Lesson #14

1 SAMUEL 14
Lesson #14
RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES AND THE SINS OF AUTHORITY

• Memory Verse: Romans 8:31

• Read 1Sam 14:1-15 Saul in Gibeah with 600 men.
• Saul was under a pomegranate tree.
• The pomegranate tree is a very Low and very small tree. (2)
• The symbolic mental illustration here is that Saul was in a very low mood. In fact, he was in deep depression.
• Perhaps he was depressed over Samuel’s words that his kingdom would be taken from him.
• Ahijah, the High Priest:
• His name means = I trust God in everything. Later in scripture he is called Ahimelech which means = I trust no man.
• He was the great grandson of Eli, the high priest.
• You will remember that we discussed Eli and his evil sons in chapters 2 and 3 of 1Samuel.
• We know that Ahijah was the high priest after Eli because scripture tells us he wore the ephod, which is the breastplate of the high priest’s clothing. (3)
• Jonathan had continued to battle against the Philistines and sought a way to defeat them without Saul. So as to surprise the Philistines he planned to climb a rocky crag where there were 2 very large rocks side by side on top of which stood a Philistine outpost.
• One of the rocky mountains was called, Bozez. The name Bozez means = the shining like a bald head.
• This was a slippery rock surface that was not easily climbed.
• The other large rocky mountain was called Seneh which means = thorny bush.
• This area was covered with thorns and therefore made it a place also not easily climbed.
• Why are we told various times that Saul and the people did not know where Jonathan was?
• Jonathan’s attack on the Philistines was to be a surprise attack on the outpost from an unexpected direction.
• God’s deliverance of His people from the attack of the Philistines was taken out of Saul’s hands and placed in Jonathan’s hands.
• Jonathan’s faith:
• This impossible situation demonstrates Jonathan’s great faith. (4, 6)
• The Lord is not limited by the lack of His people’s abilities, powers, or resources.
• Jonathan and his armor bearer killed 20 Philistines in the outpost. It stirred up a great confusion.
• Notice the mention of a sign as though it were a test. (10)
• Discussion:

What is the difference between faith and presumption?

• Jonathan is the example of faith while Saul is the example of presumption.
• We cannot often determine the difference outwardly in someone else, for the difference lies in the deep inward motive of pride or humility in the heart.
• Pride presumes on the grace of God while faith bases itself in the grace of God and acts boldly from humility so that God receives the glory in victory.
• Read 1Sam 14:16-23
• Saul’s sentries hear the great confusion stirred by Jonathan and his armor bearer, and they count to determine that it is Jonathan and his armor bearer who are missing from the army.
• “And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God

…” (18)

• Saul sent for the ark of the covenant., or did he?
• There are some scholars who believe that instead of the word, ark, the verse should read “the ephod”.
• The ark was at Kiriah Jearim and the high priest was there wearing the ephod (breastplate).
• This theory is based on the fact that the Ephod contained the means (the Urim and the Thumim) by which to determine God’s perfect will in a matter, and because Saul is seeking direction from God as to what to do,
• What was the Urim and the Thumim. We do not know exactly but some believer that they were small stones, possibly white and black, that were carried in the pocket at the top of the breastplate. They may have been thrown like dice to determine God’s will.
• What was wrong with Saul’s sending for the ark or the Ephod?
• We see that Saul always waited until the last desperate minute to turn to God. He should have sought God when he was sitting under the pomegranate tree.
• Before Saul could seek God’s direction, the increasing noise from the Philistine camp, prompted Saul suddenly to cancel his desire to know God’s will, and to attack the Philistines with his entire army. (20) The slaughter of the Philistines was so great that many of the deserters from Saul’s army and soldiers of fortune from the Philistine army came out of hiding to participate in the victory and to pursue the Philistines back to their own country.
• Application and principles:
• Seek God continually for His will, not just when trouble suddenly strikes.
• Guard against presumption and pride by cultivating true faith based in humility.
• Trust God to bring deliverance God’s way even if the climb is rough and seemingly impossible.
• Read 1Sam 14:24-46 Saul’s foolish orders

• “Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies.”

