A Hasty Oath
Last week’s story about King Saul ended with a cliffhanger. Saul, who had already demonstrated his penchant for rash decision making, is at it again.
As the story opens this week, Saul has made another ill-advised decision.
The battle extended beyond Beth-Haven, and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath: “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
1 Samuel 14:23 & 24
Can you imagine the grueling ordeal that these men were facing? They would have become battle-weary and mentally exhausted. At that precise moment they did not know what the outcome of the fight would be.
When the faithless king gave that command he had no idea that Jonathan, his son, had left the field of battle. Remember, Jonathan and his armor bearer were on a mission to secure the victory from the Philistines.
As the army of Israel marched into battle there was honey on the ground. It flowed freely around the men. But not one of them defied the king in spite of their hunger. (1 Samuel 14:25-26)
But Jonathan was unaware.
However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath. He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it into the honeycomb. When he ate the honey, he had renewed energy.
Then one of the troops said, “Your father made the troops solemnly swear, ‘The man who eats food today is cursed,’ and the troops are exhausted.”
Jonathan replied, “My father has brought trouble to the land. Just look at how I have renewed energy because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater.”
1 Samuel 14:27-30
Just a quick sideline. Devoted believers know the only way to renew our strength is through the Spirit and the Word. We may not be fighting battles with the Philistines, but the spiritual battles that confront us daily are just as relentless. The evidence proves that Jonathan knew that his strength and wisdom came from the Lord.
As we read more of the story we see that Saul made more than one unwise and hasty oath. Not only did he tell the troops not to eat until after the battle, but he added to his sin by saying that whoever broke the oath would have to die. When Saul learns that it was Jonathan who ate the honey, he moves to execute him for breaking the oath.
But God’s divine wisdom intervened.
But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die? He accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel! No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God’s help today.” So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.
1 Samuel 14:45 & 46
Now it may appear that Saul is nothing but an utter failure because of his sinful heart and rebellious actions. But God’s Word points to something else. Saul was a courageous defender of Israel. He served the nation of Israel with valor, despite his spiritual failures.
When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc. He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites, and rescued Israel from those who plundered them.
1 Samuel 14:47 & 48
Take some time this week to read this part of Saul’s story. 1 Samuel 14
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Statement of Faith
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 