Bible Chapter: I Samuel 13 & 14

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Growing up in Sunday School I heard many Bible stories.  One theme that was often repeated was the constant battles between Israel and the Philistines.  Here we see another battle where the Philistines assembled three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore.   This is the enemy Israel faced that caused many of their soldiers to retreat and hide.  And, along with being outnumbered, Israel lacked weapons.
    Added to this challenge was the fact that Samuel rebuked Saul for his disobedience in not waiting for Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice to God.  The prophet told the king that God was looking for a man after God’s own heart. God wanted the king to be obedient and submissive to God.  Saul was showing his failure in this.
    Even though it looked bad, God gave Israel a supernatural victory through Jonathan’s faith.  He trusted God and the Philistines were overcome by the confusion God put in them.  Here is another example of the fact that nothing is too hard for God.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Often times people say stupid things.  We find examples of that in the Bible when people declared foolish oaths.  King Saul had bound the people under an oath that said they would not eat anything till the evening.  So, the army was going to battle hungry.  Jonathan didn’t hear the oath and, having found some honey, ate some.  When God gave them victory the men were so hungry they butchered cattle and ate it with the blood.  This was against the Law of God they followed.
    I don’t know the motivation of Saul at this time.  It appears to me it was revenge against his enemy and the thought that this would motivate the army to victory.  My opinion was that it was a foolish oath.  We must be careful of the things we say and promise.  God calls for us to be obedient, but we don’t need to make rash or foolish promises.  The thought that comes to mind is this: think before you speak, act.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I want to help people trust God.  Because Jonathan did this God brought deliverance.  When Saul on more than one occasion acted hastily and foolishly, he only brought God’s judgement.  Learning to trust God, even when we don’t see how things will turn out, is an important lesson.