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24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
25 All the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.
26 When the people entered the forest, behold, there was honey dripping; but no man put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath.
27 However, Jonathan had not heard it when his father put the people under oath; so he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
28 Then one of the people responded and said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’ ” And the people were weary.
29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See now that my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
30 How much more, if only the people had freely eaten today of the spoils of their enemies which they found! For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”
A leader’s foolish decision can bring suffering to the people. In today’s passage, Saul’s foolish oath resulted in the suffering of the Israelites. (1) Saul forced upon the people an oath of fasting with strict curse amidst the battle. As a result, the people had to fight a grueling hand-to-hand combat while starving. (2) When they entered a forest, there was honey dripping everywhere, but no one dared to touch or eat the honey because they feared breaking the oath. (3) However, Jonathan, who was not present when the oath was made, ate the honey without hesitation and immediately regained his strength. (4) He was later informed about the oath and was greatly surprised and criticized his father’s foolishness. Jonathan had been puzzled that the battle result of the day was not as much as expected, but now he understood why. It was because the people were fighting while fasting. Realizing that just a taste of honey could renew one’s strength, Jonathan said that they could have been much more triumphant in the battle if they had been able to eat from the spoil of their enemies.
Let’s learn from Saul’s foolishness. (1) His decision was not born out of careful deliberation but was an on-the-spot utterance, which was truly foolish. (2) Saul, a frivolous person who went to battle without seeking the Lord’s will, here, is trying to appear zealous and virtuous. While he was zealous, it was a zeal from impure motives. (3) Saul probably thought that it was better to chase the enemy without sparing time for meals, but in doing so, he ignored the basic human need for sustenance. Humans have not only spiritual and mental needs but have physical needs as well. We require food, sleep, and adequate rest. Emphasizing only spiritual matters while ignoring physical needs is an unbalanced teaching. Saul’s behavior in this passage resembles that of the Pharisees in the New Testament. Fabricated piety not only causes suffering to our neighbors but also grieves God.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, please deliver me from fabricated faith and piety. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.