This past Sunday we considered the story recorded in 1 Samuel 14 of Jonathan and his young armor bearer who took on the Philistine garrison numbering about twenty men. While King Saul and the Israeli army sat paralyzed by indecision, Jonathan and his assistant launched a two-man assault that wiped out the garrison and led to a great victory for the army of Israel.
One of the features of the story we did not elaborate on is the unity that existed between Jonathan and his young attendant. In biblical times all warriors of distinction had armor bearers. These men were selected for their bravery, skill, and loyalty. Along with carrying additional armor and weapons, these choice soldiers fought alongside their commanding officers in battle finishing off wounded enemy combatants.
When Jonathan proposed the radical plan of attack to his armor bearer, it was readily embraced. I wonder how the story would have ended if the young man would have responded otherwise. He could have resisted. He could have rejected the plan. He could have resigned on the spot. Some people do. Fortunately, the young man didn’t respond in any of those ways. Instead, he told Jonathan, “Do all that is in your heart…I am with you” (1 Samuel 14:7).
The victory that day was due in large part to the teamwork that existed between Jonathan and his armor bearer. Disunity sidelines the church. Division within the body results in dysfunction. Rather than moving forward winning battles, the people of God are stymied with internal issues. The purposes of God are frustrated. Possible victories are forfeited.
But where there is unity there is blessing (Psalm 133)! Good things happen. Progress is made.
As the voice of the Spirit is commanding River of Life to forward march, let’s advance as one in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). Working together as a team will enable us to accomplish much for the sake of the kingdom.
Pastor Todd Weston
One of the features of the story we did not elaborate on is the unity that existed between Jonathan and his young attendant. In biblical times all warriors of distinction had armor bearers. These men were selected for their bravery, skill, and loyalty. Along with carrying additional armor and weapons, these choice soldiers fought alongside their commanding officers in battle finishing off wounded enemy combatants.
When Jonathan proposed the radical plan of attack to his armor bearer, it was readily embraced. I wonder how the story would have ended if the young man would have responded otherwise. He could have resisted. He could have rejected the plan. He could have resigned on the spot. Some people do. Fortunately, the young man didn’t respond in any of those ways. Instead, he told Jonathan, “Do all that is in your heart…I am with you” (1 Samuel 14:7).
The victory that day was due in large part to the teamwork that existed between Jonathan and his armor bearer. Disunity sidelines the church. Division within the body results in dysfunction. Rather than moving forward winning battles, the people of God are stymied with internal issues. The purposes of God are frustrated. Possible victories are forfeited.
But where there is unity there is blessing (Psalm 133)! Good things happen. Progress is made.
As the voice of the Spirit is commanding River of Life to forward march, let’s advance as one in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). Working together as a team will enable us to accomplish much for the sake of the kingdom.
Pastor Todd Weston
