In his haste to overtake the Philistines, Saul rashly forbids his army to eat anything “before I have taken vengeance on my enemies” (1 Samuel 14: 24b NKJV). But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; “therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened (1 Samuel 14: 27 NKJV). So Saul sought the counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him that day (1 Samuel 14:37 NKJV). Still, God grants Saul victory over his enemies, and “the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die” (1 Samuel 14: 45b NKJV). Later, God commands Saul to execute God’s punishment upon the Amalekites for the many times they mistreated the Israelites, “Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them” (1 Samuel 15:3 NKJV).
We see parallels in this account and our lives today. We see a parallel between Saul’s demand that his army rush into battle again without taking time to eat a meal and those times when we, as individuals, families, and churches, make decisions without taking the time to seek the Lord’s guidance in prayer and His Word. Pastor Kevin warns us that the only way to ensure we are equipped for the spiritual battle we are in today is to be in the Word and prayer daily.
Maranatha!