Hard Words

1 Samuel 13 & 14

Saul was 30 when he was anointed and he reigned for 42 years.  

A king but seemingly not a great army commander.     

The Philistines on the other hand are quite brilliant military strategists.   They raided and plundered to demoralize the Israelites but did not always engage them in battle resulting in few casualties.  The Philistines also monopolized the blacksmith industry so no weapons could be fabricated by Israel.  (NIV notes, where else? )  And they had an  army with soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore.  (Ch 13:5)

By contrast, one almost wants to roll one’s eyes at Saul. 

Saul who binds his soldiers by an oath and forbids any of them to eat before evening.  Forcing a fast on fighting men engaged in a military operation. His troops are afraid and begin to leave.  They hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.  (Ch 13: 6)

Saul who, one would expect at age 30, might have lived a bit of life and would have learned a thing or two about people.  I’m surprised he is not speaking courage into his troops. Even if he is not feeling it himself.  

Saul who causes Israel to become a stench in the nostrils of the Philistines.

Saul who could not wait for Samuel’s arrival to make a burnt offering and a fellowship offering to the LORD to seek the LORD’s favour for this battle.  Foolish and sinful, as if he has misunderstood his specific role in leading this nation and disregarding Samuel’s instructions. 

And this is where Saul’s story goes off the rails.

Just as he finishes making the offering, Samuel arrives.  And Samuel has to rebuke Saul for his impulsive irreverent act. Ch 13:11 “What have you done?” 13 “You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, He would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of His people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

Meet Jonathan.

And you kind of want to hop into the story and applaud Jonathan. 

Who does his own thing too. 

Like his father. 

Big hearted and open. 

Jonathan who is well loved by the men.  And has the devotion of his armor hearer. “Go ahead.  I am with you heart and soul.”(Ch 14:7) 

Jonathan who has faith and trust that God can deliver His people and is respectful to God. Knowing that he will need God’s favour if he is to succeed in his little military side-campaign.  “Perhaps the LORD will act on our behalf.  Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

Jonathan who has earned the loyalty of the men.  The men rally to Jonathan’s side when Saul promises to enforce the oath.  Ch 14:45 “ ‘Should Jonathan die – he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! A 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.”

And then the last few verses of Chapter 14.

Like those last words from his men made Saul so very quiet.  

46 “Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.

47 After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side….  Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.  48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.  53 All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.”   

I wonder if this caused some bitterness in Saul.  

Big jealousy in his big heart?

Did he carry his rage to the battlefield and put his head down and just get the job done?

I wonder what it was like for Saul

to keep walking,

knowing God was already looking for a successor. 

Moving on.

Rewriting the story,

with different characters. 

That is always a sadness for me in this story.

That it could have turned out so differently.

A heart change that would change the story’s trajectory.  

But that’s life isn’t it.

Life that you and I live. 

Where we walk and talk and choose and decide.

Choosing and deciding big things and big steps. 

Little things and little steps.

Always toward God or away from Him