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August 17, 2025 – With your heart and soul
FACEBOOK COPY: Who are we letting close enough to carry our armor? 💔🤝 This week, Kent dives into betrayal, trust, and building real heart-and-soul friendships.
EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ). Get the fill in the blank bulletins my.harmonychurch.cc/bulletins.
------------------------
OPENING:
When I was in my early 30’s I had developed a friendship with a guy in our church. I shared deeply intimate things with this guy about my weaknesses, my pain, my dreams, my inadequacies. Do you guys have someone like that? Like someone I could sing the golden girls theme song with: A “Confidant” [start singing the golden girls theme]…
We hung out all the time, he influenced lots of stuff I did and I kept bringing him in closer and closer into my circle. Until eventually I invited him to be a part of the leadership of the church I was at.
You ever have something just 100% blind side you? This guy blind sided me. We were in one of our leadership meetings and he said, “I don’t think Kent should be leading…” my stomach dropped, I was like, “what in the world is going on” He proceeded to tell them all the things I had shared with him as insecurities that I had told him as a friend. It was gut wrenching. As a young man who felt in over his head, this guy was throwing me under the bus - I found out later he just wanted to gain control of the church for himself, thankfully the other leaders at the time saw through it and it didn’t happen.
But something it made me realize is
Who we let into our closest circle of friends matters more than we know.
b
The temptation, after a betrayal is to “never let anyone get close to me again…” Ever felt that?
Honestly, there are lots of people living that life…
They are completely alone on purpose
-a family member betrayed them and left them hurting
-a pastor who they looked up to failed and they decided they’d never let themselves be hurt like that again
-Friend after friend abandoned you so you decided a wall was better than a door…
You can make it through life like that, but you were created for deep meaningful relationships with others.
the first thing God ever said wasn’t good in the creation story was not spiders, it wasn’t the duck billed platypus, it wasn’t the smell of sulfur, listen to what it was.
Genesis 2:18
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.
You were created for community. It’s all through the scriptures, even to the point that when Jesus left the earth what He left you other people.
People are the only thing from this reality that will continue to the next.
So, especially for those of you who have convinced yourself you can’t have a good relationship or for those of you who have resigned to just never have a deep relationship,
What does it look like to have a circle of around us who we can count on?
I want to tell you a story to show you, then I want to give you 3 things to think about… ready?
Before King David in the bible there was a King named King Saul and his son, Jonathon. During Saul’s entire reign there was a constant battle with the Philistines. A constant war. They were being oppressed, think of the Russians to the Ukrainians. So much so that Saul and Jonathon were the only ones with true weapons because the Philistines had gotten rid of all the blacksmiths in Israel, it was a genius move. No blacksmiths, no weapons…
Jonathon leaves the encampment like a young man is prone to do with his armor bearer. I want you to listen to this story…
1 Samuel 14:1-10
1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men,3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
8 Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us.9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them.10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”
What would you do to have a friend that would say to you:
“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
I’d give a lot for that, wouldn’t you? Someone who is a heart and should kind of person…
[need to finish from here on out - need to adjust this on finding people who have these qualities:]
3 Key Questions to Finding a “Heart and Soul” Kind of Person:
b
1. Do they Lead with Loyalty?
Proverbs 3:3-4
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
ILLUSTRATION:
When I was a youth pastor I would tell kids they needed to find a Christian to date and then I realized, “what does that mean? It meant finding someone who exhibited the fruit of a Christian.
Finding someone who is loyal takes looking at the fruit of their life. Letting someone into your close circle means watching is this person a person who binds their neck with faithfulness and write’s it on their heart, that they are loyal to the people in their sphere.
-If I had listened to the way my friend talked about past relationships I would have seen that he was not this kind of person. He almost always talked negatively about people from his past…
2. Do They Tender Trust?
Matthew 5:33-37
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
As you watch these people are they the kind of people who shoot you straight and you never have to question their intentions or what they say their going to do? I was talking to a guy the other day who builds houses and I told him, “you don’t sell houses, you sell trust”
What jesus is saying isn’t just good for a Christian, it’s just good plain advice. If you are going to give someone your armor to carry with you and be willing to let them into the battles of your life, you have to know their yes means yes and no means no.
