Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Going Too Far
(I Samuel 14:35-46)
Saul’s leadership was about to take another embarrassing blow. It appears that Saul, determined to chase down the Philistines, built an altar as a place of worship and inquiry of the Lord (35). Though he was determined to carry out a night raid, one of the priests encouraged him to seek the mind of the God (36). The Lord, however, remained disquietingly silent (37). Saul interpreted God’s silence as the presence of sin in the camp. And what sin could be greater, Saul’s pride reasoned, than one violating his oath?
Complicating matters, Saul dogmatically stated that even if the sin were found in Jonathan, he would be put to death. Can you imagine the somber response of the people? Not only had the Lord failed to answer him, but now the people became uncharacteristically quiet as well (39).
Saul, missing a thousand non-verbal clues, persisted bullishly down his foolish pathway. Lots were drawn, and Saul and Jonathan were chosen. At this point, humility would have admitted the foolishness of the pursuit and would have ended the shenanigans. Saul, not one to let humility get in his way, insisted on another round of lots. When Jonathan was chosen, Saul ploughed right ahead, declaring that his own son must die! Notice the tragic blindness of pride!
Then the people stepped in. Essentially, they declared that Saul was going too far, and that they would protect Jonathan. The Bible records that the “people rescued Jonathan” (45). This time Saul had demonstrated not only his lack of wisdom, but also his lack of common sense. Pride had taken him a complicit captive and would ultimately lead Saul to his death. Let’s learn when to swallow pride, admit mistakes, and seek forgiveness. Let’s not act the fool!
