Misplaced Faith

Saul’s faith was in his own ability to get the support of God and the people.    He it was necessary to bribe God with various sacrifices to get him on his side.  As a result, he had broken God’s law by offering sacrifices himself, then later when The Philistines were running away he refused to go until he realized they were all going to escape if he didn’t get busy.  Even then he depended on his ability to motivate the people with fear because he was concerned with getting his own way, leading the people to sin. 

 

Having gotten his way the first two times, Saul would keep the same attitude this time, without concern about his men, as we see in I Samuel 14:35-37.  “And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.  And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.  And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.”

 

When Saul didn’t get the answer he wanted from God, he began to blame other people, as I Samuel 14:38-39 describes.  “And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.  For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. “

 

When the people refused to condemn Jonathan for violating his orders, Saul demanded a thorough investigation, in I Samuel 14:40-43.  “Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee. Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.  And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.  Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.”

 

A typical sociopath, Saul was willing even to kill his own son for violating his orders.  Fortunately, the people realized the victory was the result of Jonathan’s efforts rather than Saul’s, and saved him, in Judges 14:44-46. “And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.  And the people said unto Saul, 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. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.”

 

God had chosen Saul as king, and would bless his efforts to free israel, even though his motivations were wrong, as we see in I Samuel 14:47-48.  “So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.  And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.”  He was unable to wipe out the enemies, he was able to block their efforts to invade Israel repeatedly.  The Philistines would make repeated attempts to gain control, as I Samuel 14:52 describes.  “And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.”  Because of the ongoing threat, Saul would maintain a standing army, drafting the best warriors.