THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL 

BIBLE STUDY 

THE BACKGROUND OF SAMARIA

Under the rule of King Solomon’s son Rehoboam the kingdom of the Hebrew people was divided in half. See 1 Kings 12.  In the north in 900 B.C.  a rebel named Jeroboam broke from the nation ruled by Rehoboam, establishing the northern kingdom of Israel with 10 of the tribes The ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel are: Asher, Dan, Gad, Issachar, Joseph [2 tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh], Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun. The two tribes of the southern kingdom of Judah are: Judah and Benjamin. Note that Levi is not included because they had no set territory but cities of the Levites were scattered throughout the 12 tribes. Jeroboam would go on to establish their own place of worship versus Jerusalem in Bethel 1Kings12:25 – 33. The Assyrians in 721 B.C. would defeat the nation and take them into slavery. Whilst away the pagan rulers would fill the land with heathens. When the Hebrew people returned they would intermarry in the northern kingdom – Jew with heathen. Thus they were neither one nor the other- Jew nor pagan. For the ‘pure’ Jewish people of the south kingdom this represented why they hated the Samaritans so such – idolatry and schism. *** Even when they returned to the south kingdom in 538 B.C. and built the Temple in Jerusalem they refused to allow the Samaritans to participate in any way.  Ezra 4:2  Ezra 9 and 10  Nehemiah 13 . And so in 400 B.C. the Samaritans built their own Temple on Mount Gerizim.  The Samaritans believed that the Patriarchs at one time worshipped here.  See 1 Kings 16:24 – 24. It was destroyed in the 2^nd century B.C. Thus Samaritans were not pure bloods, they had history of idolatry, schismatic, and although the believed in the God of Israel they for example only accepted the first 5 books of the Law, and no prophetic books etc. To touch them, to even travel in their land made a true believer impure. This is the context of this Samaritan Woman at the Well whom Jesus leads to faith and witness.  

John 4:3 Jesus left Judea and started back to Galilee. 4 But he had to go through Samaria. It appears that often enough even Jesus would have gone around the region of Samaria so as not to become impure. But this time he “ had to “ – meaning that either he had no choice geographically or rather He had no choice – He had to do this work of this day      

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.  Jacob’s well was there. Syhcar or Sichem was the capital city of Samaria Genesis 34.  This land was given to Jacob            ( Israel ) gave to his son Joseph. Genesis 36. Note that the Samaritans believed only the Patriarchs and thus the root of Abraham etc. All things of the Patriarchs were leading to Jesus Christ. This is the moment when Jacob’s Well takes on its true importance.  

Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.  It was about noon. The Gospel of John thus far identified the divinity of Jesus but here He is tired – a human feeling. And yet even feeling tired He did not shrink from His mission. Even at noon day He is not wearied or complaining of the hot sun ** She is there at noon time- the hottest part of the day. Why ? She is a woman, a Samaritan, lower class ( servants did this job) and has had 5 husbands and living now with one. Thus the only time to go to the well is noon. Her sins are very apparent to all – there is no hiding them.   

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans. Through the Gospel we do not know her name but each time we see her title – Samaritan woman, thus her religious state is all important. This is one of the longest recorded conversations that Jesus has with some-one – it must be all important ! The conversation is so intense that  He actually never does get the cup of water !                                                                                                              Jesus thirsts for water at noon day but he also thirsts for the salvation for all – on the cross - ‘ I thirst ’.   Jesus interacts with her while no-one else will. Note how this dialogue goes – what can I learn from it ? There is common ground between the Jews and the Samaritans and Jesus uses this in dialogue. His teaching starts here. See how He does it.   She is here below shown that she is ignorant of a. who Jesus is AND b. what He offers ( life-giving water ) 

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God  and     who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”

The well is 100 feet deep and is spring fed. She is proud of the well and her Samaritan history. Deep – faith is deep. You must lower the net within deeply.  Note that now Jesus does not directly answer her – He could have said straight out – I am the Messiah, I am greater than Jacob etc but now see how Jesus continues the dialogue ~ ( He often uses this teaching method eh ) Note that her title for Jesus thus far is – “sir”.  

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; ( meaning – yes – I am greater than Jacob and you agree right that you will get thirsty again )   but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”  She starts to understand – it takes patience to bring about faith **

Conversation regarding her 5 husbands now takes place.  Her title below for Jesus is now “Prophet” Ironically she thinks that Jesus is prophet as to her husbands but actually He is prophet as to the future of faith in the world.    

“I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”

This refers to the two places of worship in our introduction.  As she poses this statement to Jesus is as if to test him – if you are a prophet then solve this puzzle. She expects Him to say you must worship in Jerusalem only. But Jesus says – the following – either one is going to be correct. He will then unite the Jews and the Samaritans as He unites Jew and Gentiles; free and slave; men and women.  

Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews.

     The Samaritans sought to worship God without the Jewish lineage of faith and worship. This is also not correct.  

But the hour is coming, ( this is a common phrase in Gospel of St John ) and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

Worship God in Spirit ( spiritually ) and truth. This is a ‘third’ kind of worship. One was on mount of Jerusalem; second one on mount of Gerizim; but now third one is in spirit and truth .

The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.”

She says that I shall know the Messiah because he will clarify all things to me and us … guess what .. that is what Jesus is doing. See how He teaches and leads her on her own fruition.                                                                                                  Jesus said to her,  “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.”                                  I AM – the Name of God. Now she is ready for faith.  

27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?”

First notice the timing – they arrive now , when the dialogue is complete and she now believes – how beautiful the timing of God.  They are astonished – do THEY get this mission of Jesus ? Do they know how to evangelize? Do they know how to treat people ? **

The Samaritan woman leaves the water jar and goes to the town – come follow me - leave everything and follow me.  Because of her testimony many believe in Jesus.  And remember she was the shun of the town! They a. believe in Him b. come to Him c. invite Him to stay.  This is the process of belief.  

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to     believe    in him. When the Samaritans    came to him,    they invited him to     stay    with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

Compare Nicodemus – chapter 4 - with the Woman at the Well chapter 5 .               N does not move ahead – does not believe – is by night – tells no one until after Jesus’ death when he helps at the cross.  

SHE MET

SHE LEARNT

SHE CAME TO BELIEVE

SHE WANT TO TELL OTHERS

 QUESTIONS

1.    What if true worship in spirit and truth ?

2.    What does the ‘ teaching method’ of Jesus tell us ?  How have you tried to evangelize ? Is it tiring ( like Jesus was tired )  Filled with patience?

3.    The Woman at the Well was the last one we may think to spread the faith. Do you know of a person who is a surprising source of faith ?

4.    No sin can keep us apart from Jesus – even 5 marriages and now living common law. Comments please.

5.    HOMILY TITLE

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Study continued

For the TEXT of the following Study please see previous Post

CHAPTER 14

As 1 Samuel continues we see the gradual decline of King Saul that began in chapter 13. Ironically as Saul through disobedience declines his son Jonathan is upheld as a great warrior and man of faith. This continues all throughout chapter 14 and climaxes in chapter 15. Jonathan would indeed would  have made a great king.

Verse 1

Jonathan is armed only with trust in God and courage as he goes off to the Philistines. He is vulnerable. He is only armed by the support of his armour bearer.

Verse 2 -3

Saul remains in Gibeah, on the defensive. He rests comfortably under the fruit tree in secure Gibeah. His army is only now consisting of 600 men. Hey King Saul – don’t just rest .

Once again King Saul rests when he should act and he acts when he should rest.

Saul is accompanied by of all people – Ahijah, a member of the Jewish Priest Eli’s family. Remember how in disobedience Eli’s family was cut off from the priestly lineage. They had taken the Ark of the Covenant from the Tabernacle to parade it and then was captured in the battle with the Philistines. Jewish Priest ELI ->  Phinehas -> Ichabod ( meaning ‘ the glory of God has departed from Israel ’) -> Ahitub his brother -> Ahijah.  What should we expect – here is King Saul , ever more rejected mingling with Ahijah of the rejected priestly family.

Verse 4 – 8

Jonathan and the armour bearer seek a sign and direction from God. They hide in the rocky crevices between Bozez ( meaning ‘ shining ‘ ) and Seneh ( meaning ‘ thorn ‘ ) Jonathan steps forward with courage before the Philistines confident that the Lord can save with either few or many ( verse 6 )  

Verses 9 – 10

The sign from God shall be - the response of the Philistines

If they say - Wait 'till we come - this means that they are courageous

If they say - Come up to us - this means they are cowards                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Verse 11 - 15

The two bravely step forward, they are not in disguise for the Philistines know they are Hebrew warriors. At first the Philistines think these are deserters for there were many Hebrew deserters.  The Philistines say – Come up to us. Jonathan knows by this sign that they are cowards and it is a sign from God to attack.  God even sends an earthquake to frighten the Philistines.

Verse 16 – 19

Saul and his 600 man army sees what is happening across the valley. King Saul does not know who it is from his camps and thus does a roll call, discovering that it is Jonathan and his armour bearer. When King Saul sees the Philistines fleeing he calls for the Ark of God.

