Through the Bible Day by Day - 1 Samuel 14:16 - 14:16

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Through the Bible Day by Day - 1 Samuel 14:16 - 14:16


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Victory Shadowed by Saul’s Errors

1Sa 14:16-35

Saul’s unwise prohibition had a terrible sequel: first, in the exhaustion of his troops; and, second, in the rushing of the hungry upon the spoil without the proper separation of blood. Then, as the day closed in, the divine oracle was dumb. Evidently some sin had interposed its dark shadow between the king and the Eternal Light. See 1Sa 14:37. Saul knew this, but he refused to look for the sin in his own heart, even when he and Jonathan stood alone. See 1Sa 14:42.

The cause of the discomfiture and silence was not in Jonathan. Saul was alone to blame. In that the good sense of the people decided rigidly. Not only had the king marred and missed the greatest opportunity of his life, but he was already enwrapping his soul in that jealousy, moroseness of temper and impetuosity of judgment which ruined his after-career. In Paul’s expressive phrase, he became a castaway, and was flung from the mighty hand which longed to make Him a vessel unto honor, meet for every noble work. See 1Co 9:27; 2Ti 2:21.