samuel departed. All the empty words
Saul desired to give him would remain in his mouth.
(24:05):
The priest had left. The people were ignorant of Samuel's
words to Saul. They did not know that the Lord
had turned his face from him. However, Saul knew he
knew his days as king were numbered, yet he would
hold on to the throne for as long as he
possibly could. The next day, Saul and Jonathan mobilized what
was left of the men. The army of three thousand
(24:28):
men had dwindled down to a measly six hundred. Saul's
inability to inspire left his army and nemek. They marched
to the borders of mcmash and camp there. The Philistine
horde was only a few miles over the other side
of a small mountain. That night, Saul paced by the
fire restlessly. He did not want to go into battle.
(24:48):
The Philistines outnumbered them six to one. He knew that
they were no match for them without more men. He
did not call for reinforcements, nor did he strategize on
how to use his men. He simply paced around the fire,
paralyzed by fear and faithlessness. Jonathan arose early in the
(25:09):
morning to be with the Lord. He scaled the tall
mountains swiftly, seeking to beat the sunrise. He raised the
sun up the summit and placed himself on a stone
resting at the very top. The sun's rays spread across
the valley below, splashing the land with different shades of
orange and yellow. Jonathan basked in the glory of God.
(25:30):
He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh morning air.
He knelt down, seeking God's strength for the coming battle.
Jonathan knew that the battle would come sooner or later. However,
he feared that it would be the Philistines to attack first.
His father had been paralyzed by fear for weeks.
Speaker 6 (25:47):
Now.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Instead of strategizing or gathering more men, he lounged underneath
the pomegranite tree. God's presence brought solace to Jonathan's mind.
He scanned the land below with the sober eye to
take in the terrain that led down to the camp
of the Philistines. Their numbers were growing by the day.
With each passing moment, the strength of the Philistines grew,
(26:10):
and the hope of Israel waned. As he scanned the land,
Jonathan saw a narrow path through the pass with large
sharp rocks on either side. The path led all the
way up to the northern side of camp, where the
enemy set a watch. The path was wide near the
Philistine garrison then bottleneck closer to the mountain. Jonathan studied
(26:30):
it closely.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
A few men could easily fight a much larger number.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Here, Jonathan thought to himself. He drew the path from
the sand and pondered. Jonathan felt the surge of prompting
from God. He knew that the Lord would not abandon
his people. He had faith that if he marched forward,
it didn't matter how outnumbered he was. Jonathan descended down
the mountain back to camp. Many of the men were
(26:57):
still sleeping below, including his young armor Barresbys. Jonathan stuck
into his tent and woke him. He placed his finger
over his mouth and whispered.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
Quick, put on your armor and gather your weapons.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Are remarching, Cobys asked, rubbing his eyes.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
You and I are going over the Philistine garrison on
the other side of the.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Mountain, Jonathan said intensely. There was a joy in his
voice that Cobos had heard before. Cobys chuckled and scratched
his head At your word, Jonathan smiled, and the two
began their ascent up the hill. They reached the top
of the mountain and crouched down. Jonathan pointed out the
sharp rocks and the path between them. One of the
(27:36):
rocks faced northward opposite of Micmash, and the other southward
opposite of Gibea. The large jagged rocks crossed one another.
Arching over the path, Jonathan and Cobys could approach the
garrison unseen. Then, when they were ready, they could lure
the enemy in and fight them in a smaller number.
The two of them descended the mountain and hid under
(27:57):
the arch of the two rocks. They remained there for
the day, watching the guard of the Philistines march around
the perimeter of the camp. Jonathan smirked. They had learned
their lesson from before. No sight of camp was left unmanned.
The warrior's spirit in Jonathan was pleased that he had
left such an impression on them. Noon had passed, and
(28:17):
the later hours of the day took away the heat.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Shall we report back to Saul and tell him what
we have.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Found, Cobys asked. Jonathan did not respond right away. His
eyes were locked on the camp. He was lost in thought,
wrestling in his heart about what the next step should be.
Jonathan turned to his servant with an intense gaze.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Does anything restrain God?