3. Do They Cultivate Commitment?
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
Philippians 2:19-21
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
These were two men in Paul’s lives who cultivated commitment - not just to Paul, but in their commitment to Jesus and to the body of Christ…
Listen, some of you are too afraid to give your heart to someone because you’ve been betrayed, some of you give your heart away too quickly to just anyone. But being wise about who you give your heart to can be so incredibly life giving…
CLOSING ILLUSTRATIONS:
I get being betrayed. So does Jesus. On the night he was betrayed it was with some of his closest friends and one of them literally turned him over as a criminal. Jesus knows what it is like to be betrayed, and still he brought people close. He still longs to bring you close. I’m amazed by Him because He knows we all have the capacity to betray Him and yet He lets us in… Some of you need to let Him in to your life and and start by getting close to Him, being Heart and Soul with Jesus and then find spiritual friends who will do the same with you…
--------------------
1 Sam 13:16-14:52
16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah[a]in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash.17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual,18 another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness.
19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!”20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles[b]sharpened.21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel[c]for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel[d]for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.
22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
Jonathan Attacks the Philistines
23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Mikmash.
14
1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men,3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh.5 One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
8 Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us.9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them.10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”
11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.”12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”
So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”
13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him.14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
Israel Routs the Philistines
15 Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.[e]
16 Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions.17 Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.
18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)[f]19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.21 Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.22 When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit.23 So on that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
Jonathan Eats Honey
24 Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.
25 The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground.26 When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.27 But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.[g]28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.”
29 Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey.30 How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”
31 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted.32 They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.33 Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.”
“You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”34 Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.’”
So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.
36 Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.”
“Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied.
But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.”
37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.
38 Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today.39 As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of them said a word.
40 Saul then said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here.”
“Do what seems best to you,” they replied.
41 Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault,[h]respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.42 Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”
So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must die!”
44 Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.”
45 But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
46 Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
47 After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings[i]of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.[j]48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
Saul’s Family
49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.50 His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle.51 Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.
Johnathan and his armor bearer come up to a cliff with some Philistines on it and Jonathan wants to go attack. He tells his armor bearer what he wants to do and the armor bearer says, “I’m with you heart and soul”. I’ll tell you, our hope for you is that as you are looking around this place you are looking to find the people who will say they are with you heart and soul, but this also takes you being that kind of person for someone else. This guy is going to have to risk to be with Jonathan in this. You are probably not going to have to risk your life, but you are going to have to risk something. You’ll have to risk your time. You’ll have to risk vulnerability. You’ll have to risk your heart. You’ll have to risk letting people see who you really are and hope they respond like you need. Can I tell you something. Staying where you are will never take you to where you need to be. It’s time to stand with someone heart and soul!
STUDY:
-the Philistines are a thorn in Jonathan & Saul's side...
View all episodes
By Harmony Christian Church
5
33 ratings
FACEBOOK COPY: Who are we letting close enough to carry our armor? 💔🤝 This week, Kent dives into betrayal, trust, and building real heart-and-soul friendships.
EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ). Get the fill in the blank bulletins my.harmonychurch.cc/bulletins.
------------------------
OPENING:
When I was in my early 30’s I had developed a friendship with a guy in our church. I shared deeply intimate things with this guy about my weaknesses, my pain, my dreams, my inadequacies. Do you guys have someone like that? Like someone I could sing the golden girls theme song with: A “Confidant” [start singing the golden girls theme]…
We hung out all the time, he influenced lots of stuff I did and I kept bringing him in closer and closer into my circle. Until eventually I invited him to be a part of the leadership of the church I was at.
You ever have something just 100% blind side you? This guy blind sided me. We were in one of our leadership meetings and he said, “I don’t think Kent should be leading…” my stomach dropped, I was like, “what in the world is going on” He proceeded to tell them all the things I had shared with him as insecurities that I had told him as a friend. It was gut wrenching. As a young man who felt in over his head, this guy was throwing me under the bus - I found out later he just wanted to gain control of the church for himself, thankfully the other leaders at the time saw through it and it didn’t happen.
But something it made me realize is
Who we let into our closest circle of friends matters more than we know.
b
The temptation, after a betrayal is to “never let anyone get close to me again…” Ever felt that?
Honestly, there are lots of people living that life…
They are completely alone on purpose
-a family member betrayed them and left them hurting
-a pastor who they looked up to failed and they decided they’d never let themselves be hurt like that again
-Friend after friend abandoned you so you decided a wall was better than a door…
You can make it through life like that, but you were created for deep meaningful relationships with others.
the first thing God ever said wasn’t good in the creation story was not spiders, it wasn’t the duck billed platypus, it wasn’t the smell of sulfur, listen to what it was.
Genesis 2:18
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.
You were created for community. It’s all through the scriptures, even to the point that when Jesus left the earth what He left you other people.
People are the only thing from this reality that will continue to the next.
So, especially for those of you who have convinced yourself you can’t have a good relationship or for those of you who have resigned to just never have a deep relationship,
What does it look like to have a circle of around us who we can count on?
I want to tell you a story to show you, then I want to give you 3 things to think about… ready?
