It Happened One Fight (1 Samuel 13:23-14:15)

For millennia, doctors could not get into a beating heart. They wished they could deliver medicine directly into it, wished they could open up blockages, and better diagnose trouble in this all-important organ, but there seemed to be no way in. Most were convinced it was too dangerous to go poking around in the heart of a living person – in fact, they believed it would probably be fatal.^[1]

1628 has been called the birth-year of cardiology. But by 1929, the field was in “a state of stagnation.”^[2] A young doctor named Werner Forssmann was determined to do something about it.

He was convinced that you could gain access into the human heart using the body’s own highways – blood vessels. That you could insert a catheter through the veins and travel into the chambers of the heart. But no one would allow him to try out his hypothesis on a patient. After all, most other doctors were convinced it would end in death.

So, Werner made a secret plan with one of the scrub nurses at his hospital. He would perform the theoretical procedure on himself. He made an incision over his left elbow, took a urologist’s catheter and fished it 25 inches up his arm, into his right atrium, and then administered drugs directly in.^[3] He and his partner in courage then climbed the stairs to the x-ray department to get the images proving that his procedure would not kill patients, but could save countless lives.^[4]

Their action changed heart medicine forever. Many of us here today are alive because of the diagnostics and treatments that flowed from Werner’s brave willingness to put himself on the line.

In our text, Jonathan has a bold hypothesis: He and a single ally can go into the heartland of Israel, and drive out the Philistine invaders. The route he takes is improbable, dangerous, and from a human perspective ill-advised. But he puts himself on the line. The result is not suicide but salvation as God works through Jonathan’s faith not just for one skirmish, but for the whole nation.

Let’s take a look to be inspired, to be instructed, and to see what this means for our own lives.

1 Samuel 13:23 – ²³ Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.

This geographical note establishes at least three important realities: One, the Philistines have fully invaded Israel. Michmash is in the heartland. It was an elevated site^[5] – very strategic for any army.

Two, this puts the Philistines less than four miles from where Saul is camped with what few soldiers remained with him.^[6] If a king was going to lead Israel’s army, now is the time.

Three, Michmash had been the place Saul staked for himself in the last chapter. He sent Jonathan and his men to Gibeah, where there already was a Philistine garrison. “Jonathan, you can take care of that. I’m going to Michmash!” Jonathan did take care of it. Now, not only has Saul lost Michmash, but he’s back in Gibeah, thanks to the earlier victory Jonathan won.

1 Samuel 14:1 – ¹ That same day Saul’s son Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” However, he did not tell his father.

Before Werner performed his heart experiment, he shared his theory with the hospital’s head of surgery, Dr. Richard Schneider. Schneider categorically and specifically forbade Werner from self-experimentation. Werner did it anyway, secretly.^[7]

Why didn’t Jonathan tell his father about his plan? It’s likely he would’ve forbidden Jonathan to go and fight. Saul seems to be somewhat paralyzed in this situation. Unable to lead or to act.

There was a deep ravine between Gibeah and Michmash.^[8] There’s nothing simple about what Jonathan is setting out to do. And note, not only does he not have permission, he’s had no premonition that this was exactly what God wanted him to do. This is purely a step of faith.

1 Samuel 14:2-3 – ² Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. The troops with him numbered about six hundred. ³ Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod, was also there. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas, son of Eli the LORD’s priest at Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

As Jonathan slips away the camera pans over to Saul. This single image speaks volumes. The whole reason the people demanded a king was so he could go out before them and fight their battles.^[9] Now here he is, sitting beneath a tree. Sitting, as Eli had so often sat. Another leader who would not obey God faithfully. To drive the point home, our author points out that Saul has a descendent of Eli there with him. The rejected king sits with the rejected priest.^[10]

Ahijah is wearing an ephod. This was a special garment worn by the priest which contained the Urim and the Thummim.^[11] In other words, Saul is hoping for a divine oracle because he doesn’t know what to do. He had been unwilling to obey and wait for the Lord’s message, now he hopes to secure God’s authorization and battle plan, but neither are forthcoming.

