Today's Reading:

1 Samuel 13
1 Samuel 14
1 Samuel 15
1 Samuel 16

Happy Easter! Just as God delivered Jonathan from certain death through the merciful intervention of His people, Easter celebrates the ultimate deliverance- Jesus’ death for us, yet rising triumphantly so that we who trust Him do not perish but have eternal life.

After Jonathan unknowingly broke Saul’s rash oath by tasting a little honey, Saul cast lots to identify the one to die who broke the oath. Jonathan was honest and confessed, “I tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now I must die” (14:43). Saul swore that he would surely die. But the people intervened and spared Jonathan, saying he had God’s help with him. The community’s mercy overrode Saul’s rash vow to protect the faithful hero and prevent injustice; therefore, Jonathan was not killed. The moment of grace showed God’s own people delivering justice against Saul’s foolishness.

The Israelite army was feeling "faint" from hunger, yet they obeyed Saul’s command not to eat. Which do you think is better, showing obedience to a bad vow or the act of disobedience in order to stay healthy and alert for the battle?

 

 

Saul was at the age of thirty when he became Israel’s first king and started to build his army. Jonathan, Saul’s oldest son, attacked the outpost of the Philistines at Geba on his own mission. The huge Philistine army, including 30,000 chariots and countless troops, came, and the Israelites fled to caves. Saul waited at Gilgal for the prophet Samuel to show up within a seven-day time period to seek God’s guidance before battle. Only the priest could offer the burnt offerings, peace offerings, and give guidance. Impatiently waiting on Samuel, Saul made the offerings himself, and as soon as he finished, Samuel showed up. Right out of the gate, there was a kingship failure. Samuel rebuked him, saying, The Lord sought a man after His own heart,” and it would not be Saul. God was looking for someone with His same characteristics and who was obedient to His will. (This will later become David, even though he is not perfect either). Saul could win battles, but was not the right man to lead Israel since he had refused to submit to the Lord’s will. Saul’s sons would have no dynasty, and Saul’s kingdom of Israel would no longer be for all times.

The Philistines controlled key areas and would not allow a single blacksmith to be in Israel. This was to intentionally prohibit them from being iron workers so they could not make weapons and be dependent upon the Philistines for farm tools maintenance.

Jonathan went to a second outpost of the Philistines, and he, with his armor-bearer, attacked by themselves, with faith that “perhaps” (14:6) the Lord would act on their behalf. Jonathan was looking for a sign that the Lord was with them. He killed twenty of the Philistines, and the ground shook, creating a divine panic in the Philistines sent by God. At Saul’s camp, he had the Ark brought up to seek God’s will before battle. The Ark was at Kiriath Jearim, but an ephod was on the priest Ahijah, who was with Saul. The ephod contained the Urim and Thummim to cast lots, which was used to decipher God’s will (therefore, the Ark was not needed as it was not its intended purpose). Saul told the priest to “withdraw your hand,” meaning not to do what he had just asked of him. Saul decided that waiting for an answer from the Lord might cause him to lose his advantage in the battle. He did not want to wait. Victory again came to Israel, but it was not Saul or Jonathan’s; it was the Lord’s. All who had been hiding in caves came out.

Before the battle had started, Saul gave a command not to eat. Jonathan was caught eating honey, having not been privy to the command. The unauthorized sacrifice, curse, rash oath, and not seeking God continued to show that Saul was not the best man to lead Israel. Saul prepared to execute his own son. In absurdity at the king’s oath, over a little taste of honey, the men told Saul that he could not take the life of a person God used to help save the Israelites, showing they had gratitude to God. God would rather one not keep a bad vow and to deal with the lesser of two sins.

Samuel told Saul that God commanded the Amalekites to be totally destroyed- sparing no people, animals, or plunder. Saul let the Kenites leave so they did not get destroyed as they showed Israel kindness. (Moses’ wife Zipporah was a Midianite, and her father Jethro was of Kenite lineage, as well as Jael, who killed general Sisera with a tent peg). Saul attacked but spared King Agag and the best animals, claiming he kept them to sacrifice to the Lord. Saul’s refusal to obey and keep the choice animals, then made a monument (like an altar) to himself, not to the Lord, showed his selective obedience. God said he regretted making Saul the king- not in sorrow as God cannot lie, but God was grieved for the choices Saul made and his rebellion. Notice Saul said to Samuel the sacrifices were for “your” God.

The attack on the Amalekites seemed to happen often in Scripture due to Israel never fully expelling them.

• 1 Samuel 15:3, God said to destroy them all.
• Deuteronomy 25:19, God gave them rest from their enemies and told to blot out Amalek.
• Exodus 17:14-16, Due to their unprovoked attack on Israel, God said, “I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven” and adds that “the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

The recurring theme of ongoing conflict with the Amalekites shows human failure, partial obedience, and ongoing unrepentant evil. It was declared by God as an end goal of total judgment. The repeated fighting was not God’s word falling short, but the long-term incomplete obedience, remnant survival, and not trusting in His commands.

Saul asked to be honored in front of the elders, as he was more worried about his public appearance than repentance to God. God told Samuel to stop grieving and go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from the sons of Jesse. Samuel was nervous as Saul was still reigning and powerful. God had Samuel take a heifer with him as a peace offering sacrifice, to hide the real reason for the visit of anointing a new king (David). The Lord does not look at appearances, but at the heart, which is why He rejected the first seven sons.

David was described as a healthy, handsome, brave warrior who spoke well. Samuel anointed David in private (like Samuel) with only his father and brothers in attendance until the time came for God to announce the new king. The Spirit of God left Saul and would come on David. The evil spirits tormented Saul. God does not do evil Himself but does allow it to happen. Samuel was pleased with David being chosen by his servants as a lyre player (string instrument, like a mini harp). Each time the evil spirit from God would come, David would play the lyre, and the spirit would leave Saul. David’s music brought temporary relief to Saul, while at the same time, David was getting to be known in the king’s royal court, all under God’s sovereign plan.

Today's Discussion question: 

 
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