1Sa 14:41 | KingComments | STEP | Even from this silence of God Saul does not ask himself why. He does not think about himself as a cause at all. He is completely blind to it. He does say that the LORD delivers Israel. This is always the mixture with religious people: willfulness and the expression of truths. Just like Jephthah ( ) Saul is prepared to sacrifice his child to his legalism in the conviction that this is right with God. The people do not react to Saul’s threats to tell the cause of God’s silence. The people do not want to betray Jonathan. If Saul does not find out through the people, he tries through lot. In doing so, he does not go tribe after tribe, but immediately separates himself and Jonathan on the one hand and the people on the other. He does not seem to want to waste too much time following complicated procedures, although these are according to God’s will. Here, too, the people reside in the will of Saul. Saul commands God to bring the truth to light. God does not let Himself be commanded, but He does govern the lots. The lots take Saul and Jonathan, and the people escape. God spares His people. Saul then orders that lots be cast between him and Jonathan. He knows it cannot take him, but for the form he lets the lots cast. Jonathan is indeed taken. Then Saul orders Jonathan to tell what he has done. Jonathan is full of surrender. He bears witness to what he has done. Jonathan does not apologize by saying that he did not hear Saul’s commandment. This ignorance is not brought forth either by Jonathan or by the people. Jonathan is ready to die. His attitude is beautiful. He does not defend himself, nor does he start to attack his father because of his folly. He acknowledges his deed, but not as sin. After the ‘confession’ of his son Jonathan Saul breaks loose. Saul’s evil heart is ready to kill his son. In his folly he is willing to kill the only man of faith among them. He has sworn it and so he will keep word. How far away is Saul from grace! He has no part in it himself and therefore knows of no mercy toward others, not even toward his own son who has won such a great victory for Israel.

‏ 1 Samuel 14:41

Jonathan Taken as Guilty

Even from this silence of God Saul does not ask himself why. He does not think about himself as a cause at all. He is completely blind to it. He does say that the LORD delivers Israel. This is always the mixture with religious people: willfulness and the expression of truths.

Just like Jephthah (Jdg 11:30 ; 34-35) Saul is prepared to sacrifice his child to his legalism in the conviction that this is right with God. The people do not react to Saul’s threats to tell the cause of God’s silence. The people do not want to betray Jonathan.

If Saul does not find out through the people, he tries through lot. In doing so, he does not go tribe after tribe, but immediately separates himself and Jonathan on the one hand and the people on the other. He does not seem to want to waste too much time following complicated procedures, although these are according to God’s will. Here, too, the people reside in the will of Saul.

Saul commands God to bring the truth to light. God does not let Himself be commanded, but He does govern the lots. The lots take Saul and Jonathan, and the people escape. God spares His people. Saul then orders that lots be cast between him and Jonathan. He knows it cannot take him, but for the form he lets the lots cast. Jonathan is indeed taken.

Then Saul orders Jonathan to tell what he has done. Jonathan is full of surrender. He bears witness to what he has done. Jonathan does not apologize by saying that he did not hear Saul’s commandment. This ignorance is not brought forth either by Jonathan or by the people. Jonathan is ready to die. His attitude is beautiful. He does not defend himself, nor does he start to attack his father because of his folly. He acknowledges his deed, but not as sin.

After the ‘confession’ of his son Jonathan Saul breaks loose. Saul’s evil heart is ready to kill his son. In his folly he is willing to kill the only man of faith among them. He has sworn it and so he will keep word. How far away is Saul from grace! He has no part in it himself and therefore knows of no mercy toward others, not even toward his own son who has won such a great victory for Israel.