Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Haste Makes Waste
(I Samuel 14:24-34)
Saul had become at best an erratic leader. As one reads of his decline, one is struck by his insecurities. For example, Saul found it necessary to bind the army with an unreasonable oath and threaten any who dared to disobey (24). His insistence that they eat no food (probably so they wouldn’t be distracted from the battle) was both unwise and unreasonable. Threats should not be used for motivation, and they rarely accomplish long-term goals (Eph. 6:9). Rather than focusing the army on the battle, their ensuing hunger became the ultimate distraction. Apparently Saul wasn’t familiar with the truism, “An army marches on its stomach.”
Jonathan unwittingly violated Saul’s oath. When he ate the honey, his “eyes were enlightened,” in other words, he felt physically revived. When informed of his father’s threat, Jonathan answered rather hastily, “My father hath troubled the land.” Though a somewhat disrespectful comment, it was true none the less. Jonathan knew that his father’s threat could have long-term consequences in the morale of the troops.
Saul had indeed “troubled the land.” In fact, the army became so famished that they unrestrainedly gorged themselves upon Philistine spoil—not even bothering to drain the carcasses of their blood as was the lawful Jewish custom (Gen. 9:4; Deut. 15:23). When Saul heard of the spontaneous feast he declared to his army, “Ye have transgressed” (33)!
True, the people had violated the Scripture in eating the blood of the slain animals. But let’s look deeper. In reality, it was Saul’s hasty oath that pushed the people to such intense hunger. It was Saul’s bullish anger that had caused the problem. The lesson: refrain from hasty and rash decisions—especially when they impact others!