1 Samuel 14:4-6 – ⁴ There were sharp columns of rock on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine garrison. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh; ⁵ one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba. ⁶ Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will help us. Nothing can keep the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

The numbers, the geography, the positioning – it’s all against Jonathan. Two exposed soldiers against a fortress. Only one of them had an iron sword. These names tell how difficult the passage would be to navigate. One name is roughy equivalent to “slippery,” the other to “thorny.”^[12]

But Jonathan had no intention of living peacefully with the Philistines. There would be no compromise. There would be no appeasement. No negotiation or bargain made. Why? Because this was a covenant issue. Jonathan recognized that this land belonged to the Lord and the Lord had given it to Israel. Israel had been mandated to take possession of it.

Jonathan calls the Philistines “uncircumcised men.” In other words, they were outside of the covenant. And because he had such faith in God, that’s all that mattered. What about the numbers? What about the improbability of a successful attack? Jonathan wasn’t bothered by those things at all. Because he knew for God’s people, victory is not about numbers.

Notice also that Jonathan was not just trigger happy. It’s not just that he was hungry for a fight. This was about saving people. “Nothing can keep the LORD from saving.”

He understands that God’s desire was to save, to drive out the Philistines, he had confidence that God could accomplish that with just two guys. But notice also Jonathan’s humility. “Perhaps the Lord will help us.” That’s not doubt, it’s a willingness to be led and corrected by God as he steps out in faith. He recognizes that God is not required to act in the way they want Him to.^[13] So, Jonathan assumes God will be gracious, will act on their behalf, but he does not demand it.

1 Samuel 14:7 – ⁷ His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. Go ahead! I’m completely with you.”

Another way of translating “Go ahead” is, “You go first!”^[14] But no, the armor bearer shows a great deal of courage and faith as well.

You know, Werner Forssmann had to trick that scrub nurse into his plan. She demanded that she be the person he tried the procedure on. So after she helped him get the equipment he needed, he prepped her on a table and strapped her down, only to then do the experiment on himself.

1 Samuel 14:8-10 – ⁸ “All right,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us. ⁹ If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. ¹⁰ But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the LORD has handed them over to us—that will be our sign.”

Let’s talk about this plan: First, they give up the element of surprise. Second, one option is, “We’ll go up and fight.” The other is, “We’ll stay where we are.” In other words, there is no escape plan.

Some commentators say this is like how Gideon asked for a sign using a fleece back in Judges. But that’s pretty unfair to Jonathan. Gideon already had an angel visit, telling him YES, go fight the Midianites. Then he was shown a miracle. Then he said, “I’m not sure. Show me two more miracles.”

Jonathan’s faith is bold and determined. He’s ready to be a part of what he knows God wants to do.

1 Samuel 14:11-12 – ¹¹ They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!” ¹² The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said. “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has handed them over to Israel.”

The enemies see them, revile them, and invite them to come up to die. Jonathan says, “This is great news!” In that closing phrase, we see two important aspects of Jonathan’s mindset.

First, he says, “The Lord has handed them over to Israel.” He knew God was not done with His people. Even though they were on the ropes. Even though they had made serious mistakes. God’s would not abandon them.

Second, Jonathan talks about this situation as if it’s a gift. “The Lord has handed them over to us.” He’s so satisfied to have this opportunity and to be a part of God’s deliverance.

1 Samuel 14:13-14 – ¹³ Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. ¹⁴ In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in a half-acre field.

That first assault. There would be more. Much more. Jonathan was no one-hit wonder.

After his successful heart cath procedure, Werner went on to run the experiment on himself another 6 times. Decades later, he won the Nobel prize for his discovery.

The odds were ten to one against Jonathan. Though the Philistines had jeered at them and invited them up, don’t assume this was a good-natured scene like Inigo Montoya’s first sword fight in The Princess Bride. The Philistines may have been shooting arrows or throwing rocks on Jonathan and his partner as they climbed.^[15] But Jonathan dispatched them in this tight space.

1 Samuel 14:15 – ¹⁵ Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops. Even the garrison and the raiding parties were terrified. The earth shook, and terror spread from God.

