Friday Devo
Scripture:
1 Samuel 14:24–52
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. 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!”
31 They chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. 32 That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood. 33 Someone reported to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.”
“That is very wrong,” Saul said. “Find a large stone and roll it over here. 34 Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.’”
So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first of the altars he built to the Lord.
36 Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise. Let’s destroy every last one of them.” His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.” 37 So Saul asked God, “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But God made no reply that day.
38 Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today. 39 I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!” But no one would tell him what the trouble was.
40 Then Saul said, “Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there." And the people responded to Saul, “Whatever you think is best.”
41 Then Saul prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent.” Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.
42 Then Saul said, “Now cast lots again and choose between me and Jonathan.” And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one. 43 “Tell me what you have done,” Saul demanded of Jonathan. “I tasted a little honey,” Jonathan admitted. “It was only a little bit on the end of my stick. Does that deserve death?” 44 “Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.”
45 But the people broke in and said to Saul, “Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death. 46 Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
Saul’s Military Successes
47 Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious. 48 He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
49 Saul’s sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal. 50 Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. 51 Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel.
52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
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. 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!”
31 They chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. 32 That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood. 33 Someone reported to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.”
“That is very wrong,” Saul said. “Find a large stone and roll it over here. 34 Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.’”
So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first of the altars he built to the Lord.
36 Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise. Let’s destroy every last one of them.” His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.” 37 So Saul asked God, “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But God made no reply that day.
38 Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today. 39 I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!” But no one would tell him what the trouble was.
40 Then Saul said, “Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there." And the people responded to Saul, “Whatever you think is best.”
41 Then Saul prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent.” Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.
42 Then Saul said, “Now cast lots again and choose between me and Jonathan.” And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one. 43 “Tell me what you have done,” Saul demanded of Jonathan. “I tasted a little honey,” Jonathan admitted. “It was only a little bit on the end of my stick. Does that deserve death?” 44 “Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.”
45 But the people broke in and said to Saul, “Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death. 46 Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
Saul’s Military Successes
47 Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious. 48 He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
49 Saul’s sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal. 50 Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. 51 Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel.
52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
Commentary:
SAUL’S IMPETUOUS, EVEN careless, actions continue. The meaning of verse 24 is complicated by textual and literary problems (compare NIV and NLT with NRSV).11 Whatever the original text may have been, apparently Saul places an unnecessary and unreasonable burden on his troops by disallowing them to eat food during the day of battle. He may have been motivated by a desire to create a “holy war” setting, which is reasonable in this context. But however commendable his reasons for such a ban, the result is that his men are famished and exhausted.
This paragraph’s unusual events illustrate again the contrast between Jonathan and Saul. Jonathan, unaware of his father’s foolish ban, does not hesitate to refresh himself with honey. His “brightened” condition (14:27, 29) proves that he has better understood God’s will for the troops than his father. He quickly condemns Saul’s ban and accuses him of making trouble for Israel (14:29). Later, when Saul seeks divine guidance concerning a surprise night attack, there is no response from Yahweh. This divine silence is tantamount to divine displeasure, and Saul begins an investigation to find the guilty party. When Jonathan proves to be the guilty party, Saul is faced with revolt in his own army.
Saul has gradually alienated himself first from Samuel, then from his army with the foolish ban against eating, and now finally from his own son (14:39). The result is a lost opportunity. The day that began with prospects of a final and decisive victory over the Philistines ends in a draw (14:46).
Bill T. Arnold, 1 & 2 Samuel, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003), 210.
This paragraph’s unusual events illustrate again the contrast between Jonathan and Saul. Jonathan, unaware of his father’s foolish ban, does not hesitate to refresh himself with honey. His “brightened” condition (14:27, 29) proves that he has better understood God’s will for the troops than his father. He quickly condemns Saul’s ban and accuses him of making trouble for Israel (14:29). Later, when Saul seeks divine guidance concerning a surprise night attack, there is no response from Yahweh. This divine silence is tantamount to divine displeasure, and Saul begins an investigation to find the guilty party. When Jonathan proves to be the guilty party, Saul is faced with revolt in his own army.
Saul has gradually alienated himself first from Samuel, then from his army with the foolish ban against eating, and now finally from his own son (14:39). The result is a lost opportunity. The day that began with prospects of a final and decisive victory over the Philistines ends in a draw (14:46).
