Because Saul was not sure God would give the victory, he had
procrastinated until most of the people deserted him. Trusting God, Jonathan attacked the
Philistines, even though it seemed there was no possibility of success. His killing of twenty men would have had
little impact, except god cause a minor earthquake at the same time that threw
the Philistines into a panic. Even when
Saul saw them running away, he still didn’t trust God to give the victory, as
we see in I Samuel 14:17-18. “Then said Saul unto the people that were
with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered,
behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there. And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark
of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.”
Just two of his men had put the entire Philistine army to
flight, but Saul was still afraid God wouldn’t bless unless they offered a
sacrifice to bribe him. Throughout
history, people have had this heathen idea of an unloving god who has to be
bribed to help us. So many of the
Philistines had fled that it was obvious they would all escape if they took the
time to go through the whole process, so he decided to forgo the sacrifice and sent
his men to attack the fleeing Philistines in I Samuel 14:19-23. “And it
came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the
host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest,
Withdraw thine hand. And Saul and all
the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the
battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a
very great discomfiture. Moreover the
Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with
them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be
with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid
themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even
they also followed hard after them in the battle. So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle
passed over unto Bethaven.”
When Saul took action, even the people who had deserted in
discouragement came back to help. They
jwere willing to give their best, but they needed someone to take the lead and
reassure them that they were not alone.
Here we see the biggest difference between a leader and a politician. Jonathan was a leader. He stepped out to accomplish a goal without
concern for whether the rest of them followed or not. Other people saw the results of his actions
and joined in.
Saul was a politician.
He spent his time trying to motivate the others, but he would not act
until he was assured of success. Someone
described a politician as a person who looks to see which way the crowd is
going, then runs to get in front to leave the impression he is the leader. In an effort to assert their authority,
politicians begin to boss people around, and their efforts to take control are often
counterproductive. Saul gave orders that no one was to eat
anything until his enemies were wiped out, as I Samuel 14:24 tells us. “And
the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people,
saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be
avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.”
The Philistines were everybody’s problem, but Saul was only
concerned with his legacy and goals. He
gave the order with no consideration for the needs of the people. After hours of fighting with no sustenance,
they had no energy left, but when God provided a shnack that would have
reenergized them, they dared not touch it thanks to Saul’s order, as I Samuel
14:25-26 says. “And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the
ground. And when the people were come
into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth:
for the people feared the oath.”
Because Jonathan had been busy following God’s leadership
and doing what needed to be done, he didn’t know about Saul’s order, as we see
in I Samuel 14:27. “But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the
oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and
dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were
enlightened.” After eating a little
of the honey, Jonathan regained his energy and was ready to fight again.
When he was informed of Saul’s order, Jonathan pointed out
that the order actually held the people back.
Had the people been free eat as needed, they would have been able to do
much more, as I Samuel 14:28-20 tells us.
“Then answered one of the people,
and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed
be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled
the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I
tasted a little of this honey. How much
more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies
which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the
Philistines?” By focusing on his own
goals, Saul had hurt rather than helped the people.
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