1 Samuel 14:44 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Samuel 14:44

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So Saul, in a show of misguided firmness, asserts that Jonathan must die. It is a grotesque miscalculation. We wants to show that no one can defy him, and he wants to show that his commitment to justice is so great that he will even enforce it against his own son. Saul with his usual gift for failure to examine himself and take responsibility, sought a scapegoat. What a leader! Such an inspiration that people would desert him; such an inspiration that while Jonathan would move, he would still be thinking about it; he couldn’t imagine what to do! Such a marvellous commander that he had starving troops going into battle, and when they all came back and it had all gone wrong, he would, if necessary, hang his own son. That was Saul, so he wasn't the greatest man, even judged by the world’s standard.Well Jonathan is delivered by the will of the people. Usually so weak, they stood up for him. The injustice of the situation spikes even them. It is Jonathan’s courage that has won this victory and the whole nation owes a debt to him. It is by the power of God that he has done it and it is a time for giving thanks, not for finding a scapegoat. The king’s think in this matter is so out of line with the occasion. It is obvious that Saul is the one who is at fault and not his son. So the people will not have it, and Saul is forced to swallow his pride.

Application

May none of us be condemned as Christian servants by our attitude, the kind of people we are. What motivates you and I? What motivates us to do things? Spiritual things or a desire to gratify ourselves, or be vindicated, or something of that kind? Saul was condemned by his totally unspiritual motives. He was condemned by his own son. He was condemned by the Philistine who survived and thus condemned him as Hall quaintly points out. He was condemned by the Lord, who wouldn't hear him. And he was condemned by the people, because it came to the point when he gave an instruction which the people wouldn't carry it out; they were absolutely silent. They no longer trusted him, and it was all because he became totally self-important and lacking in spiritual feeling and faith. These are the kind of lessons we learn from these great books. Whenever you go through them, look at the contrasts. A Saul, a Jonathan: seize on the contrast; learn from it. The man who stands for the flesh: look at these characteristics; see if there are in your heart. Avoid them like the plague. The man who stands for grace, the servant of God, the believer in in the way of faith. Look at what characterises him; identify his features. Grasp at, and imitate them. That is the purpose of these books and how they are to be read.

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1 Samuel 14:44 Commentary and Bible Study