Saul issues a command not to eat before battling the Philistines. Jonathan eats honey unaware of the command and helps defeat the Philistines. Saul wants to kill whoever disobeyed but the people protect Jonathan for his victory. Saul's kingdom will not continue due to his disobedience, though he continues fighting enemies of Israel.

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April 15, 2012

2. The Philistines are defeated by the Lord.
Jonathan ate, not
knowing Saul's
command not to
eat.
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3. 36a And Saul said, Let us go down after the Phil-
istines by night, and spoil them until the morning
light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they
said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee.
That was the only answer the
people typically gave to the king.
It was not an enthusiastic answer,
given because they loved Saul.
Saul was a harsh ruler, and they
obeyed him because they had to.
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4. 36bThen said the priest, Let
us draw near hither unto
God. * 37 And Saul asked
counsel of God, Shall I go
down after the Philistines?
wilt Thou deliver them into
the hand of Israel? But He Saul had not even
answered him not that day. thought to pray.
What do you do
when God
doesn't answer?
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5. 38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief
of the people: and know and see wherein this sin
hath been this day.
But had they sinned against
God?
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6. 39 For,as the Lord liveth, which saveth Israel,
though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely
die. But there was not a man among all the people
that answered him.
Jonathan was the hero of the day.
He didn't believe he had sinned.
The army certainly wouldn't rat him out.
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7. 40 Then said (Saul) unto all Israel, Be ye on one
side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the
other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what
seemeth good unto thee.
Saul had been doing
nothing, until Jonathan
obeyed the Lord and
routed the enemy.
Then Saul jumped in to
ride the glory train.
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8. Now Saul is looking for the man who ate
against his orders -- to kill him.
Understand: the fast that King Saul
commanded was not a fast unto God.
God had not directed a fast.
The fast was Saul's idea, and it was
not a good idea.
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9. 41 Therefore Saul said unto the Lord Had God said,
God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. "Don't eat."?
And Saul and Jonathan were taken:
but the people escaped. 42 And Saul
said, Cast lots between me and Jon-
athan my son. And Jonathan was
taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jon-
athan, Tell me what thou hast done.
And Jonathan told him, and said, I
did but taste a little honey with the
end of the rod that was in mine
hand, and, lo, I must die.
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10. Jonathan didn't try to avoid the punishment.
He had clearly placed his life in God's Hand.
He climbed a bluff to engage the Philistines.
Not one or a few, but multitudes.
If Saul now took Jonathan's life,
He had already offered it in the beginning.
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11. 44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also:
for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
Saul was awfully quick to condemn Jonathan to
death, and I have to wonder why.
We know that he was
later jealous of David,
when people were
singing David's praises.
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12. If God turns away our prayer, we have reason to
suspect it is for some sin harbored in our hearts, which
we should find out, that we may put it away, and put it
to death. We should always first suspect and examine
ourselves; but an unhumbled heart suspects every
other person, and looks everywhere but at home for
the sinful cause of calamity. Jonathan was discovered
to be the offender. Those most indulgent to their own
sins are most severe upon others; those who most
disregard God's authority, are most impatient when
their own commands are slighted.
Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.
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13. 45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan
die, who hath wrought this great salvation in
Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall
not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he
hath wrought with God this day. So the people
rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
The people stood together to defend and
protect Jonathan,
The true hero that day.
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14. The army had not stood against the king on any
other orders; why now?
Hand of God Saul was living outside
the Will of God.
Samuel had already
pronounced him a
failure as king of Israel.
1 Samuel 13 [Samuel told Saul] 14 But now thy kingdom
shall not continue: the Lord hath sought Him a man after
His own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be
captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that
which the Lord commanded thee. 14

15. 46 Then Saul went up from following the Philis-
tines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought
against all his enemies on every side, against
Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and
against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and
against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned
himself, he vexed them.
A time of taking the war to the
enemies of Israel.
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16. 48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amale-
kites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them
that spoiled them.
Saul enjoyed little or no time of peace during
his reign over Israel.
He became an arrogant and rebellious king,
and the only blessing of God he enjoyed was
victory in battles.
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17. 49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui,
and Melchishua: and the names of his two
daughters were these; the name of the firstborn
Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the
daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain
of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the
father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
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18. 52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all
the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong
man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
God had warned the nation that a king would take
their sons for war and their daughters as servants.
God's Word is always fulfilled.
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