Speaker 2 (28:40):
He asked, Cobys did not answer. He knew the point
Jonathan was making. Jonathan gestured to the garrison.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
Let us go over these uncircumcised Philistines. The Lord may
work for us. If the Lord is for us, it
does not matter whether two or two thousand men charge
against them.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
The armor bear placed his hand on his men master's
shoulder and nodded, Do.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
What is in your heart, my lord, he said, reassuringly,
I and my hammer are with you.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Jonathan slapped his servant's shoulder and laughed. Very well, he exclaimed.
He pointed forward and said.
Speaker 5 (29:15):
Let us cross over to these men that are on
the Northern Guard. We will reveal ourselves to them and
make ourselves known. If they tell us to wait where
we are, we will know to retreat. However, if they
tell us to come to them, we will take that
as a sign from God and charge forward.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Jonathan felt the confidence in his decision. He was prompted
by faith. He did not demand to know the entire
strategy of God in advance. He was willing to take
it one step at a time and let the Lord
unveil his will with each passing moment. Jonathan did not
need the whole plan. He only needed one more step.
(29:52):
The two of them stood up and marched forward. Jonathan
wore his leather armor with bronze strappings. His sword was
securely sheathed on his left side. He did not look
like a prince or carry himself like royalty. Cobis marched
in pace behind him. His armor was lighter and more
afraid of the edges since the blacksmiths had been taken
away from them. He wore a hammer strapped to his
(30:15):
side and three cooking knives strapped to his ankles in waist.
They carried themselves like simple messengers. The Philistines might even
believe they had abandoned Saul and gone to them. Many
others had already done that very thing. The Philistine camp
was resting on a small hill at the mouth of
the trail. The watch saw them immediately. One of the
(30:36):
men shouted to the others.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Two Hebrews approaching the north side.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Few of them chuckled look at them.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Like rats emerging from their holes.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
They leaned against one another, unthreatened by their presence.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Have you come to seek refuge, Hebrews?
Speaker 6 (30:53):
They chided, Come here to us, and we'll show you
our camp.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Their invitation was out of jest, but it was the
exact sign Jonathan was looking for. He turned to his
armor bare and nodded, follow me.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
The Lord has already given us victory.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
The two of them climbed up the hill on all fours.
Once they reached the garrison, the Philistine guards were chuckling
at them. One of them came close to mock Jonathan more,
but before he could say a word, Jonathan's sword was
taken out of its sheath and swung upwards of the
man's head. With a quick swipe of his sword, Jonathan
cut the Philistine's head clean off his body. The other
(31:32):
guards stumbled back in surprise. Jonathan gave them no time
to compose themselves. He ran forward, like a lion to
its prey. He launched himself into the men, swinging into
their flesh with poracity. You Hobus was close behind him,
swinging his hammer with momentum. The Philistines drew their swords
and attacked, but Jonathan was too quick for them. With
(31:55):
each advance, he was able to cut them at their
legs and rips. Cobis then came from behind and smashed
their heads at Jonathan's speed was unlike anything they had
ever seen before. One of the Philistines swung down to
Jonathan with an axe. Jonathan pivoted to his left and
shabbed the man with a hilt of his sword, cracking
two of his ribs. Jonathan pushed him forward, throwing him
(32:18):
bright into the swing of Cobus's hand. The two of
them were in tandem, frustrating every new Philistine that approached them.
Jonathan and Kobis slowly backed into the bottlenecked trail outside
the camp. The Philistines took the bank. Men were only
able to enter three at a time. Each time, the
two Hebrews were able to handle them with ease. One
(32:40):
Philistine was able to gain an advantage over Cobis, pressing
the shaft of his spear against his throat. Cobis gasped prayer,
drew the knife from his side, and thrust it into
the man's ribs. Jonathan gained an advantage over men twice
in size. Over twenty men were killed before panic began
to set into camp. The garrison of the Philistines could
(33:00):
hear the slaughter coming from the outside. Judging by the
sounds of the screams, they were convinced that they had
been attacked with over one thousand men. The two men
of God held their ground. Jonathan dodged every attack and
blocked every advance. No Philistine could quench the fire of
God's spirit within him. The Philistines gathered hundreds of men
(33:23):
to run outside the garrison. The two men saw a
large group running towards them. At that moment, the Lord
of all creation joined in the battle. As if the
fists of God itself had slammed against the earth, the
ground began to shake. A mighty earthquake shook the garrison,
causing a panic to errupt among the Philistines. The earth
(33:44):
itself was God's Hannah. The watchmen of Saul's army peered
closely at the Philistine garrison below. He could see that
there was a commotion in the enemy camp. He could
hear the battle raging, but could not make out which
warriors had charged. He saw a multitude of Philistines retreating.
