1 Samuel 14:1-52

Confusion and distraction can be tools of God used against those who do not fear God; or they can be tools of Satan used against the servants of God.  The children of Israel have been hiding in fear as the army of the Philistines gathers and grows.  God uses great confusion in order to defeat them and deliver Israel.  However, there is a great deal of distraction within Israel due to an imprudent vow made by Saul.  We must be very careful as we serve the Lord not to allow confusion and distraction to make us ineffective in our work.  We must carefully look at God’s Word and follow it closely and not try to do things according to our own understanding.  We must trust God and allow Him to work in and through us without becoming puffed up or proud.  We can learn from the various stages of this battle as it is described for us.

GOD DIRECTS JONATHAN: Jonathan gets tired of just sitting around and decides to go out with his armor bearer and scout out the situation.  When he sees a company of the enemy on the mountain ahead of him, he is directed by God to go up to them.  Jonathan is confident in God’s ability to give victory to either few or many so he sets up a test through which he asks God to direct him.  God uses Jonathan to throw the entire Philistine army into confusion and they begin to kill one another.  When Israel sees what is happening, they become embolden and enter the battle as well so that they Philistines are fleeing from them.  Jonathan is courageous but above his courage we see his complete confidence in the Lord.  God continues to look for leaders who will be directed by Him, will be confident in Him and serve Him courageously no matter how difficult the circumstances might seem.  When we trust and follow God amazing things happen.

SAUL DISTRACTS ISRAEL: Saul is hunkered down with his men while Jonathan is out on his trip.  When Saul sees that God is at work; he foolishly makes a vow that all of the army of Israel must fast for the entire day as they go into battle.  This seems to be some sort of attempt to impress God through making this sacrifice, or an attempt to impress the people with his dedication to God.  No matter what Saul’s motives were, it is clear that his rash decision was not from God but from his own flesh.  The passage repeatedly states that due to this forced fast the people were weak and not able to pursue the enemy the way that they could have.  Jonathan had not heard the vow and eats some honey off of the ground and is rejuvenated.  When Jonathan hears about the vow he recognizes it to have been foolishness, but honors it.  It is a very dangerous thing when we try to “impress” God or “help” God through the acts of our flesh.  These sins of the flesh will always end up distracting us from the will of God and making us less effective as we seek to do the work of God.

ISRAEL DELIVERS JONATHAN: When Saul seeks to know God’s will in the midst of the battle, (he had failed to do so prior to making the vow) God does not answer.  Saul believes that the people have sinned and that it is their fault that God is silent so he casts lots and the lot actually falls on Jonathan for having broken the vow made by Saul.  When Saul confronts Jonathan, he admits to what he had done and is prepared to die as that is what Saul had said would be the punishment.  The people come to Jonathan’s defense and point out that he had no knowledge of the vow and that God had used him to start this battle in the first place.  Saul spares Jonathan’s life, but while all of this is going on, the Philistines are able to escape and the victory is not nearly as great as it could have been or should have been.  Distraction is a dangerous thing that can keep us from being effective in our work for the Lord.