I Samuel 14:24 NKJV
a. Saul had placed the people under oath: Jonathan, in his bold trust in the LORD, had just struck a mighty blow against the Philistines. Now it was the job of the army of Israel, under King Saul, to finish the job by striking down the fleeing Philistine army. On this day of battle against the Philistines Saul declared a curse: “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.”
i. On the surface, this sounds so spiritual. “Let’s set today aside as a special day of fasting to the LORD. We want God to do a great work, so we should fast today. I will enforce this among the whole army with a curse.”
b. Before I have taken vengeance on my enemies: This shows that Saul’s focus was wrong. Saul put the army of Israel under an oath, so he could take vengeance on his enemies. If he regarded it as his battle, he should simply fast himself. Saul showed that even in doing something spiritual like fasting his focus is on himself, not the LORD.
i. Through this curse, Saul put the focus back on himself. That day, no one would be thinking much about Jonathan because their hunger would always remind them of Saul’s curse.
c. Cursed is the man: This shows that Saul’s sense of authority was wrong. He did not have the authority to proclaim such a curse and he was not the spiritual leader of the nation. If any such fast was to be declared and a curse attached to it, Samuel had the spiritual authority to do it, not Saul.
i. This also shows that Saul’s promised punishment was wrong. It was certainly heavy-handed to say, “Cursed is the man.” If Saul wanted to call for a voluntary fast, that was one thing. He might have said, “I’m fasting today before the LORD. If anyone wants to join me, they are welcome.” But instead of leading by example and inviting the army of Israel to follow, he placed the people under oath.
d. The men of Israel were distressed that day: This shows that the result among the army of Israel was wrong. No matter what Saul’s motive was, this was foolish. When the morale and the physical energy of Israel should have been the strongest, the army was weak and discouraged.
i. There is nothing wrong with fasting itself, but this wasn’t the right day. It was Saul’s day to fast, not the LORD’s day to fast. (Guzik)
Foolish Oath
Jesus forbids oaths!
”“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.“
Matthew 5:33-37 NKJV
Have you ever tried to bargain with God? Lord if You get me through this I will do this or that?
Instead of oaths we should be laying our troubles at the foot of the cross and asking God for help, strength and that His will be done.
But how are our troubles and trials a test of faith?
”The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.“ Proverbs 17:3 NKJV
“thou canst not be sure that thy faith is true faith till it is tried faith. Thou canst not be certain that it is worth having till it has been fitly tested, and brought to the touchstone of trial.” (Spurgeon)
May this be our daily prayer!
”Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.“
Psalms 139:23-24 NKJV
Doesn’t all our self afflicted problems start with this? “know my anxieties”
Anxieties usually attack us when we are the weakest, when we are tired after a long hard day and we lay our head down on the pillow of anxiety!
Blessings
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