The Heart of a Fool

A. Rapport for the time

As you sit here this morning do you feel under qualified for the kingdom of God? It’s OK! This is a safe place you can admit it to yourself and to the Lord. How under qualified we feel as believers that walk by faith. But at the same exact time a failure to understand the depth of the power of God in what he did for us in Christ will leave us in our hopelessness instead of his powerful hands.

B. Reading of the text

Will have to be read as you go..to long

C. Review of the text

Introduced to Jonathon and then we were able to see in the first 15 verses of chapter 14 the amazing faith of Jonathan.

D. Relevance of the text

My prayer this morning for our hearts is that we would be reminded of what a life that is useful to God’s kingdom looks like by not following the example laid out by Saul in today’s passage because it is foolishness.

I. Saving grace of God vs. Vengeance

1 Samuel 14:15–18 ESV

15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic. 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there. 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel.

vs. 18—bring the Ark. We had seen the Israelites use the Ark to go into battle before when they were living however they like but wanted to make sure they were still God’s chosen people. As if God could be fooled by them. That battle did not go well and they lost the ark.

1 Samuel 14:19–22 ESV

19 Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle.

1 Samuel 14:23–24 ESV

23 So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven. 24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food.

vs. 23—THE LORD SAVED Israel that day

Jonathan saved Israel that day? Saul saved Israel that day? THE LORD saved Israel that day.

“No disobedient leader could hold the Lord back from protecting his own name.”

Sovereignty of God—God’s ability to accomplish his will in spite of sinful man.

Amazing he would save any of us to live according to his will don’t you think? A useful life in the Kingdom of God.

vs. 24—Saul—Oath—until I am avenged of my enemies..

This is about Saul as if he is Israel. Does that thought scare you as much as it does me before God?

T.S. The foolishness of the vow would ultimately lead Israel to sin.

II. Foolishness leading to Sin

1 Samuel 14:25–26 ESV

25 Now when all the people came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

1 Samuel 14:31–35 ESV

31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. 32 The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.” 34 And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’ ” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

vs. 32 this is violation of God’s law

Genesis 9:4–5 ESV

4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.

Leviticus 7:26 ESV

26 Moreover, you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwelling places.

Leviticus 17:14 ESV

14 For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.

Deuteronomy 12:23–24 ESV

23 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the earth like water.

III. Vow leading to death

1 Samuel 14:27–30 ESV

27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”

1 Samuel 14:36–43 ESV

36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.”

1 Samuel 14:44–46 ESV

44 And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul is going to put his son to death. This Saul is the same guy who not to long ago understood the sin of the blood is now willing to spill his own sons blood to save this vow that he made. This may be one of the definitions of foolishness.

Jonathon had broken the Oath that his father made but unintentionally since he did not even know about the oath. In the Mosaic law this meant that he would have been required to make a trespass offering not give his life. This entire event is about Saul from beginning to end. He desires to look good in front of others not follow the Lord.

IV. Saul’s Kingdom would not last

1 Samuel 14:47–52 ESV

47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. 48 And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. 49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was 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 commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.

Foolishness of Saul— Saul wanted to remain king and look the part of following God—but he lacked the ability in his own power

—should sound familiar

—you are desperate for the Lord’s saving grace no matter how long you have been saved.

Jesus saved us from our foolishness..We don’t have to live a foolish life because we have been saved to be more in the Kingdom of God.