March 29 Daily Devotional

1 Samuel 13–14

The people had hoped to benefit by having a king who would lead them in war, so the power of their enemies might be broken. The Philistines had caused them a lot of trouble. But even after Saul had been king for two years the Philistines held many walled towns on the hills from which their warriors went out to rob the surrounding territory. The Philistines would not permit the Israelites to work in iron. It is said, “Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.”

At that time Saul gathered a small army. When the Philistines heard this, they drew up with their hosts, having many chariots and horsemen. Seeing this great army the men of Saul were filled with fear. While king Saul tarried under a pomegranate tree at the edge of Gibeah, Jonathan, his son, with his armor bearer slipped quietly away to the camp of the enemy. Jonathan said to the young man, “Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” So they suddenly came up to the Philistines and struck them down right and left. Some fell down, others ran away. Then God sent a great trembling among the Philistines; the earth shook beneath their feet; disorder arose, and they began to fight against each other. Then Saul and his men came and joined the fight; also other Israelites that were near the camp and were ready to pursue the enemy.

But a great mistake was made by king Saul. He feared that his men would turn aside to take a bite while chasing the enemy. So he commanded, “Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies.” If any man should disobey, he should be put to death. So that day the soldiers did not eat, but they grew faint from the chase. Now it happened that afternoon as they were driving the Philistines through a forest, they found some wild honey on the trees. But Jonathan, who did not know about his father’s command, took some of the honey and ate it. When one of the men reminded him of the father’s command, he said, “My father hath troubled the land … had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines, if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies?”

When Saul heard that his son had broken his command, he said to him, “God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.” But the people would not allow their king to do such a cruel deed. They said, “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.”