The watchmen brought news to Saul that a platoon of
(34:06):
men must have attacked the Philistines. Saul numbered his men.
All were accounted for except Jonathan and his armor.
Speaker 6 (34:13):
Bear.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Panic began to set in for Saul. Jonathan had set
an attack in motion, forcing Saul to attack.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Bring the ark of God.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Saul said to one of the priests.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
Pray to God and cast lots to see if we
should into the battle.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
As the priest began to pray with the Urim and
the Thumbim, the noise of the battle below grew deafeningly loud,
So loud it was impossible for Saul to wait any longer.
Saul drew his sword and led his men around the mountain.
It was at that moment when Saul and his army
could feel the trembling of the ground beneath them. God
was already in the battle. The Philistines had been tossed
(34:50):
into such a confusion that they were attacking one another.
Jonathan and his servant were nowhere to be seen. However,
it was apparent that the battle could be won. Saul
wasted no more time. He charged into battle with his men,
taking advantage of the Philistines confused frenzy. Saul rode atop
a white horse, with his armor glivering in the sun.
(35:12):
Even the Hebrew slaves who were captive under the Philistines
joined in the battle. It was a glorious slaughter, and
the drums of war echoed across the valley. Men who
had hidden in the mountains heard the battle prize of
their brethren. Inspired by the sound of victory, they grabbed
their weapons and joined Saul. The Philistines outnumbered the Hebrews,
(35:33):
but they were severely outmatched by the God of all creation.
The god who had split the seas so long ago,
was able to split the enemy in half with the
power of a few faithful men. Victory belonged to Israel
that day, and the battle shifted across the valley to Bethaven.
(35:53):
Saul became bloodthirsty in battle. His frustration over what had
happened in Gilgal fueled him in battle. He wanted vengeance.
He wanted to feel powerful. Although his men were beginning
to grow faint and in need of food, Saul ordered
them to press in further.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening
before I have had my vengeance on the Philistines, He shouted.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Saul withheld food from his men and led them further
into the battle. He placed them under an oath that
would doom them to fatigue. Saul's forced oath came from
a deep insecurity. He felt powerless and as if his
authority was weakened by Samuel's words, so he imposed his
will on the soldiers. Their strength was waning and they
(36:40):
became more discouraged by the minute. Jonathan had not heard
his father's orders. He was far ahead of the rest
sabotaging the Philistines who had retreated in the forest. Jonathan
had been fighting longer and harder than the rest of
the men, so when he saw honey dripping from the
trees in the forest, he took it and ate. He
filled his belly with honey, and his countenance brightened. One
(37:04):
of the men following him saw Jonathan eating and said, your.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Father, the king has ordered us not to eat. What
have you done.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Jonathan continued to eat the honey and march forward. He
turned to the man and responded, saying.
Speaker 5 (37:19):
My father has burdened you. I have eaten and now
feel like I have the strength to press in further.
If my father had allowed you to eat from the
Philistine rations we raided, we would have victory much quicker.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Jonathan did not spend too much time on the matter.
He was determined to press further into enemy territory. He
could see victory was close. He ran forward with renewed vigor,
jabbing his sword into the heart of the enemy. Resisting
food became a battle in itself for the army of Israel.
The men had grown so hungry that when the day
(37:51):
had ended, they rushed on the spoil of war and
took sheep, oxen, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground,
eating the meat raw like animals. It was a ghastly sight,
and the eating of the blood was directly against the
law of Moses. Saul's rash vow had led his men
to desperation. Out of that desperation, he caused them to sin.
(38:14):
Saul's insecurity as a leader had caused his people to
disobey the law of God. Instead of repenting, Saul duck
his heels in deeper, saying, you.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Treacherous people, compose yourselves and handle the meat correctly.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
So he led them to make an altar to the Lord,
sacrifice the animals, and eat the meat correctly. The entire
army rested that night before advancing further against the Philistines.
