| Lesson 37: The Law Of The Old That Is Covered In the New Testament: Oath In Haste, Willful And Knowing Sin 2/28/2014 by turtle 1 Samuel 14:23-47 KJV (23) So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven. (24) And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. (25) And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. (26) And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. (27) But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. (28) Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. (29) Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. (30) How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines? (31) And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. (32) And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. (33) Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. (34) And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. (35) And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. (36) And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. (37) And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day. (38) And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. (39) For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. (40) Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee. (41) Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. (42) And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. (43) Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die. (44) And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. (45) And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. (46) Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place. (47) So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them. I think often times the hardest thing to understand is willful sin and sin done in ignorance. Let’s say an accident occurs on the highway, person going down the wrong side of the road. Is it manslaughter if the person kills someone or accident, it depends what caused them to be on the wrong side of the road, a deer in the middle of the road that ten people saw or did they turn down a clearly marked one way road, instead of going in the other direction until one can find a turn around spot totally in violation of the law. Death occurred because of the wrong direction, but the cause one accidental the other on purpose. The point is we all sin all fall short of the glory of God, some accidentally and others done on purpose or with no regard for the law. Saul made an oath while men were fighting for Israel that seem not in the right state of mind to the world around us. Yet in truth it was oath or a vow to God because of victory occurring for Israel. Saul desire to honor God would about cost him the life of his son. Yet his son had eaten honey in ignorance of the law of his father had decreed upon an oath. Yet some of Israel’s soldiers were slaughtered by the hand of their own team because they ate meat with blood pouring out. Jonathan would not loose his life, but the men that ate the blood were slaughter, why one might ask. If you read this with no knowledge of Jewish dietary laws this seems like it only about religion, but it was also about health. Jews were not to eat meat unless it been drained of the blood. Health reason being parasites, probably not scientifically understood at that time. Yet they broken the rules of not only eating of meat but the do not eat law for the day. A fast had been declared by a king a sacred oath in battle. Yes Jonathan one day would die for his sin, but not today, because he did not break both a dietary law by God as well as the decree. Israelites that were slaughter broke to laws and on purpose. Purposely turned away from God’s way to the wrong road or direction. How long does it take to drain a little meat and put a piece to the fire. Not long, but they ate the meat raw with no regards for God’s decree or the king. Jonathans hand would not come by the people or the king, but by God. Both Saul and Jonathan would eventually die in battle. To error in ignorance is fair to not be punished, if no other laws were broken. Yet if the first error caused more sin, then one is held guilty. It is like the plot to murder or accidental man slaughter. It not always an easy call, that why when someone plots, the first sin was the plotting the second was the murder. Makes it easy for the cops, but it often has to be proven. Our laws have not changed and the oaths and things that are decreed have not changed, but the ability to decree something so quickly has. Today if our leaders declared a fast, it would have to be broadcasted in advance of the fast. Christians have been declaring fast in their churches in the past 20 years. I do not argue Christians have been fasting longer, but the world wide spread of fast has increased. It is more widely known among church groups. When we fast the wall that Satan built are torn down and replaced with walls built by the Word and Promises of God. Dear Heavenly Father, we all sin and all fall short of the your glory and are worthy of death. Yet our punishment is because of Adam, which I can not control, yet you made a way for all of us to be saved through belief in your Son. Help us to be followers of Jesus with the knowledge we all make mistakes, but we need to obey Him in truth and not willfully disobey. Bring us to our knees Lord. In Jesus precious name, Amen. http://www.turtle30cshell.com _ |
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