Speaking Before You Think

Background to passage: this comes immediately after Saul’s unlawful sacrifice that brought judgment upon him. He went to gather troops for the battle with other nations. Jonathan, Saul’s son, went solo and attacked and killed many in the Philistine camp. God can save by many or by a few. Then Saul swoops in, has a good battle, but then goes into a unwise and rash leadership crusade that didn’t bode well for him on a couple of levels.

1 Samuel 14:24–30 ESV

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. 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. 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.”

Opening illustration: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Less of a cliche’ and more of a maxim. I think that it’s so much more obvious in public personalities and figures

Main thought: This morning we will deal with anger and pride and receiving a dose of humility.

1) Caught up in anger and pride (v. 24, 39)

1 Samuel 14:24 ESV

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.

1 Samuel 14:39 ESV

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.

1) Caught up in anger and pride (v. 24, 39)

Explanation: the main two phrases that tip his hand are “my enemies” and “even it’s my son.” His attitude is gone from service to vengeance. His aim went from national to personal. His behavior went from hiding in the baggage room to commanding entire armies not to eat.

Argumentation:

Illustration: A Delta Airbus A350 operating Flight DL69 from Seattle to Taipei was forced to divert to Anchorage, Alaska, after a confrontation between a passenger and a flight attendant escalated mid-flight. According to reports and an FBI affidavit, the incident began a couple of hours after takeoff, following meal service. The passenger reportedly became upset during an interaction near the lavatory and accused the flight attendant of having an attitude. The disagreement intensified quickly. Authorities said the passenger used racial slurs, threatened violence, and at one point swung at the crew member.

Application: These two emotions, when we let them run their courses, are the antithesis of all that the Christian life is supposed to be. They are born in and thrive in the seedbed of self-centeredness. We all have certain things we become angry over. There are a few that would be considered righteous anger, but our reactions and actions toward them must be carefully weighed. However, most of our anger is ultimately because we don’t get what we want.

We say, “she made me so angry,” but the truth is you chose to be angry because of something she did or didn’t do. We do have a responsibility to control our emotions. That’s why we can be commanded to rejoice or to mourn or to not worry. Under the freedom from the bondage of sin, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, His sword, and the gospel, sins can be overcome.

And, news flash, this life is not about you. You and I are to act like it. We are here to worship and serve Christ and others. I can’t tell if dogs help with humility or create it. They think you are divine and they also think that they should have attention 100% of their waking hours.

2) Called out to reality (v. 29, 45-46)

1 Samuel 14:29 ESV

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.

1 Samuel 14:45–46 ESV

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.

2) Called out to reality (v. 29, 45-46)

Explanation: Twice he was called out from his words and action. Once was by his own son (sometimes your family is the only one who loves you enough to call you out). Interesting word choice with “trouble” Israel. This has to bring their minds back to Achan, the troubler of Israel. Later even the people called him out when he decided to follow through with his threat to kill any who eat before the battle, when it was Jonathan who had just won a great victory.

Argumentation:

Illustration:

Application: Well, that’s embarrassing. That’s what we say when we are called out, if we are still focused on self. If as believers in Christ, and commitment to other believers in the church we should welcome being confronted with our sin, and see it as our responsibility to lovingly and helpfully confront others in their sin for a rescue.

If we view it that way, we see our pride, fall, anger, and subsequent action as an opportunity to put on display God’s grace in repentance, asking for forgiveness, granting forgiveness, finding a way to demonstrate his holiness and his mercy in the gospel. If sin is confronted and true repentance follows, we grow in Christlikeness as we hate sin and bring it to the light.

We don’t know if Saul actually received the correction or he realized that he could not buck the entirety of the nation, and left to the next task rather defeated.

Closing illustration: Being called out privately for something I had done in a group. It was fueled by frustration, probably anger, and pride. I hope that I responded well, and desire truly not to put either one of these individuals in that position again, but I also hope to better live my life under the power of the Spirit not to commit that

Recap