Read 1 Samuel 14:1-23

This passage begins with a contrast between Jonathan and his father Saul. Jonathan, in 14:1, is presented as taking action for the sake of God’s covenant people. In 14:2-3 King Saul is presented as inactive in a time of grave Philistine threat. The human king of God’s people is meant to deliver the people from such threats, but he is simply “staying”. So, the author of 1 Samuel wants us to see that king Saul possesses power that he should be using to defend God’s people but instead he is cowardly, withholding his power. Israel needed a courageous king but instead had a coward.

Jonathan, on the other hand, moves to defend God’s people with a confidence in God’s covenant love, promises, and power. “Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6). This is the kind of king Israel needs: a courageous king. They needed a king whose courage comes from a right relationship with God. They needed a king filled with courageous love for his people.

We, as God’s people today, need the same kind of king to defend us and defeat our enemies. We have that very king in Jesus. Although Jesus was afraid of what he had to suffer he courageously faced the cross in order to save us from death, the devil, and the fair justice due to us for our sins. Our king, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2; compare Mark 14:32-42). Jesus continues to defend us, as well as restrain and conquer our enemies (see 1 Corinthians 15:25). God wants us to admire our King Jesus, and to love him for defending us with such truly awesome courage.

• Go to God in prayer and spend some time praising Jesus, the God-man and King, for his courage.
• How are you doing at believing that Jesus really is courageously ruling on your behalf? Where do you need to exercise faith in this?