That night, Saul brooded in his tent. They had the
Philistines on the run, and the king was anxious to
finish the battle Saul sat beside the priest who was
(38:51):
with him, and asked.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Shall we continue to go down after the Philistines? Will
God bless me if I continue?
Speaker 2 (38:59):
The priest inquired of God, but there was no answer.
All of Saul's prayers were met with silence. The lord
had turned his face from the king. Saul buried his
face in his hands and shook his head. Instead of
looking inward, he lifted his head and looked outward. Someone
here must have sinned for God to meet us with silence,
(39:21):
Saul said to himself. He stood to his feet and
gathered the elders and chiefs who were with him. Saul's
eyes were tired, his hair was disheveled, and his beard
was haggard. The king drew out his sword.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
And yelled, who among you has sinned?
Speaker 2 (39:35):
The paranoia of Saul was leaking out. He swung his
sword violently. The elder stepped back in fear as the
flustered king raged in front of them.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
Who broke my oath? Who among you was the traitor?
I will slaughter him where he stands. I will kill
even my own son if I have to.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
The people were silent. They all knew that Jonathan had
broken the oath to sad. However, they were more loyal
to him than they were to their king. They said nothing,
even if it meant enduring the wrath of Saul. The
king cast lots to see who was responsible for breaking
the oath first, and the lots fell on Jonathan. The
(40:16):
rest of the men stepped back, and Jonathan stood in
front of his father. Saul's jaw quivered and his nostrils flared.
He marched up to his son and looked down at him.
What have you done, he snarled. Jonathan looked up at
his father unashamed. I ate, honey, he said, plainly.
Speaker 5 (40:34):
If that means death, then so be it. Kill me
where I stand, father, make an example of me.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Jonathan's calm demeanor was contrasted to Saul's frantic raves. Saul
lifted his sword to Jonathan's neck anger filled his heart
very well, Saul said, harshly, it shall be done. Saul
drew his shoulders back, prepared to kill his own son.
As the sword came closer to his son's dead the
(41:00):
men interrupted.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
Shall Jonathan die? After all he did for us? They yelled,
the Lord is used to give us victory today.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
The men stepped forward and placed themselves in front of Jonathan.
Saul stepped back in dismay. The men protected him and
put themselves in danger for him. Jonathan held the loyalty
and praise he so desperately craved. Saul put his sword
back in the sheath without a word. He retreated to
(41:28):
his tams.
Speaker 1 (41:36):
A new hero has risen through the ranks. Jonathan has
come onto the scene and proves himself to be a
man worth fighting for. He is brave, humble, and close
to God. In the prelude, we were reminded through Gideon's
life that God doesn't need flash elitas and huge armies
to accomplish his will. He needs willing hands, humble spirits,
(42:00):
and hearts that seek him. Jonathan embidies these qualities excellently,
while Saul strays further away from them. This episode is
all about contrast. The disjointed army of Israel is contrasted
with the organized army of the Philistines. The undying loyalty
of Jonathan's men are contrasted with the flighty followers of Saul.
(42:22):
Even the humble leather armor of Jonathan is supposed to
be contrasted with Saul's flashy golden armor. It is clear
by the end of this episode that Jonathan is everything
Saul was supposed to be, but sadly is it. The
beginning of the episode shows us how Saul has crumbled
under the pressure. With a few years as king under
(42:43):
his belt, Saul has become more vain and image obsessed.
Remember what we talked about last episode. Saul is like
a golden calf, a replacement for God. The people worshiped him,
therefore putting undue pressure on him. It is only fitting
that he paraded himself a rond in gold scaled Almah.
Saul's armor is going to be an important icon in
(43:06):
this series. It will weave into the story in later episodes,
so be sure to look for it. After getting a
glimpse at the growing pride of Saul, we're introduced to Jonathan,
the Prince of Israel. He storms a Philistine garrison out
number two to one. It is clear through Jonathan's words
and actions that he is a simple man whose only
(43:27):
ambition is to honor God and protect his country. Jonathan
has no clear ambition for the throne, glory, or praise.
This is exemplified in the way he allows Saul to
take credit for his victory. Saul takes credit for an
achievement he did not earn, but Jonathan doesn't care. All
Jonathan cared about was the battle God set before him.
