“Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.”
“You are traitors!” Saul cried out. …“Go among the people and tell them all to bring their cattle and sheep here. They are to slaughter them and eat them here; they must not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood in it.”
Saul’s hollow preoccupation with conforming to the religion smacks of that of the chief priests in Matthew 27:3-7 where they discuss the “lawful” way to handle the money from Judas’ betrayal after having conspired to kill the Messiah! This is truly where religion becomes the god.
Saul said to his men, “Let’s go down and attack the Philistines in the night…”
But the priest said, “Let’s consult God first.”
I can feel Saul’s fear here – dread even. He’s already avoided consulting God (v. 19) while giving the appearance of being willing to do so. With the priest’s request, he no longer controls the narrative.
So Saul asked God, “Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you give us victory?”
But God did not answer that day.
Exactly what he was fearing. Saul can no longer control appearances before the men he so wanted to please (1 Samuel 15:24).
Then Saul said to the leaders of the people, “Come here and find out what sin was committed today. I promise by the living Lord, who gives Israel victory, that the guilty one will be put to death, even if he is my son Jonathan.”
A foolish vow – much like that made by Jephthah (Judges 11:30-31). Unlike Jephthah who fulfilled his vow by sacrificing his daughter (Juges 11:39), Saul had no intention of following through on his threat.
Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Lord, why have you not answered me today? Lord, God of Israel, answer me by the sacred stones. If the guilt is Jonathan’s or mine, answer by the Urim; but if it belongs to your people Israel, answer by the Thummim.”
Wow. Sacred stones, the Urim, the Thummim – another world. Help me to discern your will, Lord, and ever grow in that discernment (Romans 12:2).
Saul said to him, “May God strike me dead if you are not put to death!”
But the people… saved Jonathan from being put to death.
Saul had no respect for his word (Psalm 78:36-37). Of what value is a man without his word?