1 Samuel 14:31-35 Legalism

 ”Now they had driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very faint. And the people rushed on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. Then they told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood!” So he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day.” Then Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, ‘Bring me here every man’s ox and every man’s sheep, slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’ ” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slaughtered it there. Then Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar that he built to the Lord.“ I Samuel‬ ‭14‬:‭31‬-‭35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. The people rushed on the spoil…and the people ate them with the blood: God specifically commanded Israel that they should always properly drain the blood from an animal as they prepared it for eating (Deuteronomy 12:23-25). On this day of battle, because of Saul’s foolish command, the people were so hungry they broke this command. Their obedience to Saul’s foolish command led them to disobey God’s clearly declared command. This is always the result of legalism.

i. We often think that legalistic rules will keep people from sin. Actually, the opposite is true. Legalistic rules lead us into sin because they either provoke our rebellion or they lead us into legalistic pride.

b. You have dealt treacherously: Saul blamed the people for what was really his own fault. He should have never made such a foolish commandment, and his commandment provoked the people into sin.

c. Slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood: Saul set up a stone to properly butcher the animals, and also built an altar to the LORD. At least Saul did some of what was right after he did what was wrong.

Legalism 

If we are honest with ourselves we are all guilty of legalism in one form or another. Our church states, come as you are. So some come from work after a hard day doing manual labor in their dirty work clothes. Should that matter? 

What God looks at is the condition of the heart!

One winter during a snowstorm we fought the elements to go to church not knowing if we would get stuck because we live in the woods and our driveway is 3/10 of a mile long. After the service a lady chided me because of my camouflage jacket with the winter liner I was wearing. My reply was only, if you knew where I lived you would understand why I wore this jacket. 😇

Jesus disliked legalism in any form!

 ”“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.“ Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus was looking at their hearts.

We should be concerned when Jesus examines our heart ❤️, will He see beauty or uncleanliness? 

Blessings