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One-sentence summary: Saul disobeys the Lord because he does not obey completely and is told by Samuel that the Lord will remove his kingdom from him, and the people save Jonathan from death due to Saul's rash vow.
All Israel hears that Saul and his son Jonathan have attacked the Philistines, and they are all called together at Gilgal. The Philistines gather to fight against them and are "as numerous as the sands of the seashore." Israel is afraid, and they hide wherever they can. Saul waits in Gilgal seven days upon Samuel's behest, but Samuel delays in coming, and the people scatter from Saul. He offers an offering the the Lord. Then, Samuel comes, and Saul goes to greet him; Samuel asks Saul what he has done, and Saul answers that when he saw the people had scattered and Samuel had not come in time and the Philistines gathered, he felt compelled to offer an offering. Samuel tells him he has done foolishly and not obeyed the Lord's command. He tells him the Lord would have established his kingdom over Israel forever, but now, his kingdom will not continue. He says the Lord has found a man after His own heart to command His people because he did not obey the Lord. Saul numbers the people, 600 men, with his son Jonathan. There is no blacksmith in those days, so Israel would go to the Philistines to sharpen their tool, and on battle day, there are no swords or spears with anyone except Jonathan and Saul.
Jonathan tells his armor bearer to go with him to the garrison of the Philistines, but he doesn't tell his father, who is sitting under a pomegranate tree on the outskirts of the city with his men. Ichabod's brother is the Lord's priest in Shiloh and is wearing an ephod, but the people do not know Jonathan had gone. Jonathan speaks in faith and tells his armor bearer to go with him, and the man submits. They come up with a plan for how they will know the Lord has delivered the men into their hands. The Philistines call them up, so they go, knowing the Lord has delivered them. The men fall before Jonathan and his armor bearer, about 20 men, and the fear of Israel spreads through the camp, and even the earth quakes. The watchmen of Saul see "the multitude melting away," and they find only Jonathan and his armor bearer are gone. And Saul tells the priest to bring the ark of God. The noise in the camp of the Philistines increases. The people go up against the Philistines, and other Israelites who had been hiding join as well. So the Lord saves Israel that day. They are distressed because Saul has placed them under oath not to eat anything until evening- when Saul says he will take vengeance on their enemies. They are in the woods and see some honey on the ground, but no one dare to take it. But Jonathan is not aware of what his father said, so he takes some. One of the people tells him what Saul said, and it says "the people [are] faint." Jonathan says his father has troubled the land and how much better it would have been for the people to take some honey as well so they would be strong to fight on. The people are very faint, and rush on the spoil and slaughter it and eat the animals along with the blood. It is told Saul, and he tells the messenger to tell the people to bring their oxen and sheep and eat and not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood. Saul builds an altar to the Lord. They plan to plunder the Philistines at night, and the priest tells him to ask of the Lord. Saul inquires of the Lord if he should go, but the Lord doesn't answer him that day. He calls the chiefs to find out who has sinned, and promises that even if it is Jonathan, "he will surely die." But no one answers. Sauls separates himself and Jonathan from the people and casts lots, and it falls to them, and does it again, and it falls to Jonathan, so he says to his son, "Tell me what you have done," and Jonathan tells him about the honey and then says, "So now I must die." Saul says, "God do so, and more also, for you shall surely die." But the people say to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall from the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescue Jonathan so he does not die. So it says Saul establishes his sovereignty over Israel and fights against his enemies on every side and harasses them and delivers Israel. And all the days of Saul, there is fierce war between Israel and the Philistines, and whenever Saul sees any valiant man, he forces him to fight in his army.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
Not obeying completely is failure to obey. Righteousness is stringent; therefore, we need to have a healthy balance of the fear (reverential awe) of God and an understanding of grace.