1 Samuel 14

Previously in 1 Samuel, we saw how Jonathan attacked the Philistine’s garrison at Gibeah.  The Philistines responded by summoning an army of 3,000 chariots, six thousand horsemen, and more people than could be numbered.  King Saul had called his army of 3,000 men together to go fight, but when they saw the size of the Philistine’s army, they quickly became fearful and began retreating.  When Saul saw that he was losing his own army, he took matters in his own hands, and offered a sacrifice, something only the priest was allowed to do.  Saul disobeyed the word of the Lord through Samuel, and this unfortunately would cause him to lose the kingdom.

As we pick up in chapter 14, Saul, his son Jonathan, and the rest of the men were still in Gibeah.  Saul was on the outskirts of Gibeah, sitting under a pomegranate tree.  We are told he still had 600 men with him and that Ahijah, Eli’s great grandson was wearing an ephod (he was a priest).  Saul was sitting, doing nothing, while his son and his son’s armorbearer, unbeknownst to him, were gone.

Jonathan was not content allowing the Philistines to occupy land that God had already given to his people, and being the man of faith that he was, he wanted to do something about it.  We should not be content when evil is going on around us, but we need to seek the Lord’s leading for what our part should be.  Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.”  He did not tell his father, maybe because he was concerned his father would discourage him from doing it or even outright forbid it.  As I have stated before, whenever we want to take a step out in faith and do something for the Lord, there are usually those who will try to talk us out of it, and sometimes it is our fellow believers or family members.  In fact, Jonathan did not tell anyone, probably for the same reason.  There was a pass on the way to the Philistines’ garrison with a sharp rock on either side of it, and Jonathan told his armorbearer, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”  This was a great outlook by Jonathan: so often, we judge our success by matching our own abilities up with the opposition’s, but when the Lord is fighting for us, there is no limit to his power and ability.  The Lord is only looking for those who will step out in faith and trust Him with the outcome.  He told his armorbearer that they should show themselves to the Philistines, and if the Philistines said to them to wait until they came down to them, then they would stand still.  However, if the Philistines told them to come up to them, then they would take it as a sign that the Lord had delivered them into their hand.  Although I believe we need to be careful when asking for signs from the Lord, there does appear to be a biblical justification for it.  There should be a legitimate need, and it should be something for which the word of God does not already address, either directly or by implication.  If this was not of the Lord, it would have been a fool’s errand, but if it was, then their success would be certain.  The Lord also knows our hearts, and whether or not we will actually follow through on our end of the bargain.

Well, Jonathan meant what he said, and they showed themselves to the Philistines.  The Philistines mocked them saying, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.”  It should also come as no surprise when we are mocked by nonbelievers, for they are under the control and influence of the devil.  They said to Jonathan and his armorbearer, “Come up to us, and we will show you something” (teach you a thing or two).  This is what Jonathan was waiting for, and he said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”  In response to Jonathan’s faith and courage, God answered him with the sign he had requested.  Notice also, that Jonathan was not doing this for his own recognition, but for the good of his nation, another true mark of a godly leader.

So, Jonathan and his armorbearer climbed up on their hands and knees, and began killing Philistines, about 20 in a half-acre of land.  Then the Lord caused a trembling or terror to fall on the Philistines, and the ground began to quake.  The Philistine army began to melt away, and people began running here and there.  When Saul found out what was going on, he told the men to take roll to see who was missing.  After doing so, they found that Jonathan and his armorbearer were missing.  Saul called for Ahijah to bring the ark so that they could enquire of the Lord, but as the noise in the Philistine camp continued to increase, he decided to forgo seeking the Lord’s direction and go to the battle.  It would again seem that Saul’s hesitancy was more due to fear and a lack of faith rather than a genuine concern that he was truly in the will of God.  Also, notice how he orders the priest around: he tells him to bring the ark, and then to withdraw his hand.  It seems that Saul is already allowing the power to go to his head, which was demonstrated by his lack of reverence for spiritual authority.

Next, Saul and his men assembled to the battle, and when they got there, there was confusion in the Philistine camp.  The Philistines had turned on each other and were killing one another.  Also, the Hebrews who were among the Philistines, along with the Hebrews who were hiding in the mountains of Ephraim, joined Saul in the battle.  The Lord brought a great victory that day, and it was because one man and his armorbearer decided to step out in faith.

