Today Our Daily Bread 1 Sam 14

For Charity and Maria today- and everyone else who would like to hear
:-)
1 Samuel 14: 1 - 52
1 One day Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come on, let's go over to where the Philistines have their outpost." But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing. 2 Meanwhile, Saul and his six hundred men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree at Migron. 3 (Among Saul's men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the linen ephod. Ahijah was the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother. Ahitub was the son of Phinehas and the grandson of Eli, the priest of the LORD who had served at Shiloh.) No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp. 4 To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh. 5 The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba. 6 "Let's go across to see those pagans," Jonathan said to his armor bearer. "Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!" 7 "Do what you think is best," the youth replied. "I'm with you completely, whatever you decide." 8 "All right then," Jonathan told him. "We will cross over and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, 'Stay where you are or we'll kill you,' then we will stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, 'Come on up and fight,' then we will go up. That will be the LORD's sign that he will help us defeat them." 11 When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, "Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!" 12 Then they shouted to Jonathan, "Come on up here, and we'll teach you a lesson!" "Come on, climb right behind me," Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "for the LORD will help us defeat them!" 13 So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell back as Jonathan and his armor bearer killed them right and left. 14 They killed about twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre. F49 15 Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
16 Saul's lookouts in Gibeah saw a strange sight – the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction. 17 "Find out who isn't here," Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone. 18 Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, "Bring the ephod here!" For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites. F50 19 But while Saul was talking to the priest, the shouting and confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to Ahijah, "Never mind; let's get going!" F51 20 Then Saul and his six hundred men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere. 21 Even the Hebrews who had gone over to the Philistine army revolted and joined in with Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of the Israelites. 22 Likewise, the men who were hiding in the hills joined the chase when they saw the Philistines running away. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle continued to rage even out beyond Beth-aven.
24 Now the men of Israel were worn out that day, because Saul had made them take 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 a thing all day, 25 even though they found honeycomb on the ground in the forest. 26 They didn't even 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 a stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt much better. 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 much better I feel 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 we could have killed!" 31 But hungry as they were, they chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. 32 That evening they flew upon the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, 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 and sheep here to kill them and drain the blood. 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 And Saul built an altar to the LORD, the first one he had ever built.
36 Then Saul said, "Let's chase the Philistines all night and 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 agreed. 41 Then Saul prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent. Are Jonathan and I guilty, or is the sin among the others?" F52 And Jonathan and Saul were chosen F53 as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent. 42 Then Saul said, "Now choose F54 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 a stick. Does that deserve death?" 44 "Yes, Jonathan," Saul said, "you must die! May God strike me dead if you are not executed for this." 45 But the people broke in and said to Saul, "Should Jonathan, who saved Israel today, die? Far from it! As surely as the LORD lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for he has been used of God to do a mighty miracle 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.
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 did great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them. 49 Saul's sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, F55 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 his cousin Abner, his uncle Ner's son. 51 Abner's father, Ner, and Saul's father, Kish, were brothers; both were sons of Abiel. 52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul's lifetime. So whenever Saul saw a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
FOOTNOTES:F49: Hebrew half a yoke; a "yoke" was the amount of land plowed by a pair of yoked oxen in one day. F50: As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew reads "Bring the Ark of God." For at that time the Ark of God was with the Israelites. F51: Hebrew Withdraw your hand. F52: Greek version adds If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim. F53: Hebrew chosen by lot. F54: Hebrew draw lots. F55: Hebrew Ishvi, a variant name for Ishbosheth; also known as Eshbaal.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~ Lena’s Comments ~
As I was reading all of this I felt a bit confused at what was what, but as I thought on it more, I really see pictures of life, consequences of decisions, forgiveness, love, victory etc. I’ll explain
When we read stories, such as these, we usually place ourselves in them, decide who we would be and what decisions we would make, right or wrong. In this "story", everyone had a "wrong" to the decisions they were making or the opinions they had in the consideration of those decisions. This is where I realized we are speaking about truth and God’s law, no matter how fair or unfair it seems or what our opinion of it is or how we thought it should have been done. It was done, and it was done wrongly – if it was not done in accordance with God’s word or law, no mater who supplied the action.
We think because Jonathan was the king’s son or because they had good intentions everything is ok. We justify our wrong doings in our minds and then if we feel ourselves being brought to a place of accountability for whatever we decided we then turn the tables and think of how unfair God is to us in making the "stupid" law that brings judgement on us. If we had no judgement we would not see our need for salvation and forgiveness. If there is no fine line of the law, we find ourselves being falsely "saved" by our own opinions day in and day out. That "salvation" is false, it is based on lies and opinions, not truth.
The truth is we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, no matter what form it comes in. It is the concept, not the specific description that is important. We all need redemption from our sins. There is only one way to God in the midst of being sinful and separated from Him. Blood shed is the only way, a life must be given for a life (now do you realize why all of those OT laws were so specific in drilling "a life for a life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth?) Man needs to come to realize he cannot save himself!
I’d put myself in Jonathan’s place in the story. I did not want him to be killed. I thought it was unfair that Saul had said such a drastic thing over just a little nit of honey. Also because he had not heard, I wanted to justify him.
That honey represents the edict of sin against God, a little or a lot, it does not matter and it does not matter whether we know it or do not know it, we are condemned by it anyway. This is why we have to give the message of love and forgiveness and salvation to others, even if they have not heard they are condemned. We have to tell them about Jesus, this is our obligation on the earth. We have to or who will feel guilty, when we know all? I will, if I refuse to tell – due to pride or shyness or some other hindrance. There will be no such validated excuse at that time, just as Jonathan has no excuse at all in not hearing.
Forgiveness of sin through the shedding of blood is the only way out of this mess.
Have you ever thought of this one? How "fair" was it for Jesus, a spotless and sinless Lamb of sacrifice, to die the death that was due sinners? We think we are innocent of judgement at times and get "angry" at God for the judgement call, but Jesus was all innocent, all love, all perfection and he chose to die for people who are guilty – in order to save them and pardon them from the judgement aginst them for their sin, great or small! THAT was NOT fair, and in knowing that He was willing to do it anyway, because he knows the Truth, he knows the LOVE of His Father, He knows true condemnation, He knew and did it anyway! Thank God!