1 Samuel 15:1 Samuel said to Saul, “Yahveh sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now, listen to the words of Yahveh. 1 Samuel 15:2 This is what Yahveh of Armies says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt. 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack Amalek and annihilate everything he has. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels, and donkeys.'” 1 Samuel 15:4 Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: two hundred-thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. 1 Samuel 15:5 Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi.
non Christian or Antichrist
The Amalekites had already proved themselves as strongly anti-semitic in previous generations. A descendant of the Amalekites (Haman) would seek to destroy all the Jews in the time of Esther. Samuel understands that there is more at work here than simple prejudice. It is a people who are determined to prevent the Christ from appearing on the earth.
There is a difference between those who simple are not Christian and those who are of the spirit of Antichrist. A person who is not Christian is to be prayed for and evangelized. Antichrist must be opposed, even if it costs our lives.
1 Samuel 14:43 Saul commanded him, “Tell me what you did.” Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff I was carrying. Notice, I am ready to die!” 1 Samuel 14:44 Saul declared to him, “May God punish me and do so severely if you do not die, Jonathan!” 1 Samuel 14:45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? No, as Yahveh lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God’s help today.” So, the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. 1 Samuel 14:46 Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory. 1 Samuel 14:47 When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc. 1 Samuel 14:48 He fought efficiently, defeated the Amalekites, and rescued Israel from those who plundered them. 1 Samuel 14:49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, his firstborn, and Michal, the younger. 1 Samuel 14:50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul’s uncle Ner. 1 Samuel 14:51 Saul’s father was Kish. Abner’s father was Ner son of Abiel. 1 Samuel 14:52 The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul’s days, so whenever Saul noticed any strong or efficient man, he enlisted him.
redeemed by the people
Saul was wise to listen to his own soldiers that day. He had to go back on his own promise because the people rightly pointed out to him that it was Jonathan’s courage to begin fighting that started the whole battle — leading to a great victory. Jonathan should not have to pay for his father’s foolish rash words.
There will be times when great men and women who fear God and seek to obey him in all they do will make mistakes. Our tendency as the church will be to destroy them, to defrock them, to excommunicate them. But God’s first choice is always restoration. We should not be so quick to rid ourselves of embarassment. Jesus tells us to to go to an offending brother privately, seeking to restore him.
Today’s text lists Jonathan as first among the strong and efficient men who battled against the Philistines under Saul. The people had redeemed him, and he remained faithful all his life.
1 Samuel 14:24 and the men of Israel were stressed out that day, because Saul had placed the troops under an oath: “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So, none of the troops tasted any food. 1 Samuel 14:25 Everyone went into the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 1 Samuel 14:26 When the troops entered the forest, they noticed the flow of honey, but none of them ate any of it because they feared the oath. 1 Samuel 14:27 However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath. He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it into the honeycomb. When he ate the honey, he had renewed energy. 1 Samuel 14:28 Then one of the troops said, “Your father made the troops solemnly swear, ‘The man who eats food today is cursed,’ and the troops are exhausted.” 1 Samuel 14:29 Jonathan replied, “My father has brought trouble to the land. Just Notice at how I have renewed energy because I tasted a little of this honey. 1 Samuel 14:30 How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater.” 1 Samuel 14:31 The Israelites struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash all the way to Aijalon. Since the Israelites were completely exhausted, 1 Samuel 14:32 they rushed to the plunder, took sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it. 1 Samuel 14:33 Some reported to Saul: “Notice, the troops are sinning against Yahveh by eating meat with the blood still in it.” Saul said, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once.” 1 Samuel 14:34 He then said, “Go among the troops and say to them, ‘Let each man bring me his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don’t sin against Yahveh by eating meat with the blood in it.'” So, every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. 1 Samuel 14:35 Then Saul built an altar to Yahveh; it was the first time he had built an altar to Yahveh. 1 Samuel 14:36 Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don’t let even one remain!” “Do whatever you want,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.” 1 Samuel 14:37 So Saul inquired of God, “Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day. 1 Samuel 14:38 Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let us investigate how this sin has occurred today. 1 Samuel 14:39 As surely as Yahveh lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!” Not one of the troops answered him. 1 Samuel 14:40 So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.” 1 Samuel 14:41 So Saul said to Yahveh, “God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, Lord God of Israel, give Urim; but if the fault is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge. 1 Samuel 14:42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected.
trouble to the land
Jonathan’s mistake was real, and God’s Spirit was right to withhold himself from the Israelites until that mistake was acknowledged. But it was Saul’s mistake to curse his own people in his zeal to slaughter more Philistines. His command for his troops to refrain from eating was merely to boost his own importance in the battle. As a result, he brought trouble to the land that day, and that trouble involved his own son.