(24)

• Saul commanded that no one eat until the end of the day.
• Why did Saul command such a foolish order?
• His motives were:
• =1= An attempt to recover his authority among the people.
• =2= An attempt to cover up his lack of spirituality after the fact.
• =3= An act of anger and revenge on Jonathan and his armor bearer who acted without his authority.
• An analysis of this father/son relationship:
• There was a lack of communication on both sides.
• There was a lack of loyalty and allegiance on both sides.
• There was a lack of honor and reward on both sides.
• There was a lack of love on both sides.
• All these things were a result of Saul’s pride that put him in competition with his own son.
• Notice Jonathan’s criticism of Saul: (30)
• Jonathan, not knowing of the order to fast, ate honey.
• If the people had been able to eat and replenish their energy, there would have been a greater slaughter of the Philistines.
• In other words, Saul did not take the God-given opportunity to completely defeat the Philistines once and for all because of his own selfish pride that caused the people to grow faint. They could not continue the battle for it was an 18 mile pursuit from Michmash to Aijalon.
• The forced fast that was not from God, caused the people to sin by eating blood from the Philistine animals they captured in battle at the end of the day.
• Saul’s change of heart:
• Saul changes the order and provides for the people.
• Saul determines to go on and finish the battle that night.
• Saul seeks God’s counsel after renewing his relationship with God. (35, 37)
• However, asking God was not Saul’s idea. The idea came from the priest.
• Therefore, because of sin, God did not answer.
• Saul wanted to know whose sin caused God not to answer.
• Therefore, there was a casting of lots to determine sin.
• Remember that the people had sinned because they ate blood which was a violation of the Mosaic Law. (Lev 17:10-14)
• Remember that Jonathan had sinned by disobeying his father’s command.
• Saul had been disobedient, prideful, and presumptuous.
• The lot fell on Jonathan because of his disobedience to his father.
• Why was Jonathan guilty of sin when he did not know of his father’s command until after he had eaten the honey?
• He did not go and confess his mistake to his father.
• He criticized his father’s leadership.
• Saul’s second foolish order. (39)
• Saul ordered the death of Jonathan but in the end, the people rescued Jonathan from death.
• Saul saw his lack of unity and credibility with the people and he backed down.
• As a result, the total defeat of the Philistines did not come until later under King David.
• Read 1Sam 14:47-52 A summary of Saul’s military achievements
• Saul expanded the kingdom of Israel to the south (Edom), to the east (Ammon and Moab), to the north (Zobah), and west (Philistia).
• Saul’s military success over Israel’s enemies
• The captain of Saul’s army was Abner, who was Saul’s cousin.
• Abner was opportunistic, vengeful, jealous, bloodthirsty, and disloyal.
• These characteristics in Abner caused lots of problems in the kingdom later on in 2Samuel.
• What are the characteristics did Saul look for in choosing men to promote?
• Saul looked for physical strength and military courage. (52)
• What are the characteristics Saul should have considered in order to build a strong kingdom?
• Allegiance to God
• Humility
• Loyalty
• Truthfulness
• Diligence
• Application:
• We need to choose people according to their godly characteristics.
• Relationship principles:
• Deteriorated relationships begin with a failure to trust God.
• Criticism defies authority and undermines the allegiance of others. (1Sam 14:29,32)
• Dishonoring authority causes compounded sin. (1Sam 14:32)
• Sins in relationships cause a breach in our relationship to God. (1Sam 14:37-38)
• God expects obedience to authority even when the commands are foolish ones. (1Sam 14:43)

HOMEWORK
1SAMUEL 15
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of 1Sam 14
• Review the relationship principles and examine your own relationships. Write what needs to be corrected, if anything.
• Preparation for 1Sam 15
• Read 1Sam 15:1-11
• Background:
• Read Deu 25:11-18 and Exo 17:8-16
• What specific things did Saul do to disobey God?
• Read 1Sam 15:12-23
• What was Saul’s response to his sin?
• Why is obedience better than sacrifice?
• Why is disobedience likened to witchcraft?
• How is stubbornness like idolatry?
• Read 1Sam 15:24-35
• Do you see any illusions to Jesus Christ in this passage?
• How do you know that Saul’s repentance is not heart repentance?
• Memory Verse: 1Samuel 15:22