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StoneCreek

April 15, 2012

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The Philistines are defeated by the Lord.

Thanks to Jonathan's faith and obedience.

Jonathan ate, not knowing Saul's command not to

eat.

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36a And Saul said, Let us go down after the Phil-istines 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.

That was the only answer the people typically gave to the king.

It was not an enthusiastic answer, given because they

loved Saul.Saul was a harsh ruler, and they obeyed him because they had to.

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36b 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.

What do you do when God

doesn't answer?

Wait on God.

Saul had not even thought to pray.

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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.

Somebody sinned.But had they sinned against

God?

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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.

Jonathan was the hero of the day.

He didn't believe he had sinned.

The army certainly wouldn't rat him out.

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40 Then said (Saul) 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.

Saul had been doing nothing, until Jonathan obeyed the Lord and

routed the enemy.

Then Saul jumped in to ride the glory train.

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Now Saul is looking for the man who ate against his orders -- to kill him.

Understand: the fast that King Saul commanded was not a fast unto God.

God had not directed a fast.

The fast was Saul's idea, and it was not a good idea.

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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 Jon-athan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jon-athan, 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.

Had God said, "Don't eat."?

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Jonathan didn't try to avoid the punishment.He had clearly placed his life in God's Hand.

He climbed a bluff to engage the Philistines.

Not one or a few, but multitudes.

If Saul now took Jonathan's life,

He had already offered it in the beginning.

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44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

Saul was awfully quick to condemn Jonathan to death, and I have to wonder why.

Perhaps jealousy?We know that he was later jealous of David,

when people were singing David's praises.

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If God turns away our prayer, we have reason to suspect it is for some sin harbored in our hearts, which we should find out, that we may put it away, and put it to death. We should always first suspect and examine ourselves; but an unhumbled heart suspects every other person, and looks everywhere but at home for the sinful cause of calamity. Jonathan was discovered to be the offender. Those most indulgent to their own sins are most severe upon others; those who most disregard God's authority, are most impatient when their own commands are slighted.

Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.

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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.

The people stood together to defend and protect Jonathan,

The true hero that day.

HERO OF FAITH

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The army had not stood against the king on any other orders; why now?

Hand of God Saul was living outside the Will of God.

Samuel had already pronounced him a

failure as king of Israel.

1 Samuel 13 [Samuel told Saul] 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

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46 Then Saul went up from following the Philis-tines: 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.

A time of taking the war to the enemies of Israel.

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48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amale-kites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

Saul enjoyed little or no time of peace during his reign over Israel.

He became an arrogant and rebellious king, and the only blessing of God he enjoyed was

victory in battles.

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49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: 50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. 51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

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52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

God had warned the nation that a king would take their sons for war and their daughters as servants.

God's Word is always fulfilled.

It will always happenJust as God says.