Just as small acts of faith can domino, leading to great God events, so also small acts of selfishness can ruin much good. Zeal for the second coming can lead to an adventist movement, but date-setting can defile the movement. We need courage to step out and do what God wants, tempered with wisdom to refuse to allow selfish motives to bring trouble.
1 Samuel 14:16 When Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin noticed, they saw the panicking troops scattering in every direction. 1 Samuel 14:17 So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and noticed that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone. 1 Samuel 14:18 Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” because it was with the Israelites at that time. 1 Samuel 14:19 While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So, Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you’re doing.” 1 Samuel 14:20 Saul and all the troops with him gathered and marched to the battle, and noticed the Philistines, fighting against each other in chaos! 1 Samuel 14:21 There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14:22 When all the Israelite men who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle. 1 Samuel 14:23 So Yahveh saved Israel that day. The battle extended beyond Beth-aven,
first domino
Jonathan’s act of faith turned out to be the first domino. As soon as he and his weapon carrier attacked the first platoon of Philistines, they began fighting each other out of fear. Then the Hebrew deserters turned back to fight against them. Finally, Saul realized that this was a sign to attack as well. One act of faith can be the first domino, leading to a great act of God. Such events start with a small act of courage and continue because a larger group has the wisdom to know that God is in the event. Revivals are like that. Pentecost happened when a small group stayed and prayed until God’s Spirit showed up.
If you sense God calling you to do something for him — no matter how small — obey. You just might be the first domino in a great God event.
1 Samuel 14:1 And it was that day Saul’s son Jonathan said to the boy who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” However, he did not tell his father. 1 Samuel 14:2 Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. The troops with him numbered about six hundred. 1 Samuel 14:3 Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod, was also there. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas, son of Eli Yahveh’s priest at Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left. 1 Samuel 14:4 Between the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine garrison there were sharp columns of boulders. One was named Bozez and the other, Seneh; 1 Samuel 14:5 one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba. 1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the boy who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Maybe Yahveh will help us. Nothing can keep Yahveh from saving, whether by many or by few.” 1 Samuel 14:7 His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. You choose. Notice, I’m right here with you whatever you decide.” 1 Samuel 14:8 “All right,” Jonathan replied, “notice, we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us. 1 Samuel 14:9 If they say, ‘Be still until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 1 Samuel 14:10 But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because Yahveh has handed them over to us — that will be our sign.” 1 Samuel 14:11 They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Notice, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!” 1 Samuel 14:12 The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said. “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “because Yahveh has handed them over to Israel.” 1 Samuel 14:13 Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. 1 Samuel 14:14 In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in a half-acre field. 1 Samuel 14:15 Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops. Even the garrison and the raiding parties were terrified. The land shook, and terror spread from God.
by many or by few
Jonathan’s faith in God’s ability to save, whether “by many or by few” is a good example for us. Too often we are paralyzed by our fear that we are not enough to make a difference. Jonathan knew that God is enough to make up for our small number. He was willing to attempt great things because of his great God.
1 Samuel 13:13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command Yahveh your God gave you. It was at this time that Yahveh would have permanently established your reign over Israel, 1 Samuel 13:14 but now your reign will not endure. Yahveh has found a man after his own heart, and Yahveh has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what Yahveh commanded.” 1 Samuel 13:15 Then Samuel went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men. 1 Samuel 13:16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash. 1 Samuel 13:17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah road leading to the land of Shual. 1 Samuel 13:18 The next division headed toward the Beth-horon Road, and the last division headed down the border road that Notices out over the Zeboim Valley toward the wilderness. 1 Samuel 13:19 No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.” 1 Samuel 13:20 So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles. 1 Samuel 13:21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on a cattle prod. 1 Samuel 13:22 So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons. 1 Samuel 13:23 Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.
he would have
Samuel tells Saul the bad news of his failure of the test. He also tells him what God would have done if Saul had been faithful. He would have given Saul a permanent reign. Saul had been so anxious to preserve his temporary success that he wound up giving away his chance at a permanent reign.
You and I are tested in this way as well. If we want to hold on to our temporary successes in this world, we will miss out on the promises of God for the next. The permanent reign is the reign that really matters. The permanent (eternal) life is the one that will really matter. When we meet our Savior as he judges the sheep and the goats, if he tells us to depart from him because he never knew us, it will not matter how successful we were in this life.
