1 Samuel 14:16-19 Trying to Look Spiritual

 ”Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there. Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there. And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel). Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”“ 

I Samuel‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. There was the multitude, melting away: As the watchmen of Israel kept an eye on the huge army of the Philistines, the army started to melt away as they watched.

b. Call the roll: This was useless at the moment. Saul should go and fight the Philistines at this strategic moment. Instead, he was probably worried about who was leading the battle and who would get the credit.

c. Bring the ark of God here: This was useless at the moment. Saul is probably trying to look spiritual here, but there was nothing to seek God about. There is a time to go aside and pray, and there is a time to get your sword out and fight. Saul didn’t know what time this was.

d. While Saul talked to the priest…the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” Eventually, the noise of God and Jonathan fighting against the Philistines became so loud that Saul knew he had to also fight. So, he told the priest “Withdraw your hand.” This meant, “Stop seeking an answer from God with the Urim and Thummin,” which were held in a pouch in the priest’s breastplate. (Guzik)

Trying to Look Spiritual 

When I was a child I went to Parochial school and during that time they took pictures of us with out hands clasped as if praying and a rosary wrapped around them trying to look spiritual but deep inside we were just sinners!

There’s a song called Red Letters by David Crowder and during his concert introduction he explained the story behind the song. He jokingly talked about his granny whose bible was bigger than anybody’s because she wanted you to know she loved Jesus more than you! 🤣l

Being spiritual is a matter of the heart and we don’t need a facade of “trying to look spiritual”.

”Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.“ I Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.“ ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Do strangers know you are one of Jesus’s disciples?

Blessings