Sauls Self-Righteous Vows

1 Samuel 14:24 Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.

On the day of battle, with total victory in sight. Saul declares a fast accompanied by a curse. This sounds so spiritual. Let’s set today aside as a special day of fasting unto the LORD.

Saul puts the army of Israel under an oath, so he could avenge himself on his enemies. If he regarded it as his battle, he should fast. Saul shows that even in doing something spiritual like fasting his focus is on himself, not the LORD.

When the morale and physical energy of Israel should have been at their strongest, the army was in distress, weakened, and discouraged.

1 Samuel 14:25-30 The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. ²⁶ When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. ²⁷ But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. ²⁸ Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.” ²⁹ Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰ How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?

Israel’s army is pursuing the fleeing Philistines. They were all tired and hungry. They needed energy to continue and finish the battle. And God provided honey oozing out of the ground.

Yet Saul’s foolish oath prevented them from receiving what God put right in front of them. Jonathan, unaware of the oath-curse, eats some honey, and immediately, his eyes brightened.

Saul, with his command to fast, had surely brought trouble for the country.          The people were faint on a day when they should have been strong.                  They were weak and distracted by their hunger, unable to celebrate the victory.

1 Samuel 14:31-35 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. ³² They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood. ³³ Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.” “You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” ³⁴ Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.” So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. ³⁵ Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.

Deuteronomy 12:23-24 But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. ²⁴ You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.

Because of Saul’s foolish legalistic command (because Saul was doing this for himself), the people were so hungry that they broke the law. Their obedience to Saul’s foolish command led them to disobey God’s command. This is always the result of legalism.

We often think that legalistic rules will keep people from sin. Actually, the opposite is true. Legalistic rules lead us into sin because they either provoke our rebellion or lead us into legalistic pride. (Spiritual superiority)

Saul set up a stone to properly prepare the animals, and also built an altar to the LORD. At least Saul did some of what was right after he did what was wrong.

 1 Samuel 14:36-39 Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.” “Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied. But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.” ³⁷ So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day. ³⁸ Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today. ³⁹ As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of them said a word.

Through the urging of the priest, Saul inquires of the Lord. Shall I pursue the Philistines, will you give them into Israels hand? What was the process of inquiring of the Lord? ***Exodus 28:30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

So, the priest here is using the Urim and Thummim to inquire of the LORD.

These were a pair of stones, one light and another dark, and each stone indicated a “yes” or “no” from God. A question would be asked of God, the priest would then reach into the breastpicece, and pull out either a “yes” or a “no.” “Withdrawal your hand”

Because we are told God did not answer that day, the stone that indicated “no” kept being drawn out. (Meaning there was an issue)

Saul does again what Saul does: makes another foolish vow.

As surely as the Lord lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die. Of course, if Saul knew that it was Jonathan who violated his vow, he would never have said this. But he was so caught up in being “right” “Looking spiritual” that he adds another foolish vow to his previous one. The other soldiers knew Jonathan ate the honey, but no one said a word. Because they knew that Saul was in the wrong.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. ⁵ It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. ⁶ Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.

God is not Monte Hall—God direct my path, Proverbs 3:5-6—God, if you’ll show me your perfect will, Romans 12:2    Everything we want from God-Process       Gratify the flesh-You want to be free, know the truth    

 1 Samuel 14:40-44 Saul then said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here.” “Do what seems best to you,” they replied.⁴¹ Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim.”***Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. ⁴² Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken. ⁴³ Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must die!” ⁴⁴ Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.”

Saul wanted everyone to know that he and his son Jonathan were innocent, so that was the reason for the first division. Imagine Saul’s shock when the Urim indicated that he and Jonathan were the guilty group!

Jonathan his son was chosen: but instead of admitting that the death sentence was foolish, the vows were foolish, Saul hardened his foolish prideful heart, and declares: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.”

Saul is willing to kill his son rather than to humbly admit that he was really at fault. Saul started out as a humble man, but his once impressive humility has been overtaken by pride. (When Called-Anointed) Hard to see in ourselves-easy others

 1 Samuel 14:45-46 But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death. ⁴⁶ Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.

The other soldiers stood up to Saul’s foolishness and would not allow Jonathan to be executed. Because they knew that it was Jonathan the lord used that day to deliver Israel from the Philistines.

The Philistines withdrew to their own land: They got away. If not for Saul’s foolishness, the victory could have been complete.

 1 Samuel 14:47-52 After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them. ⁴⁸ He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them. ***⁴⁹ Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal. ⁵⁰ His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle. ⁵¹ Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel. ⁵² All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.

Remember, God has rejected Saul, not Israel