Big Idea: Faith in the Lord’s great power can be the catalyst for his saving intervention.

Understanding the Text

After announcing the demise of Saul’s dynasty, Samuel departs, leaving Saul alone with a mere six hundred troops to face the Philistine army (1 Sam. 13:15). The situation appears to be bleak, especially when the narrator informs us that the Israelite troops are ill equipped for battle due to a Philistine monopoly on iron (vv. 19–22). But sometimes crisis is the seedbed for heroism. Saul’s son Jonathan, empowered by his faith in the Lord’s ability to deliver his people, steps forward and ignites the battle (14:1–14). The Lord causes the Philistines to panic and gives Israel a great victory (vv. 15–23). While inspiring, the account is tragically ironic. Jonathan possesses unhes…