Introduction
Certain events in history emerged as watershed moments that radically affected the world. Some of the most recognized are the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, Martin Luther's nailing his 95 Theses on Castle Church door, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Armstrong's walk on the moon, and the 9-11 terrorist attack. Others could be listed, but the point is that some days are more than another 24 hour period of time.
Some days may not make national headlines, but the impact upon an individual or family can produce significant alternations, like the day my daughter had her first epilepsey seizure. Some families have experienced the tragedy of an unexpected death caused by an auto accident or heart attack. Some events are triumphant - the birth of a child, a significant accomplishment, or the surprise of an IRS refund.
While some days may not be as memorable as others, the Bible says, "This is the day the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps. 118:24). We must learn to see each day as a precious gift. Moses exhorted the people of God to pray for wisdom that we would understand how to number our days. (Ps. 90:12). Our day may not be historic, but each day is holy and significant. May we never waste a single day.
One man who understood the principle of numbering his days was Jonathan, the son of King Saul. What most remember about this man is that he befriended David and humbly acknowledged David's calling to be the next king of Israel. Jonathan never demanded that the throne be passed down to himself as the reigning prince. In 1 Samuel 14, we discover that Jonathan was an incredible soldier who possessed an amazing faith in the LORD. There came a day in his life when Jonathan decided life was too precious to waste. One historic day Jonathan chose to become a Vertically Inclined person.
Context
The account of 1 Samuel 14 begins with Israel's army hiding among the caves of Gibeah after having been defeated in battle by the Philistines. The Bible says after Israel defeated the Amorites and Jonathan defeated a group of Philistines in a small skirmish, Saul foolishly declared war against the Philistines who were "as numerous as the sand" (1 Sam. 13:5). Saul's soldiers knew they were over-matched, and they "quaked with fear" (1 Sam. 13:7). Saul's arrogance in going to battle against a superior enemy without seeking the LORD's will led to additional disobedience. Unwilling to wait for the prophet Samuel, the arrogant King Saul foolishly offered a sacrifice. Instead of divine blessing, Samuel, who arrived just after Saul finished the offering, rebuked Saul saying, "You have not kept the command of the LORD . . .your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart." (1Sam. 13:14).
Israel's army retreated to the caves of Gibeah. While Saul's army was hiding, the Philistines raided the neighboring villages confiscating all weapons. When we come to Chapter fourteen, the Bible says that only two swords remained. Among Saul's troops Saul and Jonathan each had a sword. The rest of the army had resorted to using farm tools for weapons.
I. Search for God
In this defeated, depressed, and discouraging circumstance, Jonathan made a choice to search for God. The Bible says, "One day Jonathan said let us go look for the LORD" (1 Sam 14:1-4). When do you make necessary changes in your life? One day when you become sick and tired of being sick and tired. One day when you stop trying to destroy your life and start trusting a loving God who can deliver you form the pit of despair. Change begins and hope erupts one day when you realize like Jonathan that God does not dwell in the cave of arrogance, disobedience, and cowardice. God is on the mountain. That is why the Psalmist said, "I lift my eyes to the mountain. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, maker of the heaven and earth" (Ps 121:1-2).
Jonathan realized the Lord was not in the caves of Gibeah where his father had set up camp. He needed to go where God was working. Experiencing God author Henry Blackaby summarizes this principle of seeking the Lord with the statement, "You can't go with God and stay where you are." We must be willing to go, look and search for divine activity. Jonathan says to his armor bearer, "Let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf" (1 Sam. 14:6). The main point of the story is not to propose a military strategy of picking a fight with a superior enemy, but Jonathan's actions reveal the godly principle of "going with God."
