Tuesday Devo
Scripture:
1 Samuel 14:24–30
24 Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” So no one ate anything all day, 25 even though they had all found honeycomb on the ground in the forest. 26 They didn’t dare touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken.
27 But Jonathan had not heard his father’s command, and he dipped the end of his stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt refreshed.[f] 28 But one of the men saw him and said, “Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.”
29 “My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. 30 If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!”
24 Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” So no one ate anything all day, 25 even though they had all found honeycomb on the ground in the forest. 26 They didn’t dare touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken.
27 But Jonathan had not heard his father’s command, and he dipped the end of his stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt refreshed.[f] 28 But one of the men saw him and said, “Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.”
29 “My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. 30 If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!”
Commentary:
24. Before going into battle, Saul was so determined to get the better of the Philistines that he imposed a ban on food for the day, evidently in an effort to gain the Lord’s favour after hurrying away from Ahijah and the ark. No wonder the men were distressed; they were suffering from exhaustion, aggravated by fasting. This incident is one of a number of examples in Scripture of rash vows and oaths that are better avoided (cf. Judg. 11:31–40; Eccl. 5:4–5; Matt. 5:33–37). It also illustrates Saul’s knack of getting the wrong end of the stick in things spiritual.
Joyce G. Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 8, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 117.
Joyce G. Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 8, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 117.
Questions:
The Israelite soldiers had spent the day chasing the Philistines. They were tired, hungry, and still had a battle ahead of them. As they passed through a forest, they found honey scattered across the ground. It was exactly the kind of refreshment they needed. But no one dared to eat because Saul had placed the army under an oath not to eat anything until evening.
Jonathan hadn't heard about his father's command. He dipped the end of his staff into the honey and ate. Scripture says his eyes brightened. He felt refreshed. When one of the soldiers told him about the oath, Jonathan immediately recognized the problem. "My father has made trouble for us all!" he said (1 Samuel 14:29). Saul had placed a burden on his men that God never required, and it was making an already exhausting battle harder. Saul wanted to continue fighting until he had taken revenge on his enemies. His attention was fixed on his own goal, and he gave little thought to what his men needed. They were doing the difficult work of fighting, but his command left them with less strength to do it.
Our expectations can have a similar effect on the people around us. We may want our children to obey, our spouse to follow through, or our coworkers to do their jobs well. Those expectations aren't necessarily wrong, but when our frustration takes over, and the people around us hear far more about what they're doing wrong than what they're doing well. We correct without encouraging, point out mistakes without recognizing effort, and keep raising the standard without considering how our words affect the people trying to meet it.
Ephesians 6:4 gives parents an important instruction: "Do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." Children need correction and guidance, but they also need to know they're loved and that their parents see more in them than their failures. In every relationship where we have influence, our words can either help someone grow or leave them discouraged and defensive. Saul was so focused on getting what he wanted that he failed to consider the people carrying the burden of his command.
Jonathan hadn't heard about his father's command. He dipped the end of his staff into the honey and ate. Scripture says his eyes brightened. He felt refreshed. When one of the soldiers told him about the oath, Jonathan immediately recognized the problem. "My father has made trouble for us all!" he said (1 Samuel 14:29). Saul had placed a burden on his men that God never required, and it was making an already exhausting battle harder. Saul wanted to continue fighting until he had taken revenge on his enemies. His attention was fixed on his own goal, and he gave little thought to what his men needed. They were doing the difficult work of fighting, but his command left them with less strength to do it.
Our expectations can have a similar effect on the people around us. We may want our children to obey, our spouse to follow through, or our coworkers to do their jobs well. Those expectations aren't necessarily wrong, but when our frustration takes over, and the people around us hear far more about what they're doing wrong than what they're doing well. We correct without encouraging, point out mistakes without recognizing effort, and keep raising the standard without considering how our words affect the people trying to meet it.
Ephesians 6:4 gives parents an important instruction: "Do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." Children need correction and guidance, but they also need to know they're loved and that their parents see more in them than their failures. In every relationship where we have influence, our words can either help someone grow or leave them discouraged and defensive. Saul was so focused on getting what he wanted that he failed to consider the people carrying the burden of his command.
- Think about a recent moment when someone close to you made a mistake or didn't meet your expectations. How did you respond? Did you take time to understand their situation, or did your frustration come out before you considered what they might need?
- Is there someone in your life who regularly hears what they need to improve but rarely hears what you appreciate about them? Have your expectations made it difficult for you to recognize their effort or progress? What have you been overlooking?
- Think of one relationship where your words or expectations may have become discouraging. Is there an apology you need to make, encouragement you've been withholding, or an expectation you need to reconsider? What specific change can you make this week?
Prayer Topics:
- Confess the ways impatience, frustration, or unrealistic expectations have affected how you treat others.
- Thank God for His patience with you and for the loving correction He provides.
- Ask God to help you consider the burdens others are carrying before responding to their mistakes or shortcomings.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to shape your words so that you bring encouragement, offer correction with love, and help others grow.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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