First Samuel 14:24

The Bible says in First Samuel 14:24-31, “And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.[25] And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.[26] And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.[27] But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.[28] Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.[29] Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.[30] How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?[31] And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.” We see that Saul had become an unwise leader. He put burdens on the people that made no sense: telling them to go into battle and not to eat. And then Saul wanted to give a punishment that was too severe: the death penalty for eating food. We have the opposite problem in our society: often criminals are not punished in a way that brings justice. There was recently a case of a man who twenty-five years ago raped, killed, and dismembered a sixteen year old girl. He was finally put to death after twenty-five years, but even then many people argued against it. This is a lack of wisdom. What is worse, punishments that are too harsh or justice not being administered as the crime demands? Both situations demonstrate that we have leaders who do not know what they are doing. Saul did not know what he was doing as king. As a young man he was the best choice in all the land, and now Saul has become corrupted by power and by ego.

But Jonathan, his son, was not corrupt. Jonathan knew it was foolish and impractical to avoid eating in such a situation. Jonathan was glad that they found honey that they could eat, and he encouraged everyone with him to refresh and strengthen themselves with the honey. Notice that Jonathan said in verse twenty-nine, “My father hath troubled the land.” Jonathan was wise enough as a young man to recognize his father’s faults and to not copy them. Some children fall into the same errors that they see in their parents. But other children by the grace of God find the ability to avoid committing the same craziness. You can make your own choices in life.

The Bible says in First Samuel 14:32-37, “And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.[33] Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.[34] And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.[35] And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.[36] And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.[37] And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.” In many ways Saul had become a bad leader because he was not right with God. How can any human being perform their responsibilities properly without God’s blessing? Saul’s effect on the people was negative. His foolish command to forbid anyone from eating resulted in the people getting so hungry that they ate flesh with blood which was a violation of God’s law. Notice in verse thirty-seven that Saul’s prayer was not answered. One of the things that keeps our prayer from being answered is sin in our life. If you want answers to your prayers, then your first prayer needs to be, “Lord Jesus, forgive me where I failed you.” David said in Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” It is so very important that a Christian learns to rely on the promise found in First John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Bible says in First Samuel 14:38-45, “And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.[39] For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.[40] Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.[41] Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.[42] And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.[43] Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.[44] And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.[45] And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.” In verse thirty-eight Saul calls a violation of his arrogant command a sin. Only God determines what is a sin. Christians have a great freedom and liberty. Do not become entangled under the religious rules that a human being sets. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” But Saul said that he would kill his own son if Jonathan is found to be the one who ate food. There is one thing that kept King Saul from putting his own son to death: the will of the people. The people of any country have the ultimate power, even in an autocratic monarchy. The American Revolution proved this. Governments can be overthrown by the people, if the people want to do so. Hopefully, in a democracy it will be done with ballots and not with bullets. When Jesus comes back, He will overthrow all governments, and then He will rule all nations with a rod of iron: at least for the first one thousand years after His return. We call this the Millennial Reign of Christ. Jesus will show how ruling the earth should be done.

The Bible says in First Samuel 14:46-52, “Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.[47] So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.[48] And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.[49] Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:[50] And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.[51] And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.[52] And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.” King Saul had many sins and spiritual problems, and he would have more, especially when he would later try to kill David; but he was still the king of Israel and God’s blessings were upon Israel His chosen people. God blessed them as much as He could no matter who the leader was. We hope and pray that the Lord will do the same for our country. We know that we have some judges, and congressmen, and senators, and governors, and mayors, and educators, and entertainers who have serious spiritual problems because many of them do not know the Lord Jesus as Savior and do not read the Bible. But we still pray for them, not only that they will be saved, but that God will give them wisdom and will use them for the good of the nation and all of our people. Christians are told in First Timothy 2:1-4, “ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;[2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.[3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;[4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

The Bible says in First Samuel 15:1-3, “Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.[2] Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.[3] Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” The Old Testament time was definitely different than the time in which we live. The Old Testament emphasized law, but the New Testament emphasizes grace. Also, there was a certain brutality in the Old Testament that no longer applies to us. It was governed by the principle “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” Jesus changed that. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28-29, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:[39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Of course, Jesus was talking about personal relationships, and not necessarily about armies fighting in war. In the Old Testament one city would attack another and there was slaughter. Ultimately, God determines who lives and how long we live. The nations who opposed Israel had become wicked and were rebelling against God. Their time was up and their judgment had come. The same will happen to every person on this earth. The time appointed to leave this earth will come, and then will be the judgment.

Saul was told clearly to destroy the Amalekites entirely. Saul was told in verse three, “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” We will find out in the upcoming verses how well Saul obeyed God’s will. The Lord also has His will for our lives. We will find out at the judgment how well we followed His will.

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