Verse 20 – 23

God even causes the Philistines to fight one another – what an awesome humorous God. Even the Israelite deserters switch back to fight with King Saul and Jonathan. The Hebrew soldiers even come out from the caves of Mount Ephraim. And indeed THE LORD SAVED ISRAEL THAT DAY  ( Verse 23 ) – it was not King Saul or Jonathan but God’s victory.

Verse 24 – 30

Saul then proclaims that no one is to eat – this is a solemn vow. What ! Soldiers need strength. Jonathan was not present when the King proclaimed this vow.  This vow was tested when the people saw honey on the ground. No-one ate of it. But Jonathan did not hear the vow and he ate and his eyes were enlightened, that is filled with the grace of God. Jonathan tells the people that his father Saul caused trouble with this bad decision and oath. This oath was not from God but one that King Saul invented. That if they ate the honey they would be even stronger and defeat even more.

Verse 31- 36

This is why now the people are tempted. They continue to win but grow faint and hungry, so hungry that they eat of animals with blood – this is forbidden from God.

Verse 37 – 45

King Saul now asks God for guidance and God does not answer. King Saul assumes it is because someone in camp has defiled HIS oath ( without even thinking that it was the eating of impure animals, those forbidden from God  ). King Saul says that this person must die.  By casting lots ( the Thummim from the breastplate of the Jewish Priest ) it comes down to Jonathan. He is to die.  Here King Saul confuses HIS LAWS with GOD’S LAWS. Ironically Jonathan was the one who DID fulfill God’s Will.  Jonathan in the glory of God won the battle; Jonathan did not hear the oath; Jonathan is innocent. The people let him go free.

Verse 46 – 48

King Saul now extends his kingdom – he wins wars against the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the kings of Zobah, Philistines, and Amalikites.

Verse 49

The Family of King Saul and his wife Ahino-am, daughter of Ahima-az                                          

Sons - Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua;                                                                                                                          

Daughters were these: the name of the first-born was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal

To me the last verses says it all – “ when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself. “ 

King Saul thought the victory would be with man – instead it is with God.

QUESTIONS

1.       Why did King Saul simply rest under the tree? What do you think in this moment of time went through his head ?  Do you know of a similar example ?

2.       Jonathan went out before a great force. With such a father as King Saul how do you think that Jonathan gained so much trust in the Lord ?

3.       Jonathan is in this moment so vulnerable to the Philistines.  And yet we see what did actually happen . Can you give a parallel example of vulnerability before a grave power ?

4.       What do you now think of King Saul ?

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

CHAPTER 14

TEXT FOR STUDY

One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on yonder side." But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibe-ah under the pomegranate tree which is at Migron; the people who were with him were about six hundred men, 3 and Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 In the pass, * by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. 6 And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us; for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few." 7 And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that your mind inclines to; * behold, I am with you, as is your mind so is mine." * 8 Then said Jonathan, "Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 10 But if they say, Come up to us,' then we will go up; for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us." 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, "Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hid themselves." 12 And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Come up after me; for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel." 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him; 14 and that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, was of about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre* of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked; and it became a very great panic. 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibe-ah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude was surging hither and thither. * 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number and see who has gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 And Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel. 19 And while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more; and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand." 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle; and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with* the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the LORD delivered Israel that day; and the battle passed beyond Beth-aven. 24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food. 25 And all the people* came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; so he put forth the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes have become bright, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found; for now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great." 31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint; 32 the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, "Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD, by eating with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here. *" 34 And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, Let every man bring his ox or his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'" So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD. 36 Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and despoil them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us draw near hither to God." 37 And Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, "Come hither, all you leaders of the people; and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For as the LORD lives who saves 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 he said to all Israel, "You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." 41 Therefore Saul said, "O LORD God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim; but if this guilt is in thy people Israel, * give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand; here I am, I will die." 44 And Saul said, "God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan." 45 Then the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought with God this day." So the people ransomed Jonathan, that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place. 47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; wherever he turned he put them to the worse. 48 And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. 49* Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal; 50 and the name of Saul's wife was Ahino-am the daughter of Ahima-az. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle; 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Study Continued

For the TEXT of the following study please see previous posting

CHAPTER 13

In this chapter we see the beginning of the fall of King Saul.                                                                     

As best stated by Joyce Baldwin about the situation Saul faced as he began to reign.

"In relation to Samuel ( the Prophet) , it is obvious that Saul ( the King)had a problem.