Saul made an oath that day, stating, “Cursed

 

is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.”  It was an impulsive oath that was only to serve Saul in his quest for power and recognition.  Unfortunately, it would come back to bite him before the day was over.  As a result, the people were distressed and became weary due to the intense fighting and no food.  When they came into a forested area, they found honey dripping on the ground.  Jonathan, who had not heard his father’s oath, dipped his rod in the honey, put the honey in his mouth, and he was refreshed.  Afterwards, someone told him of the oath, and Jonathan responded, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.  How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?”  They had driven back the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon (one of the Philistines’ coastal cities), and they were so weary, that they rushed on the spoil, killing and eating the animals with the blood.  This was contrary to the law, but Saul was largely to blame because of his oath.  He did not take any responsibility, but put all the blame on the people by telling them they had dealt treacherously.  He told them to roll a large stone to him, and that everyone should slaughter their ox and sheep there.  This way, the blood could be properly drained from the meat before eating it.  It was there that Saul built his first altar unto the Lord.

Next Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them.”  Saul was full of zeal now, but he was really riding on the emotion of the victory the Lord had won through his son.  The people responded that he should do whatever seemed good to him.  It was the priest who suggested that they should draw near to God first.  Saul asked counsel of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him.  Whenever we seek the Lord for direction, the first thing we should do is take care of any sin in our lives, for sin is a barrier to fellowship with God.  The Psalmist wrote, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”  Saul stated, “Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.  For as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.”  Rather than considering that the Lord did not answer because of his hasty oath, he immediately assumed the sin was in one of the people.  Not only this, he was ready to punish the guilty party severely, even if it was his own son.  So, they cast lots, and Jonathan was eventually taken.  Saul told his son to tell him what he had done.  Jonathan replied, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!”  I find it interesting that Jonathan did not attempt to explain himself further: he made no mention of not hearing the oath, and I wonder if it was because he knew it would not make any difference.  Saul answered, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”  Wow!  Even worse than making a rash oath, is following through on it.  Saul is ready to kill his own son through whom the Lord worked a marvelous victory.  However, the people came to Jonathan’s rescue: “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.”    Saul relented to this reasoning, and returned from pursuing the Philistines.  The Philistines also returned to their own place.

Saul appears to have lost his marbles here, and indeed some make a case that he was mentally ill.  However, as we have seen previously, his biggest problem is his own lack of faith and self-will.  He was regarding iniquity in his heart, and consequently was out of fellowship with the Lord.  He also now had the added insecurity that his kingdom would not continue, and he would become increasingly envious and paranoid of anyone who posed a threat to his leadership.  I believe the reason he was so severe on his own son is because he was envious that the Lord had worked through someone else besides him, and he was experiencing conviction for being in the wrong.  So, Saul’s problems were not that he was mentally ill, but that he had a good old-fashioned sin problem.  Some may argue that the stresses and trials that came with being king changed him, but they only revealed what was already there.  This is true for you and me as well: whenever we are going through difficult times and the ugliness comes bubbling to the surface, that is the Lord allowing those struggles to reveal those things in our own hearts that are not pleasing to Him.  Just as the smith would heat the metal to bring the impurities to the surface, the Lord, at times, allows fiery trials for the same reason.  Peter writes, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:6-9) However, the solution is always the same.  When we find ourselves out of fellowship with the Lord because we insist on doing things our own way, and we are insecure of our position and find ourselves being envious of what the Lord is doing for others, the solution is repentance and choosing to trust the Lord in our circumstances.  Remember, it is faith that is pleasing to the Lord.  First of all, faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, and second, believing that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6).  We seek Him through humble repentant prayer, and through knowing and obeying His word.  Every jot and tiddle of His word is true.  “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” (Psalm 12:6) And, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”

Despite Saul’s glaring faults, not all was a disaster.  He continued to fight against his enemies on every side.  He gathered an army, and delivered Israel from all that plundered them.  He had three sons: Jonathan, Jishui, and Malchishua.  His daughters were Merab and Michal, and his wife was Ahinoam.  The commander of his army was Abner, who apparently was Saul’s cousin.  Saul was also a resourceful man, for whenever he saw a strong or valiant man, he took him to himself.  In the following chapter, we will see Saul put to another test from the Lord through the prophet Samuel, which unfortunately will further reveal his character flaws.