Throughout biblical revelation we find God calling the followers to GO! God told Abraham to go to a new land. God called Moses to go back to Egypt. God told Joshua to follow closely because they were going a way they had never been before. We find the "go principle" in the final instructions given by the Lord Jesus who promised to be with us always, when we "go into all the world to make disciples" (Matt. 28:18-20). Vertically inclined people seek the Lord where He can be found. The Bible promises that God is always working (John 5:15-20), but we must be willing to go in order to participate with His divine activity.
II. Select friends wisely
Searching for God can be difficult at times, but you don't have to do it alone. Woven in the fabric of this story is the importance of selecting or choosing friends wisely. Often the company we keep determines success or failure. We should all heed the biblical warning found in Proverbs 12:26, "The righteous use caution when choosing friends because the way of the wicked leads them astray." Other Bible passages stress the importance of selecting friends wisely, "Bad company corrupts good morals" (1 Cor. 15:33). Solomon said "two are better than one for they have a good return for their labor" (Ecc. 4:9-10), and he declared that the wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of an enemy (Pvbs 27:6). Jonathan's choices in the camp of Gilbeah were an arrogant and disobedient king or soldiers who were "quaking with fear." Sometimes the best choice is to make some new friends! We are called to be friendly (Pvbs. 18:24), but everyone does not have to be your friend.
Jonathan found one man who shared a kindred spirit. One man in the camp recognized true courage, godly leadership, and triumphant faith. I love the words spoken by Jonathan's armor bearer, "I am with you heart and soul." (14:7). We all need friends like Jonathan's armor bearer. Friends who build up not tear down; friends who inspire confidence not inflict criticism; friends who encourage bold faith not discourage taking risks; friends who support with heart and soul; not just those who stick around for the party. Jay Strack offers great advice in his book, Above and Beyond, "Who you associate with is one of the few decisions over which you have 100 percent control. Pray for godly, motivated friendships, and take time to develop them. As a Christian be kind to everyone in your path, but in relationships share like values and passions. Beware of those who drive in the Exscuse Expressway with no intention of using the exit ramp."
Jonathan was surrounded by people with excuses. They had several "legitimate reasons" for staying stuck in a cave of defeat and despair. The Philistines are too strong. We are out of weapons. We are just following our arrogant King. It is the government's fault. No one can deny that these men faced enormous challenges, but we serve a God who does the impossible. To experience the power of God you must sever ties with those who prefer to hide in dusty caves and join heart and soul with those who will climb mountains for the glory of the God.
III. Strive for victory
Jonathan did not just want to escape the caves of Gilbeah; he wanted victory over the enemy. He desired a life of excellence and success. Mediocrity was never an option, so Jonathan climbed. He did the unthinkable to accomplish the impossible. Pastor and author Brian Harbor said, "The greatest indictment of Christians is not that we fall short of the mark, but we have quit striving to reach the mark." Jonathan's climb paints a powerful picture of victory being available to those who are willing to move to a higher level of faith, those who are willing to leave a comfort zone, those who are willing to risk being different from the crowd, and those who embrace the call of God upon their life.
Victory is ultimately accomplished by God. Jonathan clearly states that he will not fight unless he perceived, "that the Lord has given them into our hands." (14:10), but he also understands that he has a role to play in the defeat of the Philistines. Taking risks and climbing mountains is not the same as training for the thrill seeking, death defying, X-treme Games. When Peter walked on water, he stepped out of the boat only after Jesus commanded him to come out on the water. Jonathan steps out or climbs up to fight with confidence that he has received a word from God. What I think is often overlooked is that both Jonathan and Peter knew the call of God because they had spent time listening to His voice.
Victory is rarely a spontaneous event. It usually comes after significant preparation, determination, and consecration. To be painfully honest, most people refuse to pay the price for victory. But, the sad reality is that the price of failure is far greater. Defeat, discouragement, fear, depression, and missed opportunity, are incredible costs compared to the dedication to climb. What is the cost of a 15-20 minute daily walk compared to a heart attack.? What is the cost of some night classes to complete your degree compared to the nagging guilt of not finishing what you started? What is the cost of winning a soul to Christ compared to an occasional act of ridicule? Success has a price, but so does failure. Which price do you want to pay?
