QT 11/22/2022 1 Sam 14:24-30, Religious people only care about the rules

1 Samuel 14:24–30 (ESV) —

24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. 25 Now when all the people came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”

 

NOTE: Everything about Saul smacks of religion. He takes the ark into battle. He puts an oath on the soldiers, probably in order to curry favor with God. He acts as a person who is religious, but doesn't truly know God. The Holy Spirit came on him once, but never again. No wonder the people repeated the phrase, "Is Saul among the prophets?" It was intended as a slur or joke. Even Jonathan who defends his father quite bravely in discussions with David, disagrees with his actions. He uses a peculiar word  for "troubled the land" which specifically is used of Achan (it is even his name). And Jonathan feels the victory could have been so much greater without the oath. In a sense, he was calling his father foolish. Religious people like rules. And they get upset when people don't obey the rules. They don't really have hearts toward God, but they have hearts toward rules, and consequently they are blind to their true spiritual condition because they think being good and following the rules makes them a Christian (or a believer in God in Saul's case).

 

PONDER:

1. In my faith do I live by rules or by the heart?
2. Is my relationship with God rule-based or heart-based?

 

PRAYER: Father, we cannot curry your favor in any way. If we are born again, we are greatly loved because of Jesus. There is no greater love we can experience, except to be in your presence.

 

Father, I love these times in the morning. I love hearing you speak through your word. I thank you from being spared from rule-based living, and experience that deeper relationship with you.