1 SAMUEL 14
3 Outlines
1 Samuel 14 etc.
THE MAN WHO WOULDN'T BE KING
I want us to meet a person who teaches us to be Godly in spite
of a change in plans.
Personally, I have been disappointed on a few occasions because
things did not happen the way I expected them to happen. I didn't get to do what I thought surely I
would be able to do.
The Old Testament character we will study this evening shows us
that we can have a Godly testimony, even when things do not work out the way we
think they should.
I've called this person, "The Man Who Wouldn't Be
King". He was the oldest son of the
King of
How did Jonathan handle his loss of kingship?
He handled it with a Godly character which is worth
duplicating. He didn't let possible
disappointment stop him from living a life that was pleasing to God.
Ironically, Jonathan appears more spiritually qualified to be
king than his father was!
As we examine Jonathan, the man who wouldn't be king, let us see
seven characteristics of his life worth imitating by us. All of references
about Jonathan are in 1 Samuel.
1. BOLDNESS 14:1-14
We admire people who can step out in bold faith for the
Lord. Jonathan was of these people.
Vs. 6 - Jonathan is thinking that perhaps the Lord would want to
give a victory over the
enemy.
He states a truth well worth remembering - There is no restraint
or limitation with the Lord to save by many or by few.
Many times the Lord will accomplish great victories using one,
two or a few seemingly insignificant people.
When God delivered
The Philistines in the Book of Judges suffered heavy loses at
the hand of one man, Samson.
The nation
Think of Daniel standing up mightily for God in the courts of
Don't forget Stephen in the New Testament.
He was the first martyr for Christ. And he stood boldly for
Christ in spite of the persecution and stoning which he received. Paul challenged his protégé`, Timothy to boldness. 2 Timothy
1:6-8
In a day when morals are declining and Christianity is rapidly
heading towards being a minority religion in
2. SUBMISSION 14:37-45
Without going into all the details, Jonathan's skirmish with the
enemy leads to an even greater battle.
The Philistines were being defeated and Saul enters into the fray with
his troops.
14:24 - Saul made a stupid command.
14:25-30 - Jonathan was absolutely right.
At the end of the day, Saul discovers that someone violated his
command concerning eating.
Lots are cast.
It is discovered that Jonathan is the guilty party.
Vs. 43 - Notice Jonathan's attitude.
His father had made a foolish
statement.
He had
violated his father's curse unknowingly.
He could have rebelled and argued with his father, but instead,
he submitted to his father.
We like the idea of being filled with the Spirit.
I think it is something most of us desire.
Do we realize that one of the direct results of being filled
with the Spirit is being submissive?
Ephesians 5:18-21
3. LOVE 18:1-3
We "fast forward" now.
Unbeknownst to Saul, God was making good on His word to dethrone
him as king.
Samuel the Prophet was dispatched to a little town called
There, he is instructed by God to anoint a shepherd boy named
David, the Son of Jesse, as the next king of
After that anointing David serves in the court of Saul, but then
goes home, and back to watching his Father's sheep.
Goliath shows up on the scene. David defeats Goliath with his
sling and stone in the name and power of the Lord. Israel wins a great victory,
and now David is a national hero.
18:2&5 - David would never be the shepherd boy again. He was
now in the service of King Saul, and rightfully so.
Now enter Jonathan into the life of David.
Jonathan probably knew what Samuel had told his father about
losing the kingdom.
Jonathan could have been jealous of this young kid who was now
the national hero, and obviously the candidate for replacing Saul's family on
the throne.
How did Jonathan react?
God's plan and God's man were more important to Jonathan than
sitting on the throne.
Jonathan found in David a kindred spirit who was just as bold,
or bolder in fighting the Lord's battles.
18:1-3 - Jonathan's love for David was strong.
This was not sexual love.
This was what we would today call
Christian love.
They were knit together in love.
They were kindred spirits.
Beloved, this is the type of love that God wants us to have for
each other! It doesn't matter if the
other person is more talented or less talented than us.
It doesn't matter if the person is a newer or older Christian
than us. It doesn't matter if the person has a more prestigious or less
prestigious job in God's kingdom.
What matters is that that individual is a brother or a sister in
Christ, and should be loved as such!
