FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL
Study continued
For the TEXT of the following Study please see previous Post
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 ?
1. What a disappointment King Saul is to the people of Israel. Sitting under the tree reminds me of his hiding when he was appointed king, he doesn't want to face what is ahead of him. He has been rebuked by Samuel and he has lost Gods favor, his army has left him, the Philistines have taken his weapons...he is overcome and has no faith that God is in charge, nor does he turn to God. The Philistines have ramped up their persecution and perhaps he doesn't want to make them any angrier and so he does nothing. Perhaps he even blames Jonathan for initiating this harsh treatment of his people?
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of instances today when we face big issues that seem to be overwhelming, so we do nothing instead of trusting God and taking a stance. Immorality in the media,immodestity in the way women dress, we are afraid to be thought of as being judgemental
2. Even with a father like King Saul, Jonathan would be aware of Israels history and the covenent with God. He has experienced Gods favor in the past at Gibeah and he puts his trust in God not in his own ability.
3. I immediately thought of David and Goliath, but we aren't there yet in our study...so ? Every day we are in a battle with the very essence of evil, we are Jonathan and satan is the Philistines. Satan wants to control us and put us in submission and God wants us call on Him to protect us. Satan has "grave power" but we know that God is greater.
4. Saul is so very human in his responses. Saul is no longer leading his people.He is afraid and is drawing ungodly people to himself. God has become Sauls last resort instead of his first option.
When the people of Israel have victories now it is all the more evident that they are Gods victories and not Sauls.
1. It seems to me that Saul felt defeated and is perhaps “sulking” (for lack of a better word). He thought what he was doing was the right thing (giving the burnt-offering) and expected praise from Samuel. Instead he is ridiculed for his impatience and impulsive decision. He has also just been told that his kingdom will not continue and that God has chosen someone else (a man after his own heart) and appointed him to be the ruler of His people. Not only that, but he is also down to only 600 men (from 3000) and his men have no swords or spears to fight with. He has lost faith and hope and probably feels helpless, wondering what to do next.
ReplyDeleteLooking back in the Bible, this lack of faith and respect for God reminds me of Eli’s sons who showed greed with the offerings. When Eli learned of their behaviour, he rebuked them, but not enough for God, who cut them off from His altar. God is annoyed with Eli and tells him “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind.” (1Samuel 2:35). Eli’s branch of the tree of Levi has been cut off and they would suffer greatly.
2. I am not completely certain of the timeline, but I think, as a young boy, Jonathan would have been told about the works of the Lord during the Exodus, as well as the invasion of Jericho. Jonathan’s father was chosen by the Lord to be King. As such, I wonder if Jonathan thought that by being loyal and honouring his father (though battle), it would be pleasing to God (in keeping with His commandment). When Saul defeated the Ammonites (chapter 11), he said that the Lord brought deliverance to Israel. This first-hand experience of what must have seemed like a miracle to Jonathan, as well as his father praising God surely would have helped him to build onto his own faith and trust in God and His power.
3. In the Bible, I can think of many examples of people who have been vulnerable before a grave power: Hannah, as she continues to travel to Shiloh for worship each year even though she was being tormented by Peninnah; David, as he sets out to kill Goliath using a few pebbles and a slingshot; Mary (Jesus’ mother), as she agrees to give birth, raise, and allow her only son to be persecuted according to God’s plan. All of these people put complete faith in God, trusting in Him and His plan.
In our daily life, it could be anyone who stands up for what they believe in, in the face of adversity (eg. those who stand up against a bully).
4. I think that King Saul is a very “power hungry” and desperate person now. He did not act like a leader at all, until his son took charge of the situation and began killing the Philistines. Instead of seeing this as a victory from God (as Jonathan would have), he exerts his control over the troops (perhaps trying to reign them under his command, since his son made the decision without him to go off and begin fighting). Not allowing them to eat anything??? Who doesn’t provide their troops with nourishment so that they can continue to be strong enough to fight? It seems ridiculous. Then, when they slaughter the animals and eat them with the blood (I am assuming that means “raw”), he get angry with them. He shows his impatience again and again – next with God, after he asks if he would be able to defeat the Philistines and doesn’t get an answer. Rather than see that God is annoyed with him, he thinks that God was angry because someone must have broken his rule about the honey – talk about shifting the blame! Right now, I don’t have a very high opinion of King Saul. I don’t see him as an effective leader. Not only has he lost the faith of his people, he has lost his own faith in God.