Year 1, Day 300: 1 Samuel 14

The Difference between Saul and Jonathon

Here we see evidence of Saul’s sinfulness as exposed in the last chapter and how it continues into more sin today.  We also see a great contrast between Saul and his son Jonathon.  Let’s begin with the faith of Jonathon since that is where the story itself begins.

Jonathon goes up into battle, trusting in the Lord’s guidance.  Jonathon makes a plan, and notice that his plan is open to God’s leading.  He doesn’t say, “We’ll go up and attack them.”  No, Jonathon says “We’ll go up and if they invite us up we’ll know that God has given them to us.  But if they say wait, then we’ll know that God doesn’t want us to attack them.”  Jonathon is setting himself up to be used by God without forcing his will upon the will of God.  He gives us a great testimony of faithful obedience here.

While we’re speaking of this act, let’s not forget that this is a situation of 2 people against an army.  Jonathon knows he can’t possibly win against the army, but he trusts God.  God fulfills that hope.  As Jonathon attacks, God lets the earth quake underneath the camp.  It is God who throws the Philistines into a panic; Jonathon is just doing his part of God’s greater plan.

On the other hand, Saul is cowering in the caves.  Only after he notices the panic in the camp of the Philistines does he take action.  Here we see his impatience rearing its ugly head once more.  Saul calls for the Ark of the Lord so that he can consult with the priest.  While this seems like a good move – and it would be if Saul waited patiently for the direction of the Lord – it is unfortunately a great opportunity for his impatience. 

Rather than wait for wisdom to come out of the conversation with the priest, Saul orders the priest to “withdraw his hand.”  This is most likely an order to the priest to use the Urim and Thummim to make a decision.*  Saul is not patient enough to hear the priestly wisdom from the Lord.  Saul wants to fight and he wants to fight now!  How often do we become impatient with the people who can spiritually guide us as we want them to “get to the point.”

As Saul rushes into battle, his impatience causes him to make a rash vow.  He didn’t even pause to think that Jonathon couldn’t possibly have heard the vow.  This just goes to show us why we should be careful making vows – especially vows that may affect people who aren’t present to hear the consequences.

Yet, the rashness of the vow isn’t the worst part of this story.  Saul’s rashness ends in pride.  When Saul does actually inquire of the Lord, he gets no response.  This leads to the discovery of Jonathon’s guilt.  Saul could have turned to the priest and confessed that his vow was rash – especially since Jonathon couldn’t have possibly known about the vow.  Saul could have turned in humbleness and repented himself.  But this is not what Saul does.  In pride Saul stands by his vow and offers up the death of his son.  Rather than acknowledge his own fault, Saul is willing to let his son die.

Comparison of Saul to the Father of the Hebrew People

This story shows Saul to practically be the anti-Abraham (sacrifice of Isaac).  In pride, Saul seeks to sacrifice his son to prove himself just.  On the other hand, Abraham followed God humbly trusting that the Lord will provide a sacrifice so that his son might be spared.  Here we see a great lesson between the pitfalls of human pride and the righteousness of spiritual humbleness.  Spiritual humbleness leads to righteousness.  Human pride leads to sin.

In the Old Testament, no unintentional sin results in the punishment of death.  Yes, death is the punishment for several intentional sins; but unintentional sin always has a more minor consequence than death.  Here we see Saul’s impatience lead to arrogance and pride as he demands a price to be paid greater than what the law would demand.  Saul demands death – even the death of his own son – so that people would understand how seriously they should take his vows.

We are now seeing Saul’s unraveling.  Only a few chapters ago he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord.  But now he is impatient, rash, and swelling up with himself.  He is becoming arrogant, and soon he will be a king like the rest of the kings of the world.  The Hebrew people wanted a king so they could be like the other nations.  That is happening pretty quickly in the story, and I find it a bit sad.

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*See Exodus 28:30 for the first reference to the Urim and Thummim.  This was a way for the priest to cast lots quickly and answer a “yes/no” type question.