Before King David in the bible there was a King named King Saul and his son, Jonathon. During Saul’s entire reign there was a constant battle with the Philistines. A constant war. They were being oppressed, think of the Russians to the Ukrainians. So much so that Saul and Jonathon were the only ones with true weapons because the Philistines had gotten rid of all the blacksmiths in Israel, it was a genius move. No blacksmiths, no weapons…
Jonathon leaves the encampment like a young man is prone to do with his armor bearer. I want you to listen to this story…
1 Samuel 14:1-10
1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men,3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
8 Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us.9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them.10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”
What would you do to have a friend that would say to you:
“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
I’d give a lot for that, wouldn’t you? Someone who is a heart and should kind of person…
[need to finish from here on out - need to adjust this on finding people who have these qualities:]
3 Key Questions to Finding a “Heart and Soul” Kind of Person:
b
1. Do they Lead with Loyalty?
Proverbs 3:3-4
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
ILLUSTRATION:
When I was a youth pastor I would tell kids they needed to find a Christian to date and then I realized, “what does that mean? It meant finding someone who exhibited the fruit of a Christian.
Finding someone who is loyal takes looking at the fruit of their life. Letting someone into your close circle means watching is this person a person who binds their neck with faithfulness and write’s it on their heart, that they are loyal to the people in their sphere.
-If I had listened to the way my friend talked about past relationships I would have seen that he was not this kind of person. He almost always talked negatively about people from his past…
2. Do They Tender Trust?
Matthew 5:33-37
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
As you watch these people are they the kind of people who shoot you straight and you never have to question their intentions or what they say their going to do? I was talking to a guy the other day who builds houses and I told him, “you don’t sell houses, you sell trust”
What jesus is saying isn’t just good for a Christian, it’s just good plain advice. If you are going to give someone your armor to carry with you and be willing to let them into the battles of your life, you have to know their yes means yes and no means no.
3. Do They Cultivate Commitment?
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
Philippians 2:19-21
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
These were two men in Paul’s lives who cultivated commitment - not just to Paul, but in their commitment to Jesus and to the body of Christ…
Listen, some of you are too afraid to give your heart to someone because you’ve been betrayed, some of you give your heart away too quickly to just anyone. But being wise about who you give your heart to can be so incredibly life giving…
CLOSING ILLUSTRATIONS:
I get being betrayed. So does Jesus. On the night he was betrayed it was with some of his closest friends and one of them literally turned him over as a criminal. Jesus knows what it is like to be betrayed, and still he brought people close. He still longs to bring you close. I’m amazed by Him because He knows we all have the capacity to betray Him and yet He lets us in… Some of you need to let Him in to your life and and start by getting close to Him, being Heart and Soul with Jesus and then find spiritual friends who will do the same with you…
--------------------
1 Sam 13:16-14:52
16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah[a]in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash.17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual,18 another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness.
19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!”20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles[b]sharpened.21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel[c]for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel[d]for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.
22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
Jonathan Attacks the Philistines
23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Mikmash.
14
1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men,3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh.5 One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
8 Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us.9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them.10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”
11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.”12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”
So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”
13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him.14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
Israel Routs the Philistines
15 Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.[e]
16 Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions.17 Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.
18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)[f]19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.21 Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.22 When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit.23 So on that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
Jonathan Eats Honey
24 Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.
25 The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground.26 When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.27 But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.[g]28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.”
29 Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey.30 How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”
31 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted.32 They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.33 Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.”
“You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”34 Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.’”
So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.
36 Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.”
“Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied.
But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.”
37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.
38 Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today.39 As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of them said a word.
40 Saul then said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here.”
“Do what seems best to you,” they replied.
41 Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault,[h]respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.42 Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”
So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must die!”
44 Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.”
45 But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
46 Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
47 After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings[i]of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.[j]48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
Saul’s Family
49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.50 His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle.51 Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.
Johnathan and his armor bearer come up to a cliff with some Philistines on it and Jonathan wants to go attack. He tells his armor bearer what he wants to do and the armor bearer says, “I’m with you heart and soul”. I’ll tell you, our hope for you is that as you are looking around this place you are looking to find the people who will say they are with you heart and soul, but this also takes you being that kind of person for someone else. This guy is going to have to risk to be with Jonathan in this. You are probably not going to have to risk your life, but you are going to have to risk something. You’ll have to risk your time. You’ll have to risk vulnerability. You’ll have to risk your heart. You’ll have to risk letting people see who you really are and hope they respond like you need. Can I tell you something. Staying where you are will never take you to where you need to be. It’s time to stand with someone heart and soul!
STUDY:
-the Philistines are a thorn in Jonathan & Saul's side...