1 Samuel 14:7 “So his armorbearer said to him, ‘Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.’
Jonathan, King Saul’s son, had an armor-bearer. He was about to see if his attempt to engage the enemy in battle is something God will bless.
Do we bear our armor? If so, we will be protected from the wiles of the enemy that taunts and discourages us from pursuing the victory. With the armor on, we are ready to follow the Lord and fight. We know our armor is incorrectly worn when the enemy easily dissuades us from believing that the grace of God is more than sufficient for the challenge at hand.
1 Samuel 14:29-30 But Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
Jonathan had just learned from the soldiers that his father, King Saul, had commanded that no one was to eat until the enemy was defeated. Jonathan thought that was just foolish, and it would have been better had the army had enough to eat.
God has a goal of conforming us into the image of His Son (Romans 8). He desires to deliver us from our sins and put us in the place of victory. There could have been greater victory over their enemies, but Saul made nonsensical demands on his army. He threatened to curse his own army if they ate. He was willing to kill his own son who started the victory. He was distracted when the people refused their king’s demand to give up his son, so Saul left off killing the enemy, so everyone just went home.
What is the Lord’s goal in your life? What rules and expectations have you put on yourself that prevent you from pursuing His plan for your life? We can make rash decisions at times that can affect our spiritual goals dearly. Keep your eye on the goal.
