Wrought With God

by D. Smith, Lerwick | Category: General | Sept 1975

When God brought Israel into the land of Canaan, He fought for them and subdued their enemies, and gave into their possession the territory promised to their fathers. But part of the land that was never possessed was "all the regions of the Philistines" (Josh. 13:2). The Lord left those ancient inhabitants, the descendants of Casluhim (Gen. 10:14) who had emigrated from Egypt to Palestine before the days of Abraham, in order to prove Israel "to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD" (Judges 3:4).

As the years passed their hostility towards Israel became more apparent, and they proved a powerful and persistent enemy to contend with. During the three hundred and fifty years between Israel's coming into the land and the reign of Saul, many fierce battles were waged between the opposing forces. One such battle is graphically described in 1 Sam. 14.

Courage, and strong faith in the power of the living God to work through few as well as through many, inspired young Jonathan and his armour-bearer to risk their lives to capture the Philistine garrison at Michmash. Without divulging their intention to Saul they mounted the rocky crags and reached the enemies' encampment. The incredible success of this venture was best seen by the watchmen of Saul who beheld the Philistine multitude "melt away".

God was working salvation that day and the people, encouraged by victory, were willing to follow Saul and to destroy the Philistine threat. But their zeal was marred by the foolish and impetuous embargo placed on the people by Saul when he issued the command, "Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies".

The people followed on, and when they were come into the forest, "behold the honey dropped (a stream of honey, R.V.M.) but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath". Thus, God's people in the heat of battle were burdened with unnecessary fear and walked past the flowing honey, a distinct testimony to the unfailing faithfulness of God who had performed His promise to bring His people into "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exod. 3:8). The faithfulness of God and the constancy of His word appear even in circumstances of ruin wrought by men acting contrary to His mind and will. "He abideth faithful", and His words are sweeter than honey to the mouth (Psa.

119:103).

That day God in His faithfulness gave the Israelites victory, and refreshing strength and vigour could have been theirs had they been allowed to enjoy what God had provided for them; but on the contrary they were faint and weary (v.28) and by the time they had smitten the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon they were "very faint". Sad indeed that the people of God should be in such a state, deprived of divine provision through the foolish directive of their king.

The consequence of Saul's hasty edict was soon to come home to himself and his family. Jonathan was unaware that Saul had charged the people with an oath, and therefore in innocence had put forth the end of his rod, dipped it in the honeycomb and put it to his mouth. Because of this God would not answer Saul when he sought to know if he should pursue after the Philistines and destroy them. Enquiry was made and the lot fell upon Jonathan, who readily confessed what he had done, and Saul said, "thou shalt surely die, Jonathan". The law demanded that a man should do according to all that proceeded out of his mouth (Num. 30:2). It is in keeping with the character of God that godly men should keep their word. Hence the great importance of what we say, for, "by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matt. 12:37).

In recent times there has been a marked decline in human integrity, and in every sphere of life the words of men have become less reliable. This is largely due to men departing from the fear of God as an influence in their lives. But the Christian should be "temperate, faithful in all things" and his speech should be "with grace" (Col. 4:6), such as "cannot be condemned" (Tit. 2:8). In the heat of contention, men are liable to speak and vow inadvertently. The Preacher's words remain relevant, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few" (Eccles. 5:2).

A rash vow in the day of battle had cost Jephthah the life of his only daughter (Judges 11) and Jonathan also would have lost his life but for the intervention of the people who said to Saul, "shall Jonathan die who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel?... for he hath wrought with God this day".

D. Smith, Lerwick | Sept 1975
General