Bill T. Arnold, 1 & 2 Samuel, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003), 210.
Questions:
Saul was willing to kill his own son over a rule he had made himself. Jonathan had unknowingly broken the oath by tasting a little honey, and Saul insisted he must die. Saul had repeatedly ignored God's instructions without taking responsibility for his own choices, but he was quick to judge someone else's failure while refusing to face his own.
Saul's life gives us some warning signs to watch for. He wanted punishment for others but pardon for himself. He put his own wants ahead of God's Word. And although he accomplished many things as king, his relationship with God was deteriorating. These weren't three unrelated problems. They all pointed to a heart that had become centered on Saul.
It's easy to spot these patterns when we're reading about someone else. We recognize the unfairness of Saul's treatment of Jonathan. We can see how foolish it was for him to ignore God's instructions while demanding everyone else follow his. But these same attitudes can show up in much smaller ways in our everyday lives.
Maybe you expect someone to understand your mistakes, but you have a hard time forgiving theirs. You want people to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you're quick to assume the worst about them. Maybe you know what Scripture says about a decision you're facing, yet keep looking for a reason to do what you want. Or maybe you've become so focused on your career, family responsibilities, financial goals, or accomplishments that your relationship with Jesus has been pushed to the edges of your life. None of these patterns usually appear overnight. They grow as we keep making small choices that put our preferences first. We become comfortable making excuses for ourselves, holding onto resentment toward others, or ignoring the parts of God's Word that challenge us. Eventually, we can become very good at looking like we're doing well while giving less and less of ourselves to Jesus.
Jesus gave His followers a clear picture of what life in His Kingdom requires. In Mark 8:34, He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Following Jesus means giving Him authority over our decisions, our relationships, our priorities, and our ambitions. It means being willing to lay down the need to be right and the pursuit of things that make us look successful in the eyes of others.
Saul's life gives us some warning signs to watch for. He wanted punishment for others but pardon for himself. He put his own wants ahead of God's Word. And although he accomplished many things as king, his relationship with God was deteriorating. These weren't three unrelated problems. They all pointed to a heart that had become centered on Saul.
It's easy to spot these patterns when we're reading about someone else. We recognize the unfairness of Saul's treatment of Jonathan. We can see how foolish it was for him to ignore God's instructions while demanding everyone else follow his. But these same attitudes can show up in much smaller ways in our everyday lives.
Maybe you expect someone to understand your mistakes, but you have a hard time forgiving theirs. You want people to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you're quick to assume the worst about them. Maybe you know what Scripture says about a decision you're facing, yet keep looking for a reason to do what you want. Or maybe you've become so focused on your career, family responsibilities, financial goals, or accomplishments that your relationship with Jesus has been pushed to the edges of your life. None of these patterns usually appear overnight. They grow as we keep making small choices that put our preferences first. We become comfortable making excuses for ourselves, holding onto resentment toward others, or ignoring the parts of God's Word that challenge us. Eventually, we can become very good at looking like we're doing well while giving less and less of ourselves to Jesus.
Jesus gave His followers a clear picture of what life in His Kingdom requires. In Mark 8:34, He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Following Jesus means giving Him authority over our decisions, our relationships, our priorities, and our ambitions. It means being willing to lay down the need to be right and the pursuit of things that make us look successful in the eyes of others.
- Of Saul's three warning signs, which one is easiest for you to recognize in your own life? Think of a recent example when you expected grace from someone but struggled to give it, chose your preference over what Scripture says, or gave more attention to your accomplishments than your relationship with Jesus. What needs to change?
- Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him. What is one area where your desire to get your own way is making it harder to follow Him? What would you need to give up, admit, or change in order to obey what He has said?
- Imagine continuing with your current priorities and habits for the next several years. What might grow stronger in your life, and what might slowly get pushed aside? What is one change you need to make now so that following Jesus shapes the life you're building?
Prayer Topics:
- Ask God to expose the pride and selfishness that cause you to expect grace for yourself while withholding it from others.
- Confess the areas where you've chosen your own desires over what God has clearly said in His Word.
- Ask God to keep your accomplishments, responsibilities, and ambitions from taking the place He deserves in your life.
- Thank Jesus for going to the cross for you and ask the Holy Spirit to give you a heart that is willing to deny yourself and follow Him wholeheartedly.
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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