# 1 Samuel Chapter 14 (Part 2) --- ## Summary Saul makes a vow that whom so ever eats before it is evening will die. The people of Israel enter into a forest in which Honey can be found, but the people do not eat because of Saul. Jonathan unaware of Saul's vow eats of the Honey and when advised of his fathers actions speaks regretfully of his fathers actions. The people strike down the Philistines and loose it eating the Philistines cattle with the blood. Saul builds an altar to the Lord and instigates the correct order to things. Saul enquires of the Lord again if he should go down once again to battle the Philistines but the Lord does not answer; use of the Urin and Thummin reveals Jonathan is at fault and Saul proclaims Jonathan must die. The people intervene and ransom Jonathan. Saul continues to fight Israels enemies and attaches himself to the strong or valiant men. ## Meditatio Saul is not having a particularly easy innings thus far as king. Firstly he has lost the favour of the Lord by acting in a way that he ought not out of fear[^1], secondly he only acts when he observes the situation has fallen in his favour[^2]. Now we see him make a stupid vow and as a consequence threaten to end the life of his son to save face. Indeed the situation is so dire that the people have to intervene directly to prevent he King from following through. You know it's bad when subjects are willing to act in opposition to the King. Indeed much of this chapter can be summed up in verse 30 `How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great`. It is a souring of the incredible victory won by the Lord through human intervention to introduce unnecessary constraints. I has brought to mind the tension between freedom and structure and form. This so often is the balancing act of institutions. How we permit great freedom whilst restraining individuals from acting against their own interests is a real challenge. Saul was completely off on this when making a vow about eating before evening, yet absolutely right to address the sin of the people who being hungry just eat the whole animal blood and all in direct violation of the Law of Moses. Saul is aware that they are sinning against the Lord something for which there will be real consequences. We often like to deal in binaries Saul == Bad; David == Good. Whereas the reality is (always) far more nuanced. Saul made some downright terrible decisions and some absolutely bang on the money decisions. He is presented in the book of Samuel as a very human character. On an side the Old Testament has much to say about oath breaking. Firstly there is a clear commandment to `not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God`[^3]. Secondly the clear direction that `When a man makes a vow...he must not break his word but must do everything he said`[^4]. Finally that when we make an vow to God `do not delay to fulfill it` outlining the Lord `has no pleasure in fools`. Lord may we act in accordance with your interests and avoid folly or bringing your name into disrepute. For your kingdom's realisation; in Jesus name. [^1]: See my commentary on [Chapter 13](http://tilde.club/~chortle/log.php?type=faith&year=part3#1-samuel-chapter-13) [^2]: See also my commentary on [Chapter 14 (Part 1)](http://tilde.club/~chortle/log.php?type=faith&year=part3#1-samuel-chapter-14-part-1) [^3]: See [Leviticus 19:12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+19%3A12&version=ESV) [^4]: See [Numbers 30:2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+30%3A2&version=ESV) [^5]: See [Ecclesiastes 5:4-5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+5%3A4-5&version=ESV)