Three Philistine Spoilers

1 Samuel 13:16-18 KJV And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. [17] And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: [18] And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

I. INTRODUCTION—OLD TESTAMENT PICTURES = NEW TESTAMENT INSTRUCTIONS

1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

-Those are the words of Paul as he is explaining the huge price that doubt and unbelief took on the children of Israel. He noted that there was some that died in the wilderness and never made it to the Promised Land.

-He then exhorts a New Testament church to understand that all of the accounts and encounters in the Old Testament were written for our instruction. He infers that the wanderings of Israel can very well be a picture of what the church life and saint life looks like. We have to use these Old Testament stories to help us in our spiritual battle.

William Gurnall—So many go into the field against Satan, and so few come out conquerors; because all have a desire to be happy, but few have courage and resolution to grapple with the difficulties that meet them in the way to happiness.

-So it is that we find this story in that same vein of thought also. God in His great grace passed to us a Book where He has spoken so that we can see how to go.

Psalms 119:11 KJV Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

II. THE BACKGROUND OF THE TEXT

-The background surrounding this text is in the first three years of Saul’s reign as the new king of Israel. This battle he is about to go into will his first one against Israel’s arch-enemy, the Philistines.

-Saul had already put together an army of three thousand soldiers to help him to defend the nation.

• Two thousand were under his command at Michmash.

• One thousand were under the command of Jonathon at Gibeah.

-The Philistines were to be formidable enemies for Saul and his men as you see played out through the rest of 1 and 2 Samuel.

-But as for 1 Samuel 13, it is not difficult to see that the Philistines were breathing down their neck with fear and intimidation. The clues to that end are found in this chapter.

-In 13:4, Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. . . meaning that the Philistines were not pleased that they now had a king and had already defeated the Ammonites in a battle.

-In 13:6, the people were distressed. . . literally means that they were squeezed and pressed together and were in great difficulty.

-In 13:6, the people had fled to the limestone caves. Those who could not make it to the caves hid in the thickets which were found in the clefts and fissures of the rocks.

-Some managed to find the high places which were secret holding places like stone vaults. Lastly, they hid in the pits which were old water reservoirs that were fed by the rain. When there was no rain, the pits dried up and this is where some of the Israelites were hidden.

-In 13:7, some of the people actually fled to Gad and Gilead which would be northeast of Jerusalem across the Jordan River to the east and above the Dead Sea.

-Israel was literally set back on their heels because of their fear. Our hope for victory can get choked out when we look at the enemy. Victory depends more on our faith, hope, and trust in God than the strength and even the weakness of our foe!!!!!

• Fear will cause you to shift the blame just like Adam tried to do.

• Fear will make you lie just like Abraham did about Sarah.

• Fear will make you run to Laban just like it did to Jacob.

• Fear will make you build a golden calf just like Aaron because he feared the people.

• Fear will cause you to lose your Promised Land just like the ten faithless spies.

• Fear will cause you to back down from Goliath.

• Fear will put you behind the winepress like a trembling Gideon.

• Fear will make you run from Absalom just like David did.

• Fear will cause you to sink just like Peter on the stormy sea.