On the one hand he owed his appointment to Samuel, but on the other hand he was taking over Samuel's position as Israel's leader. Samuel spoke frequently of the wickedness of the people

in requesting a king, apparently implying that he, Saul, should not really be in office. Yet Saul had not sought to be king, and would have preferred, at least at first, to have been left in obscurity, 

but he had not been offered any option. Too many signs had been given that he was the person   

of God's appointment, and prayers for deliverance from the Ammonites had been marvellously answered. He was king by divine anointing, by God's overruling of the sacred lot, and by united popular demand. He had caught the imagination of the people, who wanted a hero, and against all odds he was expected to pass muster. Had he realized it, Saul could have gained much by the presence of a seasoned prophet like Samuel alongside him, ready to give guidance, instruction and, if necessary, rebuke. Above all, Samuel was an intercessor who knew the Lord's mind, and saw prayer answered. Samuel would indicate the right way, and all Saul had to do was follow. He could have leant hard on Samuel and he would have found reassurance. In the event, this was exactly what Saul could not bring himself to do."

Verse 1

Saul was . . . *years old when he began to reign; and he reigned . . . and two* years over Israel

In the Bible there appears to be a ‘ blank ‘ where the age and reign of King Saul is noted. Many writers have tried to ‘ fill in the blanks’. Acts 13:21 tells us that King Saul reigned about 40 years. If he died on Mt Gilboa ( See chapter 31 ) at 70 or 80 years old that means that he was 30 or 40 when he began his reign.

Verse 2 – 4 

We are introduced to King Saul’s son Jonathan.

“ Jonathan” means – “ A gift of God.”                                      

This is the first mention of Jonathan, a key player in the Bible and in the battles that would ensue.

Gibeah or Geba ( meaning “Hill”; about four miles north of Jerusalem ) was Saul's hometown and his capital. Michmash was about five miles northeast of Jerusalem. Both where within the tribe of Benjamin, Saul himself being of that tribe. Evidently Saul wanted  to clear the area around Gibeah,     and the central Benjamin plateau on which it stood, of Philistines, to make this population center more secure.

Thus King Saul takes 2,000 men at Michmash while Jonathan is given 1,000 at Gibeah.

Jonathan fights the  Philistines and wins. Ironically it is King Saul who calls and receives the glory.

Verse 5 – 7

In response the Philistines gathered their forces at Michmash – a huge army of chariots and troops. This was so frightening to the Hebrew People that they hid themselves away – even in tombs and in cisterns ! Even after the initial battle of King Saul and now Jonathan’s victory the people remained without faith and in fear.

Verse 8 – 13

The Prophet Samuel tells King Saul and his army to wait. Samuel will arrive in seven days – seven being the ‘complete’ number. He, Samuel is to offer sacrifice for the battle. King Saul , with few troops to begin with and now many deserting him panics and is impatient. HE, King Saul goes ahead and offers the sacrifice. This was a violation of the Law. Saul decides not only to play the role of King but now of Priest ! He is so proud of this that King Saul goes out to meet Samuel so that ‘ he ( Samuel ) may salute him ( Saul ) -   Imagine !  Contrast this to David's submission to Nathan the prophet in 2 Samuel 12:1-15.

Saul could have offered prayers and yet went beyond himself in offering the sacrifice.

When Samuel challenges Saul the king is not longer proud of this moment but seeks an ‘ excuse’ - he says in verse 11  -  "When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said,        Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favour of the LORD'; so I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering." This sounds like the echo of Adam and Eve who when found out by God offered every excuse – except admitting it .

Verse 14

God through Samuel then makes his pronouncement against King Saul – 
" But now your kingdom shall not continue; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart."     This was to be David ( “David” translated means “Beloved” )

This may seem a harsh judgement but Saul was to be the first King the People of Israel.

This was a serious responsibility. King Saul had failed in this seriousness.

Verse 15

Disheartened we see the results. King Saul goes from Gilgal to Gibe-ah of Benjamin; his army once numbering 3,000 is now 600; his army was to be without any weapons at all – only Jonathan and Saul carried weapons; Israel was without smiths to fashion any spears or swords; the enemy,
the Philistines roamed about freely.

And so now what would be the results ?

The Hebrew People and King Saul ( and Jonathan who would increasingly lead the charge ) now fully disarmed would HAVE TO rely on God. The results ? Chapter 14 . 

QUESTIONS
Feel free to add your thoughts in Comments section

1.       King Saul clearly oversteps his role and God-given responsibilities. Why did he do this ? Can you think of modern examples whereby God-given roles are overstepped ?

2.       King Saul has full excuses for why he did what he did. Why did he not just take responsibility for his actions ? Can you think of a situation where someone DID take humble ownership of their faults ?

3.       The Hebrew People ‘lose’ every earthly defence. Yet – you can imagine what will happen – God alone will triumph. Can you think of a situation where a person, nation or community group or faith community was divested of ‘ self ‘ and had to rely on God ?