We were created to climb higher, run faster, and fly farther by the power and purpose of God. Jeremiah said that God's plans were to prosper us not to harm us and to give us hope and a future. Climbing is a matter of attitude not age, academic training, or some external circumstance. I was amused and inspired a few years ago when former president George H. Bush went sky diving on his 80th birthday. Bush said, "I wanted to let the world know that life beings at 80!"
We are called to be vertically inclined followers of Christ who look to the mountains and set our minds on things above. We should expect our mighty God to show Himself strong on behalf of His children. Erwin McManus defines this victory mindset as barbaric in his book The Barbarian Way. Victory is not for the tame and timid; it is reserved for those few who walk to the beat of a different drummer. "Yet Christianity over the past two thousand years has moved from a tribe of renegades to a religion of conformists...A quick survey of the modern Church would lead you to believe that Christ's invitation was Come and Listen instead of Go! Some followers fully embrace the barbarian call, and they live their lives moving forward with every fiber of their being fighting for the heart of their king." (McManus, p. 6)
Like the soldiers of Saul's army, our tendency is to retreat in the face of enemy threats and difficult trials. Instead of dusty caves, we hide behind dusty traditions that choke the passion and vitality of any expression of radical faith. As the apostle Paul warned in the later days people will hold to a form (pattern, tradition) of godliness but deny its power. (2 Tim. 3:5). When form replaces faith and pattern substitutes for power, Christianity becomes another world religion designed to keep us in line with everybody else in the cave.
Allow the convicting testimony McManus to challenge you as it did me. "It's hard to imagine Jesus enduring the agony of the cross to keep us in line. Jesus began a revolution to secure our freedom. Twenty-five years ago I was part of the barbarian invasion. I knew little about God, but I wanted nothing else. I was overwhelmed that someone as extraordinary as Jesus Christ would embrace someone like me. I would give my heart fully to whatever I would learn to be on God's heart. I was a follower of Jesus, and for me there was no turning back. Perhaps the tragedy of our time is that most of us who declare Jesus as Lord have become two domesticated. We have lost the passion and power of a raw, untamed, and primal faith."
IV. Forward and higher
We began this message examining the life of a young man who was bold enough in his faith to climb a mountain, to pick a fight with the enemy, and to believe the one true God would accomplish a mighty victory. It seems fitting to conclude with another story of a warrior who left an inspiring legacy to those who bear his name.
The movie Braveheart made famous the Scottish struggle for independence. Robert the Bruce was the Scottish noble who betrayed William Wallace (the character portrayed by Mel Gibson), but Sir Robert would eventually lead Scotland to freedom and become king of Scotland. Before his death, Robert the Bruce requested that his heart be removed and taken on crusade by a worthy knight. The heart of Robert the Bruce was embalmed, placed in a small container, and given to James Douglas, who wore the heart as a necklace. In every battle, Douglas carried the heart of his king close to his own heart.
In the spring of 1330, Douglas led a campaign against the Spanish Moors. The Moors proved to be a difficult opponent. During his final battle, Douglas was surrounded by the enemy. With death closing in with unquestionable certainty, he tore the heart of his king from his neck, threw it into the advancing enemy, and shouted, "Fight for the heart of your king. Forward, Braveheart, forward . . . I will follow my king's heart or die!" The motto of the Douglas clan preserves the spirit of their patriarch with a single word but unmistakable legacy. The one word motto of the Douglas family is FORWARD.
Family mottos with a corresponding coat of arms or family crest are customs that developed long after Jonathan led his army to victory, but I think his legacy could be captured in a single word. Like the Douglas legacy the challenge extends to future generations of those who call themselves followers of God. Jonathan's motto and our challenge is simply CLIMB.
God is on the mountain. He is inviting you to meet Him there, so CLIMB!