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Two Brave Young Men Rout Philistines, July 20
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come,
and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may
be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the
Lord to save by many or by few.
1 Samuel 14:6
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In Jonathan, the son of Saul, the Lord saw a man of pure integrity,—one
to whom He could draw nigh, and upon whose heart He could move....
These two men gave evidence that they were moving under the influ-
ence and command of a more than human general. To outward appearance,
their venture was rash, and contrary to all military rules. But the action
of Jonathan was not done in human rashness. He depended not on what
he and his armor-bearer themselves could do; he was the instrument that
God used in behalf of His people Israel. They made their plans, and rested
their cause in the hands of God. If the armies of the Philistines challenged
them, they would advance. If they said, Come, they would go forward....
Jonathan and his armor-bearer had asked a sign of the Lord; and the chal-
lenge had come, the sign was given. These two men placed their hope in
God, and went forward. It was no easy passage for the brave adventurers.
They had hard climbing to reach the top....
It would have been an easy matter for the Philistines to kill these two
brave, daring men; but it did not enter into their minds that these two
solitary men had come up with any hostile intent. The wondering men
above looked on, too surprised to take in their possible object. They
regarded these men as deserters, and permitted them to come without
harm.... “And they fell before Jonathan; and his armour-bearer slew after
him.” ... This daring work sent a panic through the camp. There lay the
dead bodies of twenty men, and to the sight of the enemy there seemed
hundreds of men prepared for war. The armies of heaven were revealed to
the opposing host of the Philistines
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The Youth’s Instructor, November 24, 1898
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