Series: Israel’s 1st King [#8]
SAUL’S THIRD STAGE OF BATTLE- HINDRANCE
1 Samuel 14:24-45
Introduction:
King Saul’s 1st defeat came because he ran ahead of the Lord. His 2nd defeat came because he hesitated and failed to act promptly when God was ready to give him a great victory. As you read chapter 14, you find that Jonathan is the real hero, not Saul; and yet at the end, Saul would have had his own son killed. When a Christian isn’t following the Lord, he treats his friends like enemies. That’s what Saul did. God gave a great victory that day; but King Saul wasn’t really a part of the victory. Why? Because he was out of fellowship with God. There are 4 stages in this battle, and we are going to see how King Saul responded in each stage. We will see what happens when a person’s fellowship with God is broken. This morning, we are going to look at the 3rd stage of Saul’s battle. Saul hindered the battle.
1 Samuel 14:24
Don’t allow your…
1. Ego to be a hindrance.
He was motivated by vengeance and pride, not by the glory of God. When Jonathan talked about battle, God was glorified. Jonathan continually gave God the glory; but Saul tried to glorify himself. He said that he would punish his enemies. This oath was about himself.
1 Samuel 14:25-34
Don’t allow your…
2. Decisions to be a hindrance.
The army had to agree with this oath; and it led them to being very hungry and not fighting very well. Saul was trying to look spiritual. Saul wanted to look like the spiritual leader by calling for the Ark of the Covenant, while Jonathan did the fighting. He asked the Priest to determine the will of God; but then interrupted him. Saul then made this oath.
All of this looked very religious; but it weakened the army. The army was exhausted. You cannot fight a battle without nourishment. To make it even worse, this caused the soldiers to eat meat with blood still in it which was a sin. Think about decisions you make before you make them.
1 Samuel 14:35-45
Don’t allow your…
3. Ignorance to be a hindrance.
There are several things here that showed Saul’s ignorance. He did not even think about what not allowing his soldiers to eat would do to them. Then his soldiers started sinning against God by eating meat with the blood still in it. He had to be told that they were sinning; and then he built an altar to God for the 1st time. Why was this the 1st time he built an altar to God?
Saul wanted to go fight the Philistines right then; but the Priest told him to wait and ask God what he should do. God did not answer, so Saul knew that someone had done something wrong. They casted lots and it was proved that Jonathan was the problem. Then, because of Saul’s oath, he was going to have to kill his son.
Conclusion:
Because of Saul’s ego, poor decision making, and ignorance; Jonathan was to die. The soldiers would not allow Saul to kill Jonathan. What Saul accomplished was losing the respect of his entire army. “Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.” Do not be a hindrance to what God is doing.