(43:48):
Saul and Jonathan are placed before us as two completely
different leaders. Jonathan has the undying loyalty of his men.
He has no fear and no sense of self importance. Saul, however,
feels the need to be seen and validated by everyone
around him, even for acts he did not commit. Ironically,
he finds himself continually battling for people's attention, where soldiers
(44:13):
naturally gravitate toward Jonathan. This is a theme in scripture
and will be a theme further explored when we meet David.
Those who are primarily concerned with the approval of people
rather than the approval of God will find themselves without either.
In the end, Saul desperately wants the people to worship
him again, so when he feels their support waning, he
(44:34):
makes a grave mistake. Samuel is late to bless the army,
so the men become unsure if Saul even has the
favor of God. Saul, in an attempt to gain their trust,
makes the sacrifice himself. This is an egregious error and
proof that Saul doesn't truly respect God's law at all.
Saul cares more about the appearance of holiness than being holy.
(44:55):
He cares more about the image of righteousness than being righteous,
the role of priests, and tricks his men into thinking
he is a conduit for God. He gained the people's
trust at the expense of God's favor. Samuel finally enters
the scene, rightfully enraged when he sees Saul's sloppy sacrifice
filled on the altar, all his nightmares of a prideful
(45:17):
and manipulative king are coming true before his eyes. Saul
has sullied the name of God for cheap applause, and
he will not let him get away with it. And
did you notice the coals?
Speaker 2 (45:30):
Saul?
Speaker 1 (45:31):
When he sees Samuel knock some coals away from the fire,
he is oblivious to them and they fizzle out behind him.
Saul is deep in his own delusion, but Samuel cuts
through with a warning. He looks at Saul with his
staff in his hand and says, Saul, your kingdom would
have been established forever you have the opportunity to see
(45:53):
the glory and mercy of God. Bless your hands. But
now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought
out another to replace you. He has sought out a
man who is after his own heart. He has sought
out a man who cares more about pleasing the heart
of God than looking for the approval of man. This
king shall be a prince over the Lord's people. He
(46:14):
shall steward God's people well, and it will be his
kingdom that continues into eternity. Who is this mysterious king
Samuel is speaking of. There is another rising hero who
hasn't made his appearance yet, but we won't speak of
him quite yet. Episode three ends with a great battle.
Jonathan and his armor bear takes on a horde of
(46:36):
Philistines on their own, proving that God does not need
flashy leaders and large armies to accomplish his purposes. Two
faithful men who were able to stir up an entire army, huh,
which is pretty incredible. We didn't need more reasons to
root for Jonathan, but he certainly gives us plenty more
reasons when we hear about his fighting skills. But more
(46:57):
than that, his sensitivity to God's spirit is put in
contrast to Saul's ignorance. Jonathan is very attuned to the
will of God, but Saul seems oblivious to it. This
is further exemplified by the way Samuel acts when he
enters the battle. Drunk with power. Saul makes a rash oath, saying,
cursed is the man who eats any food until evening
(47:19):
before I have made my vengeance on the Philistines. It
is a preposterous oath and completely unnecessary. In fact, it
causes way more harm than good. Saul is seeking control
because he was late to the battle. At the end
of the episode, Jonathan goes against Saul's warning and eats
Saul in a mad frenzy to maintain the respect of
(47:41):
his men, draws a sword to Jonathan's throat. This is
the most intense image we have explored yet. Saul, in
this moment, is prepared to kill his own son for
the sake of his pride. But Saul is not just
pointing a sword at his son. He is pointing a
sword at the small sliver of righteousness that remains in
(48:02):
his heart. Jonathan represents Saul's last remaining connection to God.
If he kills him, that will be the end of
it all, Jonathan's men come to his defense, Saul, embarrassed, leaves.
We're all left at the end of this episode with
a bad taste in our mouths and a growing sense
that Saul's prideful heart is bound to get the best
(48:24):
of him. He has darker moments ahead of him. In
the next episode, we will see him at his lowest
and we will witness God's patience wearing thin. When is
this promised king going to show up? Hopefully soon? Thanks
again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and
wisdom to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com.
(48:45):
If you've been enjoying this series, please write a review
and let me know how this podcast has impacted your life.
God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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