Samuel and Saul
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righteous man, and his armor-bearer, to go over to the garrison of the
Philistines. Jonathan believed that God was able to work for them, and
save by many or by few. He did not rush up presumptuously. He asked
counsel of God, then with a fearless heart, trusting in him alone, he
moved forward. Through these two men the Lord accomplished his
work of subduing the Philistines. He sent angels to protect Jonathan
and his armor-bearer and shield them from the instruments of death in
the hands of their enemies.
Angels of God fought by the side of Jonathan, and the Philistines
fell all around him. Great fear seized the host of the Philistines in the
field and in the garrison. And the spoilers that had been divided into
separate companies, and sent in different directions, ready for their
work of slaughter, were terribly afraid. The earth trembled beneath
them, as though a great multitude with horsemen and chariots were
upon the ground prepared for battle. Jonathan and his armor-bearer,
and even the Philistine host knew that the Lord was working for the
deliverance of the Hebrews. The Philistines became perplexed. There
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appeared to them to be men of Israel among them, fighting against
them; and they fought against one another, and slaughtered their own
armies.
The battle had progressed quite a length of time before Saul and
his men were aware that deliverance was being wrought for Israel. The
watchmen of Saul perceived great confusion among the Philistines,
and saw their numbers decreasing and yet no one was missed from
the armies of Israel. After numbering the men of war Jonathan and
his armor-bearer were reported missing. Saul and the people were
perplexed. He had the ark of God brought, and while the priest was
inquiring of God, the noise among the Philistines increased. It sounded
like two great armies in close battle. When Saul and the people of
Israel perceived that God was fighting for them, those who had fled and
hid in their terror, and those who had joined the Philistines through fear,
united with Saul and Jonathan, and pursued the Philistines. The Lord
wrought for Israel, and delivered them for his own name’s glory, lest
the heathen army should triumph over his people, and exalt themselves
proudly against God.
Again Saul erred in his rash vow that no man should eat until the
evening. There was a great lack of wisdom in Saul’s zeal in making
such a vow. It was a great day’s labor for the people, and they suffered