What on paper looked like a minor triumph led to a great work of God. From Michmash a supernatural fear spread through the whole army of the Philistines. With the internal shaking came the literal shaking of the earth. The Lord had promised to send this sort of fear into the hearts of Israel’s enemies back in Deuteronomy 2.^[16] He didn’t want them occupied and oppressed. He wanted victory for them. His faithfulness and power reverberated through Jonathan’s step of faith.

As I mentioned last week in his introduction, Jonathan’s character and action, even his name, give us glimpses of Jesus. His name means “Given by God.” Jesus is the ultimate Gift given by God so that we can be saved. Delivered from sin, death, and the devil. The Philistines dominated the land, destroying whatever they wanted. But the deliverer was greater than the destroyers. Much greater.

Jonathan acted without fear. Just a few miles away, hundreds of soldiers were too scared to fight. What was the difference? Did Jonathan have any less reason to fear? His faith made him fearless, just as Christ was fearless. Like Jesus, when Jonathan was reviled, he did not revile in return.^[17]

Like Jesus, Jonathan brought a servant along for the victory. He clearly didn’t need to. Nor does our Lord need to include us in His work. Yet, He delights to invite us, to equip us, to empower us.

But I love this image most of all. There’s Saul, beneath a pomegranate tree. In chapter 13 he was caught in sin and placed under judgment. Suddenly, we see the great prince put his own life on the line to save. While mankind stood guilty beneath the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the plan was put into motion. The Son, the Prince of Peace, would rescue the guilty. He would intervene for the powerless. He would do what all the Adams and Sauls cannot do for themselves. He could’ve stayed safe in the camp, but instead traveled through the valley of the shadow of death.

Now we might think, “Great story. What difference does it make in my life?” Well, Jonathan is not only a foreshadow of Jesus. He gives us an example to follow here. A demonstration of how a believer can step out in faith. But perhaps we think to ourselves, “Oh come on. I don’t have the kind of faith Jonathan had.” Fair enough. But what about the guy climbing next to Jonathan? It wasn’t his idea. It wasn’t his great spiritual power. But he was invited along by the prince to live by faith. Just like we are.

But what does that mean? We’re not supposed to go wipe out Philistines. We are not sent out with swords of steel, but with the sword of the Spirit. Not to slay but to save. Our charge is to help people be born again and to make disciples.

The question is: Am I walking by faith? Are you? There’s a difference between walking by faith and just sitting in the faith. Look at the image in this text. All the Hebrews faced the same enemies, the same situation. All had the same God. Yet hundreds stood just out of frame, doing nothing. Waiting and hoping the fight wouldn’t come to them. Just two took a step of faith. But it should not be that way. Because the Bible says the righteous will live by faith^[18] and that without faith it is impossible to please God.^[19]

As we watch Jonathan, we recognize that walking by faith is not always easy. It can be a difficult, uphill climb. But here’s the good news: Like Jonathan, we know God wants to accomplish His work through us. And we serve a God Who can do a lot with very little. One smooth stone. Two widow’s mites. Five loaves and two fish. One faithful step can lead to the world being changed.

Now it’s not that we’re so concerned with how big of a work God is going to do. Jonathan is a great example of not worrying about numbers or prominence. But God can take a cup of cool water given in His name and make it eternal. He can take a simple act of faith and obedience and change the course of a life, the history of a community. He can take a sowed seed and bring a harvest 30, 60, 100 fold.

Are we walking by faith? One marker for whether I’m walking by faith is to evaluate whether I’m advancing in my spiritual life or if I’m retreating. Saul had Mishmash. But in his faithless state, he’s lost it to the enemy. So, am I losing ground in my Christian activity or in my relationship with God? Have I given up on regular church attendance? Have I stopped feeding on God’s Word in my personal life? Have I become preoccupied with luxury and comfort and ease? Saul had a bit of that.

He had all the trappings of spirituality. He had opportunity. He had authority. He had equipping. But in this text he says and does nothing.

So how can you take a step of faith in your walk with Jesus today? I can’t specifically answer that for you because I’m not the Holy Spirit. But I can encourage you to ask yourself and allow God the Holy Spirit to direct you. There is some step He would have you take today. He wants you to advance because He’s committed to finishing the work He started in you. And He’s decided to work through your life to accomplish things for others. For the Kingdom. For the Gospel. We must walk by faith.