This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
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Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
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COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
1SAMUEL
1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.
2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
Have you ever noticed how newer Christians are willing and eager to do battle with the devil even among seemingly impossible odds?
7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
The zealousness of Jonathan is infectious. His armor-bearer is quite willing to go with him.
11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
Jonathan and his armor-bearer met a small company of about 20 men and fought over a half-acre of ground. And God caused an earthquake which brought a tremendous fear in the Philistines.
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
Saul could see the dust flying as the army of the Philistines was in disarray and retreating. He wanted to know who was missing because obviously they were the reason for this amazing defeat to the Philistines.
18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.
After Saul had found that Jonathan was responsible, he wanted to hear from the priest and see if he should join the battle. ((The "ark of God" in verse 18 would be better translated "ephod," through which the priest could inquire of God.))
20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
21 Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.
Saul and his men joined the battle. The Philisines literally fought against each other! What confusion! God brought confusion to the enemy!
24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
25 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
39 For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
Again, Saul shows pride and arrogance. He makes a statement to include all his army, when he has no capacity to communicate with all of them.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
Has Saul become so proud and vain that he would even cause the death of his son for disobeying an order; even one that has not been fully communicated? YES!
47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
God had said that HE would establish Saul as king, and He did. It certainly was not Saul's apathetic or arrogant and foolish attitude! See how God works by GRACE in our lives!
49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
God gives us some pertinent information here. Saul had 3 sons and 2 daughters by one wife.
52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
There was continual war against the Philistines in Saul's reign for they were a formidable enemy.
Please continue to follow along with us in Bible Study.
CHAPTER 14
Saul is older, more experienced - yet he lounges in fearful loitering among a company of friends.
Jonathan has a tremendous courage and faith in God! He may be young and foolish; but he is SURE God can save!!
Jonathan sets up a sure battle. He says, in effect, "If they say 'wait,' we will wait for them to come to us; If they say 'come,' we will go to them." Either way, they are sure to have a fight this day!
There is something to be said for innocent, foolish faith in God's deliverance! At least Jonathan established himself as a "willing vessel" in God's hands. Saul, on the other hand, was trying to console himself in the comfort of his friends, - and refused to face any conflict.
How often do older, more experienced Christians back away from conflict rather than face it with the same fervor which they had when first born again?
If we'll but face the conflict, God will bring the victory!
But when the noise of the Philistines confused retreat became louder, Saul stopped the priest's inquiry and prepared to enter the battle.
Even those Israelites whom had hidden in the rocks of Mt. Ephraim came out and joined the battle! Oh how infectious is innocent faith!!
It was not Jonathan's innocent and foolish bravery which saved Israel. And it was certainly not Saul's apathetic languishing.
It was GOD Who saved them! He displayed GRACE among sinners, and His POWER to save!
Friend, sometimes we act impetuously and sometimes we are lax. But God is a God of GRACE and POWER! He is indeed looking beyond our present working circumstances for GOOD to those who are His called.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."(Romans 8:28)
Jonathan was unaware of Saul's statements and obviously could not follow the directions that were given.
In fact, verse 29 tells us that Jonathan heard about the statement and said, "My father hath troubled the land..."
Sometimes leaders (even in the Christian faith) make all-inclusive statements which they have no right to make. Only God can delcare what EVERY Christian must do!
We can only beg and plead; we have no right to DECLARE except what God has ALREADY declared through His Word.
Emotionalism will carry even good men into sin. In verse 32, these men were caught up in a very terrific battle, and were hungry. In their haste, they began to eat sinfully. When this came to Saul's attention, he did one good thing in all this: he made an altar and sacrificed to God, giving each man his portion for food (see verse 35).
Saul wanted to have a "night raid" on the Philistines camp, but God would not answer as to whether it was right (verses 36-37).
Saul inquired as to who had caused the barrier to God, and found that it was Jonathan.
Sometimes older more experienced Christians (even leaders) would rather see newer Christians sacrificed than to lose their pride and vanity!
However, the other men of the army realized the foolishness of Saul's command and demanded that Jonathan be spared.
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."(Proverbs 16:18)
The victory God gave over the Philistines allowed Saul to have a great army, and he was able to deliver Israel from her enemies. Notice the enemies of the Israelites were named on ALL sides of Israel.
My friends, we as Christians, face enemies on ALL sides! It is a spiritual battle! Thank God for His GRACE and POWER!!
((Somehow in all this, we should see that we don't fight against people who promote pornography, abortion, drug addiction, gambling, homosexuality, etc. We fight against the evil of those things!))
He also appointed his cousin, Abner, to be chief captain of his army.
And Saul was continually adding to his army, just as Samuel had prophesied that he would do.
The fight against evil is a CONTINUAL fight for ALL Christians. And we need to be continually adding souls to the army of God by sharing the gospel of Jesus with the lost.