1 Samuel 13:8 He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him. 1 Samuel 13:9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the burnt offering. 1 Samuel 13:10 Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, notice Samuel arrived. So, Saul went out to greet him, 1 Samuel 13:11 and Samuel asked, “What have you done?” Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, 1 Samuel 13:12 I thought, ‘The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought Yahveh’s favor.’ So, I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”
test completed — test failed
Saul’s test was completed, and he had failed the test. If he had patiently waited for Samuel to arrive, he may have lost more men, but he would not have lost the blessing of God. His fear of the Philistines was greater than his fear of God. He was anxious to do something, so he winded up doing the wrong thing. The offerings were the wrong thing for Saul to do because he had not been ordained as priest. For Saul to take the offerings into his own hands was to put more trust in the ritual than in the God who commanded it. All Saul had to “do” was wait on the Lord for his deliverance. His failure to wait was a failure of his leadership.
1 Samuel 13:1 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years over Israel. 1 Samuel 13:2 He chose three thousand men from Israel for himself: two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel’s hill country, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent. 1 Samuel 13:3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So, Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land saying, “Hebrews, listen!” 1 Samuel 13:4 And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal. 1 Samuel 13:5 The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. 1 Samuel 13:6 The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among boulders, and in holes and cisterns. 1 Samuel 13:7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.
hiding at Gilgal
Saul and his men were waiting at Gilgal for Samuel to arrive, but they were growing desperate. Jonathan’s men attacked the garrison at Geba, so they knew that the Philistines were enraged and would attack at any time. So they hid and waited. But some had already begun to desert their posts and cross the Jordon, seeking safety. The promises that the people had made to fear God and follow him exclusively seemed as empty words in their minds compared to the fear of the Philistines that was now gripping them. This desperate situation would prove Saul’s leadership. Would he compromise? Would he go beyond what Samuel had requested of him? Stay tuned. Tomorrow we will see.
1 Samuel 12:19 They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to Yahveh your God for your servants so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.” 1 Samuel 12:20 Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following Yahveh. Instead, worship Yahveh with all your heart. 1 Samuel 12:21 Don’t turn away to follow trivial things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are trivial. 1 Samuel 12:22 Yahveh will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people. 1 Samuel 12:23 “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against Yahveh by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way. 1 Samuel 12:24 Above all, fear Yahveh and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:25 However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
Samuel’s bargain
Samuel bargained with the people in today’s text. He commanded them to stay true to God despite their past failures and to fear and follow him faithfully without getting caught up with trivial pursuits. For his part of the bargain, Samuel promised to pray for them consistently which is what they asked for. But he also promised to teach them the good and right way to follow God. The word of God and prayer are the leader’s tools.
1 Samuel 12:1 And Samuel said to all Israel, “I have noticed and listened to your voice – to everything you said to me and established a king over you. 1 Samuel 12:2 Now you notice that the king is leading you. As for me, I’m old and gray, and notice my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now. 1 Samuel 12:3 Here I am. Bring charges against me before Yahveh and his anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whom have I accepted a bribe to overlook something? I will return it to you.” 1 Samuel 12:4 “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone,” they responded. 1 Samuel 12:5 He said to them, “Yahveh is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness today that you haven’t found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they said. 1 Samuel 12:6 Then Samuel said to the people, “Yahveh, who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt, is a witness. 1 Samuel 12:7 Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before Yahveh about all the righteous acts he has done for you and your ancestors. 1 Samuel 12:8 “When Jacob went to Egypt, your ancestors cried out to Yahveh, and he sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 1 Samuel 12:9 But they forgot Yahveh their God, as a result he handed them over to Sisera commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. These enemies fought against them. 1 Samuel 12:10 Then they cried out to Yahveh and said, ‘We have sinned, because we abandoned Yahveh and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now rescue us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 1 Samuel 12:11 So Yahveh sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely. 1 Samuel 12:12 But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king reign over us’ — even though Yahveh your God is your king. 1 Samuel 12:13 “Now here is the king you’ve chosen, the one you requested. Notice, this is the king Yahveh has placed over you. 1 Samuel 12:14 If you fear Yahveh, worship and obey him, and if you don’t rebel against Yahveh’s command, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow Yahveh your God. 1 Samuel 12:15 However, if you disobey Yahveh and rebel against his command, Yahveh’s hand will be against you as it was against your ancestors. 1 Samuel 12:16 “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that Yahveh will do before your eyes. 1 Samuel 12:17 Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on Yahveh, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in Yahveh’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.” 1 Samuel 12:18 Samuel called on Yahveh, and on that day, Yahveh sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared Yahveh and Samuel.
the right sign
In yesterday’s text, the people had recognized that Saul could lead them to victory over their enemies, so they wanted to kill those who initially doubted Saul. They wanted the slaughter of the doubters to be the sign that Saul should be feared. But God led Saul to say no to that request. In today’s text, we find out why. The sign that God wanted to show the thunder and rain that Samuel predicted. That sign showed who was really to be feared.
As leaders, we need to be cautious about the signals we allow. Some ideas should be negated by us because they could give the impression that we are the reason for God’s blessing. God’s grace is always why he acts.
Devotions 