Wonderful was this victory, and most instructive : in contemplating it we cannot but see,
1. That God can work by the weakest means —
[Nothing can be conceived more inadequate to the occa- sion than the means that were here used — • But God
delights to magnify his own strength in his people's weakness, and to interpose for their deliverance in their greatest straits. It is for this very purpose that he often waits, till we are reduced to the lowest extremity^. It was for that end that he reduced the hosts of Gideon from two and thirty thousand to three hundred; that the glory of their victory might be aU his own ^. Whatever straits then or difficulties we may be in, we should consider that God is all-sufficient; and that " the things wliich are impossible to man, are possible with him."]
2. That a hope of his aid should encourage our
exertions —
[Two things encouraged Jonathan ; the one, " There is no restraint to the Lord to save, whether by many or by few;" and the other, " It may be that the Lord will work for us." And what greater encouragement can we want? for, " if God be for us, who can be against us?" When therefore we are tempted, from a view of our own weakness, to say, " There is no hope," we should call to mind " the great and precious promises" which God has given to us in his word, and the wonderful deliverances he has vouchsafed to his people in every age. In dependence upon him we shovdd go forth, fearing nothing •=. Being " strong in the Lord and in the power of his might," we should gird on our armour, or even go forth with a sling and a stone against every enemy, not doubting but that, like Goliath of old, he shall ere long fall before us.]
a Deut. xxxii. 3G. ^ Jud"-. vii. 2 — 8. <■ Ps. xxvii. 1 — 8.