Today continued on with more fighting. I am so over all the fighting and battles. I feel like that’s all I read about, and it makes me unable to focus. However, I will reluctantly continue my journey and journal…
Jonathan, the son of Saul defeated the Philistines, and for whatever reason Saul made a vow saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So no one ate any food.
Except when they were walking through the forest, they saw honey on the ground. Jonathan didn’t know his father had made the rash vow and ate some and his “eyes became bright.” I have no idea what that means.
Someone warned him of his father’s vow, but Jonathan said how great it would be if they had eaten freely of their spoils over the battle. So all the people started slaughtering the animals and were eating them on the ground with the blood.
Saul was told of this sin of eating with the blood. So, Saul built an altar to slaughter the animals on so they weren’t sinning against the Lord anymore. This was the first altar he had ever built.
Meanwhile they were all still questioning whether or not Jonathan was going to die now because he broke the vow. But, the people rallied around him and protected him because he had delivered them in the battle, and did not let him be killed.
Ultimately, today can be summarized with the Lord rejecting Saul. He regretted making Saul king and sent for Samuel to speak with him. Samuel explained to Saul that he had not obeyed the voice of the Lord and kept his commandments. Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
1 Samuel: 22-23
Saul admitted he had sinned and asked for forgiveness, begging to join him in worshiping the Lord. Samuel told him that he already had someone ready to replace him who was better than him. I think we’ll finally get to meet David!
Samuel and Saul went their separate ways and didn’t see each other again until the day of Samuel’s death. But, Samuel grieved over Saul, and the Lord regretted making Saul king over Israel.
I’m so proud of you for not giving up. The Old Testament can be very difficult to get through. All the “yuck” you have read about, and there is more to come, demonstrates how flawed and sinful we are and how badly we need a Savior.
Thank you! It is incredibly difficult at times. Just plugging away at it. I’ve set a goal and will and want to complete it, just may take a little longer than planned 😔 I appreciate you following along, and am open to any insight from readers!
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