1 Samuel 14:13

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.

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 30th & 31st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Jonathan and his attendant were foxhole companions. They were small and seemingly inconsequential. A strict chain of command could have bound them to the failed policies of Saul, and yet a stronger covenant bound them to the God of Israel.

1 Samuel 14:12

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.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 30th & 31st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

“Let us go” is the equivalent of “move!” Jonathan believes that the will of God is revealed through human initiative not through human inactivity.

1 Samuel 14:6

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.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 30th & 31st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Some obstacles of our climb to the summit are long-standing. They are fierce, obstinate opponents, long entrenched in the foothills and on cliffs as we ascend.

Proverbs 23:26

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 23rd & 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

So often our lives can feel aimless, as we rush from one situation to another, from one technique to another in hopes of finding something that will give our lives purpose and meaning. In the 50's it was the power of positive thinking...

Proverbs 23:23

Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 23rd & 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings, tied together by the common thread of God’s superior wisdom.

Luke 14:28

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?"

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 23rd & 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Not all human investments are about money. To “invest” is synonymous with “to clothe,” from the Latin word investire.

Numbers 13:31

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 16th & 17th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

“In the providence of God, the tragic failures of one generation can be retrieved in the experiences of the next. The purpose of God cannot ultimately be defeated.”