John 13:34-35, John 15:11, 17
4. PERCEPTION 18:4
In 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan gives David his clothes and weapons.
These were the clothes and weapons of a prince!
These were the clothes and weapons of the man who was next in
line for the Throne of
I think that Jonathan perceived that David was the next king of
Notice there is no jealousy.
Notice there is no regret.
Notice there is no rancor.
But Jonathan was recognizing who the next king truly was, who
the prince truly was.
Oh, that you and I would be as perceptive as Jonathan, to
perceive what God is doing, and get on the band wagon!
How can we be spiritually perceptive?
By simply being spiritually guided! John 16:12-15
5. INTERVENTION 19:1-7
By now, David is on Saul's "black list".
Saul has been told he will be replaced as king.
He has figured out that his replacement is David.
David has been loyal to Saul, and never did anything that
warranted the persecution he received from Saul.
Vss. 1-7 - David is told by Jonathan to hide. He then goes to
His father, and presents the facts of David's loyalty.
Saul gets a commitment from his father for peace.
He then brings David back into the fold.
Christians should intervene on behalf of other Christians.
Matthew 5:9, Philippians 4:2-3
6. PROTECTION 20
Very close in idea to intervention is protection.
Very often a brother or sister needs to be protected by us.
Jonathan did some research for David and discovered that indeed
his father was out to kill David.
Jonathan warned David, and sent him on his way.
I believe that loving our brothers and sisters in Christ means
that we protect them.
Sometimes we protect by warning.
Sometimes we protect by informing.
Sometimes we protect by speaking in behalf of the person we are
protecting.
Philippians 2:4
7. ENCOURAGEMENT 23:14-17
David was being pursued by Saul.
David's life was in jepordy.
Jonathan went and strengthened his hand in God.
Jonathan encouraged David.
This is something that you and I should do for each other.
Hebrews 3:12-13, Hebrews 10:24-25
We encourage when we listen.
We encourage when we give right advice.
We encourage when we share the word of God.
We encourage when we pray together.
If you want to know how to encourage, study the life of
Barnabas, as laid out in the Book of Acts.
Jonathan was the "Man Who Wouldn't Be King", and yet
he was a Godly man. Let's follow his examples of:
BOLDNESS
SUBMISSION
LOVE
PERCEPTION
INTERVENTION
PROTECTION
ENCOURAGEMENT
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1 Samuel 14:6-15
AGAINST GREAT ODDS
JONATHAN'S PURPOSE - Vss. 6-7
Jonathan wanted to act if the Lord would work for
them.
I believe Jonathan's purpose was to please God.
JONATHAN'S PROPOSAL - Vss. 8-10
Jonathan proposed that he and his armor bearer reveal
themselves to the Philistines.
If the Philistines invited themselves up, they would
know that it was God's will to fight.
JONATHAN'S POWER - Vss. 11-15
There was a great victory over the Philistines.
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1 Samuel 14:24-45
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK
OR
PUT BRAIN IN GEAR BEFORE
PLACING MOUTH IN MOTION
All too often we speak
before we think. It is very easy to look
back and say, "I shouldn't have said that," or "
I should have said this."
King Saul didn't think before he spoke and almost lost his son as a
result of his own foolishness.
INTRODUCTION - Vss. 1-23
Due to the efforts of
Jonathan and his armor bearer and the intervention of God, a great battle began
against the Philistines.
A FAULTY (OR FLAKY)
ORDER - Vss. 24-26
Saul stated that any
soldier that ate during the battle was under the curse. The woods were full of nourishing honey, but
the soldiers were afraid to eat.
A FAULTLESS VIOLATION -
Vss. 27-32
Jonathan had not heard
his father's proclamation, and ate some of the honey. He was refreshed.
Jonathan rightly observed the foolishness of his father's command. When the day was over and the men could eat,
they were so famished that they did not properly drain the blood from the
animals. Leviticus 17:10-14
A FOOLISH CONDEMNATION -
Vss. 33-44
It was discovered that
someone had violated the curse placed on eating by Saul.
Jonathan was discovered
as the guilty party.
Saul was ready to
condemn him to death.
A FAITHFUL RESCUE - Vs.
45
Jonathan was largely
responsible for the day's victory.
The people wisely
intervened and stopped Saul from killing his son.