Ten Minute Bible Talks Devotional Bible Study - The Oaths God Didn't Ask For | Historical Books | 1 Samuel 14:24-52

Starting point is 00:00:05 Welcome to 10-minute Bible Talks, where we connect the Bible to your life. In the time it takes to get to work. I'm Tanya Wilmuth. When was the last time? You lie awake at night, replaying the events of the day, wishing that you could take back something you said, wishing you could undo a decision that you made. And as that happens, your mind traces down this rabbit trail to all the impacts that that word or that action had on someone else. and it can feel anywhere from embarrassing to emotionally intolerable, especially in the middle of the night.

Starting point is 00:00:38 We think if only we knew then what we know now. Now this kind of reflection, well, I mean, it can be good for us sometimes. It can be good when our reflection leads us to repentance. It can be good when our failures lead us to increase dependence on God. But if we let these things only give us regret and shame, then we'll likely not grow from our mistakes. Trading foolishness for wisdom is something we all want to do. We want to make wiser choices in the moment.

Starting point is 00:01:11 We want to be less foolish, and we want to suffer fewer consequences for our actions. So how do we exchange foolishness for wisdom? This is the topic we're going to explore today as we talk about Saul and his son Jonathan. If the path to wisdom were synonymous with age and experience, then Saul would be wiser than his son. If the path to wisdom were linear, always moving toward fewer failures, we wouldn't see someone older do the foolish thing while the younger acted in wisdom. But the path to wisdom is paved with things we try to avoid. It's paved with suffering, with need, with dependence, even failure. These are reminders that we are not our own saviors. These are reminders that we need a rescuer. These are the reminders that God is divine. We are always. only the branches, and we must cling to him. We grow in wisdom when we recognize our need, and when we recognize God's power and God's mercy. So remember, Saul was Israel's king, and he carried a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He wanted to lead his people. He wanted

Starting point is 00:02:17 to protect them, even spiritually guide them. I think at his core, all of those desires were true. And I think we can relate to this. As moms and dads, as managers and leaders, as friends and mentors, we carry responsibility and likely have the desire to lead and protect and help those entrusted to us, see the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior. But in that desire, we're tempted to sin when our pursuit of those things leads us to depend on ourselves instead of God. So we're picking up today in 1st Samuel, chapter 14, verses 24, when Saul has a desire to protect his soldiers and to ensure a victory in battle, but in order to do that, he creates this false. oath. So it says that Israelites were in distress that day. And why were they in distress? Well, it's because

Starting point is 00:03:05 Saul had bound the people under oath saying, cursed to be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I've avenged myself on my enemies. So in other words, on this very important day of battle, Saul has told the soldiers that they must take an oath not to eat. Now, this was a really foolish thing for Saul to do. The men of Israel had come together because the Philistine army was confused and they were on the run. This is something that scripture clearly attributes to the Lord's doing. But instead of thanking God for being in this position to attack the Philistine Army, Saul tries to gain his favor with an oath of denial by making all the soldiers take an oath of denial, not to eat any food. So why couldn't the soldiers eat that day? Is it something that God had instructed? No. The chapter

Starting point is 00:03:51 is very clear, that God had been silent. God did not give these instructions. In fact, the chapter paints Saul as someone who is using this ritual to earn favor with God. Have you ever done something like this? Like, have you ever tried to gain control of a situation by doing something religious? Not something that's heartfelt, but an action that looks and feels religious to you. Okay, so I'm not talking about going to church when you don't feel like it, hoping your heart will follow. I think that's something that we all do. And hopefully, and oftentimes by God's grace, he does allow our heart to follow.

Starting point is 00:04:26 But this is more like getting a lot of. a sense of righteousness or feeling like God will do what we're asking because we've done something for him. See, Saul wasn't trying here to deepen his relationship with God. He was just trying to see if God was on his side. He was trying to see if God would do him a favor. And God already had. He already was on Saul's side. This wasn't something that Saul needed to try to do. He just needed to obey and follow. So Saul's oath against eating during battle, it didn't make spiritual sense. It didn't make physical sense. I mean, you know, just think about it practically. Like, I've been in the mountains running, for instance, or hiking, and you have to take the proper nutrition so that you can

Starting point is 00:05:06 safely make it down the mountain. I mean, I can't tell you in those moments that you're at elevation or you've been out for a while, how much a few calories can change everything from dizzy and drain to just being energized so that you can make it out. So spiritually, also, Saul's oath wasn't wise, and it wasn't commanded by God. It was an attempt to, to insert himself into God's plan instead of trusting it. Now, meanwhile, irony shows up in the very next verse. It says the entire army entered the woods and there was honey on the ground, oozing out. Yet no one put his hand to his mouth because they feared the oath.

Starting point is 00:05:46 Okay, can you imagine honey oozing out of the ground? But the men were afraid to eat it. And then not because God said not to, remember, but they were afraid of Saul. So then enters Jonathan Saul's son. He wasn't around when the oath was made because he was actively pursuing the army already, trusting God, fighting faithfully. So hungry and unaware of the curse, he dips his staff into the honey and he eats. And the scripture says, and his eyes brightened. Jonathan later says, My father has made trouble for the country. How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies violate God's law. later on by eating meat with blood still in it because they were so hungry. And so we're left asking, do we want to lead like Saul? If not, what do we need to understand about God to avoid these same pitfalls?

Starting point is 00:06:45 So back to our original question, how do we exchange foolishness for wisdom? And here are a few practical takeaways. Number one, without a relationship, spiritual rituals are empty. If I didn't connect with my children daily, but just send them birthday presents once a year to earn their love, would it work? We are relational beings because God is relational. Jesus said to the Pharisees in Matthew 913, go and learn what this means. I desire mercy, not sacrifice. Jesus is quoting Josea 6-6, emphasizing that God values love and relationship overperformance. Are there how much?

Starting point is 00:07:25 habits, are there routines in your life that have become empty motions? What would it look like to exchange those for moments of real connection with God through prayer, through reflection, through repentance, or even just silence, sitting in his presence? Number two, our confidence comes from God, not ourselves. Jonathan understood this deeply. Earlier that day, Jonathan said, perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few. So Jonathan was showing up doing the next right thing while recognizing it was God who brought the victory. What's your current battle?

Starting point is 00:08:08 Is it parenting, work, a relationship struggle? Are you placing pressure on yourself to succeed? Or are you showing up faithfully and entrusting the results to God? confidence and security in him frees us from the burden of performance. Number three, we have an opportunity as Christians to be living, breathing, reflections of the gospel. When we find ourselves in over our heads, that's the perfect place to meet grace. We rest in the assurance of salvation not because we earned it, but because it was given to us by Christ. Is there an area in your life where you,

Starting point is 00:08:50 you're trying to be your own savior? What would it mean to let go to depend on Christ in that area and to walk in that area as someone who is already loved, who was already redeemed? So, when was the last time you laid in bed, replaying your mistakes, wishing for a do-over? You're not alone. Saul's story reminds us that foolishness isn't about age or title. It's about where we place our dependence. Jonathan's example shows us that wisdom is available. We can trust God. We can walk humbly. We can stay rooted in relationship with him. Let's be people who prioritize wisdom by being in God's word, by being in it daily, letting it take root in our heart. Let us be people who grow in wisdom by walking with the one who gives it freely.

Ten Minute Bible Talks Devotional Bible Study - The Oaths God Didn't Ask For | Historical Books | 1 Samuel 14:24-52

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