1 Samuel 14:29-33: a reflection

29Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now there has been no great slaughter among the Philistines.” 31They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint; 32and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD, in that they eat meat with the blood.” He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!”

Saul had made a rash oath, forbidding his soldiers to eat anything until evening; and his son Jonathan, who had not heard the oath, saw its harm plainly. My father has troubled the land, Jonathan says; see how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little honey. The rash restriction had left the soldiers faint and weakened, less able to fight; and in the end, famished, they fell on the plunder and ate it wrongly, with the blood. Saul's unwise burden harmed his own people and even drove them into sin.

Notice the harm Saul's rash, unwise restriction did to his own people. His oath, made hastily, without wisdom, burdened the soldiers unnecessarily, leaving them faint and weakened; and it drove them, in their extremity, into sin. The unwise burden he imposed did real damage, harming those under him and even leading them to do wrong. A rash, unwise rule laid on others is not harmless; it can weaken, burden, and even drive them into sin, as Saul's oath did.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too, in whatever authority or influence we have, can impose rash, unwise burdens on others, and do them harm. Whether over a family, a team, or any group, we can lay down hasty, unwise rules or expectations that burden people unnecessarily, weaken them, or even push them toward wrong, as Saul's oath harmed his soldiers. When you have authority or influence over others, do not impose rash, unwise burdens on them, made hastily and without wisdom; consider the harm such burdens can do, as Saul's oath weakened his people and drove them into sin. Weigh the demands and rules you lay on others, that they be wise and necessary, not rash burdens that harm; for the unwise burden Saul imposed troubled his own land, weakening his people and leading them into sin. Be careful what you require of those under you, lest you, like Saul, harm them with a rash and unwise demand.

Lord, Saul made a rash oath, forbidding his soldiers to eat until evening; and Jonathan, who had not heard it, saw its harm plainly: my father has troubled the land. The rash restriction left the soldiers faint and weakened, and in the end, famished, they fell on the plunder and ate it wrongly. Saul's unwise burden harmed his own people and even drove them into sin. Show me the harm his rash restriction did. His oath, made hastily, without wisdom, burdened the soldiers unnecessarily and drove them, in their extremity, into sin. A rash, unwise rule laid on others is not harmless; it can weaken, burden, and even drive them into sin. Take that to my heart, for I too, in whatever authority or influence I have, can impose rash, unwise burdens on others, and do them harm. Whether over a family, a team, or any group, I can lay down hasty, unwise rules or expectations that burden people, weaken them, or push them toward wrong. When I have authority or influence over others, keep me from imposing rash, unwise burdens made hastily and without wisdom; help me consider the harm such burdens can do. Help me weigh the demands and rules I lay on others, Lord, that they be wise and necessary, not rash burdens that harm. Keep me careful what I require of those under me, lest I, like Saul, harm them with a rash and unwise demand.