Israel Enters the Battle (1 Samuel 14:20-23)

5/26/2010 9:56:02 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Israel enters the battle

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1 Sam.  14:20-23

            Message of the verses:  “20  Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21  Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22  When all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, even they also pursued them closely in the battle. 23  So the LORD delivered Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven.”

            I would suppose that if one looks at this section without really digging into it they would now see the emotional imbalance of Saul.  He could not find out what it was that the Lord wanted Him to do and so the Lord used his son Jonathan to lead the children of Israel’s army into battle with the Philistines.  If Saul would have counseled with Lord then his army would not have deserted him and gone over to the Philistines, and then the battle would have been a great victory.  Dr. Wiersbe on different occasions in his writings have said that if God is not allowed to rule in a person’s life then He will overrule. This is what happened in the life of Saul this time and will happen again before he falls on his sword to end his life. 

            Verse twenty-three sums up this section when it tells that it was the Lord who delivered Israel that day.  It was the Lord who used the services and faith of Jonathan and the bumbling efforts of Saul.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The thing that I want to put into practice in my life that is taught in this section is to allow the Lord to rule in my life and not overrule.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1.       Again Proverbs 3:5-6 comes into my mind as it relates to this section of Scripture and also in the Spiritual meaning for my life today:  “5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”

5/26/2010 10:45:57 AM