1 Sa. 14: Jonathan

1 Samuel 14:45 "But the men said to Saul, "Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God's help." So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death."

In chapter 14, Jonathan (along with his armor bearer) takes a little initiative and attacks a Philistine outpost. He consults God, rather briefly, in a manner similar to drawing lots. If the Philistines spot them and tell them to wait there, God is not behind him. If they tell them to come up, God will have delivered the Philistines into Jonathan's hands. This takes some guts, because there was going to be a fight either way, and it was one extreme or another. Jonathan would have had victory or defeat. God helps Jonathan kill about 20 dudes in this section. That's kind of an exciting thing. God didn't have to do this, but God was with Jonathan. God didn't command this attack, but God still gave victory. God didn't appear to require a sacrifice and lots of fasting...merely to be acknowledged it would seem. And from what little has been revealed about Saul this far, this is significant, because Saul was God's stand in, and wasn't exactly the most God-fearing type.

I wonder if this contributed or touched off a panic sent by God through the Philistine camp, because the door was thrown wide open at this point for Israel to come storming in and take a great military victory.

Then we have another rash vow...Think Jephthah...Saul curses anyone who eats food before he avenges himself on his enemies. That is pretty selfish. Its personal. And it made the soldiers faint. And of course there were going to be those who didn't know about it. Like those who sneaked away on their own without the others knowing about it...Jonathan. Jonathan eats some honey...significant. Honey is mentioned a lot in some big time stories...Samson, and the idea that it shouldn't be sacrificed. Anyway, the word says it brightened Jonathan's eyes...gave him a boost. Like ancient Red Bull. When told of Saul's curse, he knew that was moronic, saying Saul has made trouble for the country.

Not because it was making men faint, but also desperate for food. After taking care of the Philistines, the Israelite soldiers just rip into their plunder and butcher it on the ground and just start chowing down. This was a sin, because God had forbidden the eating of meat with blood still in it.

Saul then puts his son Jonathan on the chopping block before his men to die. Ostensibly, it is because Jonathan ate the honey. But I wonder if Jonathan showed his dad up with his commitment to his faith, and trusting God. Clearly the men showed great respect for Jonathan, moreso than Saul, because they opted to let Jonathan live, where Saul put him up to die. Another case here where a father puts his son up to die...Abraham and Isaac...and there is another one, but it currently escapes me.

Saul ended up being a great warrior, but I just wonder who this "man after God's own heart" is going to be. Saul is a lame duck.