1 Samuel 14 today..... 1_Samuel 15 tomorrow...

Read it.
Sandj


verse 7... what great faith and friendship!
verse 8-10... you know, this is not even close to the first time that Isrealites have asked God for a sign of what they should do, and given choices that will help them determine God's will based on the outcome of their actions... I guess I always thought that this was a bad thing, to test God and ask Him for a sign, and all... but I wonder if it really is?... maybe it is more of an act of faith and obedience... God says that if we ask anything according to His will, He will grant it to us (1 John 5:14-15), so maybe seeking His will in our next steps like this is ok?... I'm not real sure about this, but it does remind me of how Jesus showed His hands and feet to all the disciples, not just Thomas... and He did so even before the first ones asked Him to... it was like He knew that the disciples needed to "see" before they could believe (John 20, specifically verses 20, 25, 27-29, also verse 8 and 16 on other ways His followers had to first "see" to believe)... so maybe God just knows that our human nature is to need a sign for confirmation and He is willing to provide it given we are willing to obey (and not just test to see if He'll do something 'cool' or whatever)?... we were told once that God can't direct our paths if we don't start stepping, so maybe this is similar to what is happening here... Jonathan is stepping and asking God to direct his next steps?... any thoughts or insights?
verse 11-12... this seems to be a living testimony to the addage "pride comes before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18)
verse 13-14... impressive... both their battle-worthiness, as well as their climbing skills! I think it is interesting that Jonathan's agility is detailed out, yet it is his poor armor bearer that we really need to give credit to, I mean he is the one who made the climb carrying the heavy armor! wow!... just curious about the whole armor bearer thing... did they men wait to fight until they were prepared for battle? was it like a rule of battle ettique? and if Jonathan's armor bearer had given Jonathan all the armor, what did the bearer fight in? I think the courage of the armor bearer is under-rated... a good lesson for us... just because we are not the one who gets all the credit, we are still just as important in the work of God... conversely, just because we do get all the credit does not mean that we accomplished any of it on our own, or that we were the most remarkable worker in the whole process.
verse 15... what is 'panic sent by God'? does it mean that because the battle was won by God's power that the Philestines were now afraid of God and so, in a sense the panic was 'caused' by God? or does it mean that God sent a spirit of fear upon the men? is that even possible(the spirit of fear thing)?
verse 16-23...interesting how so many people joined in once Jonathan was willing to step out in faith... sometimes one person being obedient to God's will is all it takes to start a army of obedient followers... interesting, too, how those who were originally disserters or too afraid to come out at first were now filled with courage, at least enough to join in the victory... we should never underestimate the extent that our actions might have for God's glory, even if we don't see it... conversely, our negative actions can be equally as impactful, so we should take note and stick close to God.
vesre 24... that is dumb... why would anyone keep their men from eating... maybe the idea is that Saul didn't want his men to be more consumed with food than with battle, but really now, they do need energy to fight! Saul seems quite impetuous.... however, I am impressed with the obedience of his army.
verse 25-30... why would the soldier wait to tell Jonathan about the curse?... why would Jonathan bad-mouth his father in front of the troops?... however, the oath was "before I have avenged myself on the enemies", this was done, was it not? so by rights, the men should be allowed to eat now, right?... let's hope for Jonathan's sake that that is true, because otherwise, Jonathan is still liable even if he didn't know the matter of the oath, or is Saul at fault for making such a thoughtless oath? (see Leviticus 5:4-5,17-19)
verse 31-34... at least here Saul is trying to keep his men from sinning... good leader... at least for this moment
verse 35... this must be a retelling of events in Chapter 13, then (see 1 Samuel 13:1-13)? or maybe Saul didn't build an alter before, just offer offering on one before... sin is a slippery slope, I tell ya... "it was the first time he had done this" makes me think he will do it again in the future? or maybe it is to express his uncraftmanship-like final product? or maybe, as the Study Notes suggest, this was a telling on Saul about how un-Godly he was not to have built an alter before now?
verse 36-38... I find it interesting that they knew God was not answering them because of a sin... is that why we don't "hear" God in our lives, today? how might we be able to change that? some things to ponder on.
verse 39... why would Saul say such a stupid thing? all the men, who obviously knew of Jonathan's actions, must have been freaking out.
verse 40... did Saul know somehow, or was it jsut by coincidence that he divided them that way?
vesre 41-46... was Saul getting jealous over Jonathan's success over the Philestines, and the army's admiration of Jonathan? Is that why Saul was ok with Jonathan's death? Is that why God spared Jonathan from the curse of the oath? Was that why Saul, after the men took Jonathan's side by praising Jonathan's victory over the Philestines, was that why Saul decided to stop fighting the Philestines? Saul seems more self focused, instead of God or others focused
verse 47-48... was this because God was leading him to do so, or so that Saul could prove himself a better leader/fighter than Jonathan?
verse 49-52... fulfills the prophecy that Saul's job as king was to 'deliver the Isrealites from the hands of the Philestines'(1 Samuel 9:15-16)... interesting that Saul's daughters and wife's names were mentioned... and that Saul only has one wife... Saul must have had a close-knit family if his cousin was his commander of the army... I wonder why we never hear about Saul's other sons?
sandJ