The Rescue of Jonathan

Today’s Verse:

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. ~1 Samuel 14:45

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Have you ever been the victim of another person’s failures or bad judgment? If this has happened, you know that it can set you back for a long time. In almost any setting, you become the scapegoat for the other person’s failure and risk people losing confidence in you. This morning, let us see a spiritual leadership lesson that involved the life of Jonathan. Let us see how a godly and consistent leadership testimony delivered him from disaster.

We see Jonathan’s valor.

“Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.” Humanly speaking, the Israelites were outmatched by the Philistines. King Saul did not have the mind of God and was in a holding pattern. Jonathan knew that staying still was not an option. Without making his father look bad, Jonathan privately stepped out in courage to take on the Philistines. Compelling leadership is courageous in the face of risk and danger.

We see Jonathan’s vision.

“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.” Jonathan was convinced that God would bless his courage and faith. He told his armorbearer that God can save by many or with few. I believe that Jonathan did some praying in secret and was inspired by God to step out do what no one else was willing to do. Being visionary is seeing the arrival at your destination. It is seeing things that can and should be. Jonathan instilled his vision into his armorbearer. Visionary leadership is compelling.

We see Jonathan’s virtue.

Jonathan was honest, trusted, and godly. His armorbearer told him to “do all that is in thine heart.” When Jonathan ate the honey on the ground, he did not know that his father gave a foolish commandment for people not to eat it. Jonathan had sense to know that the rules his father established were not beneficial. He said, “See how mime eyes have been enlightened.” He demonstrated care and ongoing concern for the welfare of the people. People do not care how much you know as much as how much you care.

We see Jonathan validated.

Saul knew that the Lord answered him not. He sought to place the blame for his sin on someone else. It came down to him or Jonathan. Saul, in a desperate effort to save his life, pronounced a death sentence on Jonathan. The people knew Jonathan’s heart and took a stand against Saul to preserve Jonathan’s life. They validated Jonathan’s character and intentions by saying that Jonathan had “wrought with God this day.” Jonathan’s vision, valor, and virtue unanimously validated him in the eyes of the people. The people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. Disaster was averted from the wise decisions that Jonathan made.

The law of sowing and reaping teaches us that you reap what you sow. Jonathan was rescued from potential disaster because he sowed seeds of care, character, and compelling leadership. Do the right things so that you are a victor and never a victim.

Have a blessed God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Colossians 1-4

#1Samuel #Jonathan #Leadership #Saul