Wielding Our Weapon (1 Samuel 14:1-23)
"Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few." 1 Samuel 14:6
Not only do I love this verse but I am thankful for it and the reminder it gives. It was spoken by a man of faith in the face of adversity, in the face of a battle against an enemy who's goal was to capture and rule over him and his people. That man was Jonathan son of the newly appointed King, Saul. Jonathan and his fellow soldiers were outnumbered and out-armed. Only he and his father had swords to wield against their enemy (1 Sam 13:19-22). But what I love is that this young man didn't see a vast army who's soldiers were as numerous as the grains of sand (1 Sam 13:5). He didn't see himself or those he loved, his people, as the underdog. He didn't cower. He didn't look at the odds and go home. He didn't see his life or the life of those he cared about as hopeless. No! You know what he saw? An opportunity. It wasn't an opportunity for him to shine or to make a name for himself but an opportunity to see God work. An opportunity for others to see God work. An opportunity to wield his weapon. An opportunity to have hope. He knew his God was very, very big and that this enemy, although bigger than he, was no match for his God. Jonathan knew that he was one of two who possessed a weapon to fight against the enemy. He had a responsibility to use what he had in conjunction with his faith and he move forward into battle trusting that the Lord would fight and use him and his weapon however it was needed to bring the freedom and victory the people of Israel desperately needed. Guess what? God was not hindered. God chose to save by using a few, two to be exact. God defeated the enemy and when He did the Israelites who had fled in fear, who were living under the oppression of the enemy found freedom and victory. Because of one man's initial courage, faith, and action God's might, grace, and love for his people were seen, were felt, were experienced and were able to save.
We could apply this story to our own lives. To the struggles, the battles we find ourselves in. We could be reminded that no issue we face can hinder the LORD, that nothing is too big for Him. If you need to look at it that way then do so. But, today I would rather look at it by putting ourselves in the position of Jonathan. We all have family, friends, people we love and care about who are not living for the Lord. People who are living oppressed and in bondage to the enemy of God. People who don't know, who have not experienced, the saving grace of God in their lives. For those of us who do know, who have experienced God's grace and forgiveness we possess a weapon that we can use to help fight against an enemy who isn't keen on loosing anyone to the Lord. We have the word of God, we have prayer, we have faith, we have hope. We know that it is the LORD who saves and in faith we need to bring our weapons of the word and prayer to the fight and ask the Lord to save. We need to ask the LORD how we can have an impact, a deep eternal spiritual impact in the lives of others. We need to read the word, build our faith, have a hope and pray continually for those who aren't yet living in the freedom of Christ. We need to be sure that we are living out, putting into action the faith and hope that came with our salvation. It does no good to have a weapon that you don't put into action like Saul. The battle may look impossible but with God nothing is impossible, nothing can hinder Him. Let your light, your weapon, your faith be seen and pray, pray, pray.
Jonathan didn't go into battle alone. Yes, he had the LORD but he also took a trusted companion. He took his armor-bearer. We too should be entering into the battle with others. I encourage us all to find a friend, or two, and together faithfully lift up your weapons, your voice in prayer on behalf of those whom God has put on your heart. Name them and pray for them continually. Don't stop till either the enemy is defeated or you no longer have a breath within you. Live out your faith together. Put it into action as a team and let your hope in the unhindered God who saved you be a constant source of encouragement as you use your lives, your prayers, to fight against a seemingly impossible enemy that isn't even comparable to our big, big God. Wield your weapons today, live out your faith, have hope and keep praying for those are yet to join you in the fight.
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