An Army Of One – And One With God Is A Majority

-June 17, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.’”

(1 Samuel 13:6).

There are many heroic people in the Bible who acted alone and did great things with God’s help, such as Sampson, David, Josheb-Basshebeth, also known as Dodai, Eleazar, Shammah, Abishai, Benaiah, just to name a few. While it it isn’t always advisable to fight alone, God gives us the victory. Here in our text, Jonathan, the son of King Saul, went out alone, just having his armorbearer to help him, and God gave him a tremendous victory over the mighty Philistines. This incident occurred before David defeated and killed Goliath the giant Philistine warrior.

Jonathan had faith in the Lord and trusted in Him for His help. He understood the importance of God’s will in what he did and how he did it. It is interesting to note that Jonathan didn’t tell his father or anyone else what he was planning to do. There are times we must face the enemies of God on our own, but with the Lord we are never alone, He is with us. Martin Luther once said, “One with God is a majority.” God in fact does not need our help, He can do all things on His own, but He chooses to involve us and rewards us for what we do for Him.

When David took down Goliath he did so with a slingshot and a stone. God gave him a tremendous victory just as He did Jonathan. In fact these two became the greatest friends. They shared a common love for God and trust in Him. Both were men of faith and prayer. Jonathan told his armorbearer that he would call out to the Philistines and if they said, “Come up to us,’ it would be God’s sign of victory. That is just what they said. Jonathan and his armorbearer climbed up the steep crag on their hands and knees; and killed 20 Philistines in the space of about half an acre.

It was such a resounding victory by two men, that there was fear and trembling throughout the camp of the Philistines that Saul and his army heard and knew something was going on. Saul had his commanders take a roll call of who among them was missing, and it turned out to be his own son. Jonathan proved that God does work for us and is not restrained to save by many or by few. Jonathan never bragged or boasted but gave all the glory to God.

You are a army of one. You are unique, and God can use you in in His service to fight the good fight of faith. We fight best on our knees in prayer, depending fully on the Lord. James wrote, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8). Paul said in Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (or schemings) of the devil.”

Have a blessed and victorious day. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. The battle is not our’s but the Lord’s. Stay safe and healthy.

In His mighty power,

Dean