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The Real King, May 27
1 Samuel 14:24-46
Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be
avenged on mine enemies.
1 Samuel 14:24
.
The command to refrain from food was prompted by selfish ambition, and it
showed the king to be indifferent to the needs of his people when these conflicted
with his desire for self-exaltation. To confirm his prohibition by a solemn oath
showed Saul to be both rash and profane. The very words of the curse give
evidence that Saul’s zeal was for himself, and not for the honor of God. He
declared his object to be, not “that the Lord may be avenged on
His
enemies,”
but “that
I
may be avenged on
mine
enemies.” ...
During the day’s battle Jonathan, who had not heard of the king’s command,
unwittingly offended by eating a little honey as he passed through a wood. Saul
learned of this at evening. He had declared that the violation of his edict should
be punished with death; and though Jonathan had not been guilty of a willful sin,
though God had miraculously preserved his life and had wrought deliverance
through him, the king declared that the sentence must be executed. To spare the
life of his son would have been an acknowledgment on the part of Saul that he
had sinned in making so rash a vow. This would have been humiliating to his
pride. “God do so, and more also,” was his terrible sentence: “thou shalt surely
die, Jonathan.” ...
At Gilgal, but a short time before, Saul had presumed to officiate as priest,
contrary to the command of God. When reproved by Samuel, he had stubbornly
justified himself. Now, when his own command was disobeyed—though the
command was unreasonable and had been violated through ignorance—the king
and father sentenced his son to death.
The people refused to allow the sentence to be executed. Braving the anger
of the king, they declared, “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.” The proud
monarch dared not disregard this unanimous verdict, and the life of Jonathan
was preserved
[154]
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Patriarchs and Prophets, 624, 625
.
158