Rash I-ness

1 Samuel 14:24 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 14:27-30 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.”

I am amazed at my own propensity to focus on myself instead of God, even after He has brought me a long, long way. There are many times when God's word unveils my weaknesses, and the story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 14 fits that bill. I know there have been many times in my life in which my hard headed sternness reacts to non-positive stimulation with a thunderous "I will show you so" attitude. I have acted quickly and foolishly as I have focused on myself only. Doesn't really mirror the model of Christ, does it? As I have grown in my faith, and older in age, these battles of self avenging take place more in my thought life than reacting negatively back to others, and I praise God for that grace, but I wish I could move past it all together. I hope that I will just stop worrying about me and give all of my efforts to Christ.

Look at what Saul did. He spoke an unnecessary curse on His own people because his focus was on himself and not God. He says in verse 24 "until I am avenged". The result? His own son Jonathan falls under that curse in ignorance of its establishment. Saul's hasty, senseless, self-glorifying curse comes back to bite him, as it falls upon the head of his beloved son Jonathan. It is pretty easy to see from this lesson that quick actions aimed at saving my image,at the expense of the Work of God in me, is a huge sin.


The ultimate result of every decision that we make in pride trying to preserve ourselves will have a two fold detriment to us. The first is that it will push us away from God, as we are designed to give Him glory not ourselves. When we operate outside of His design for us it is sin, and becomes a barrier to walking with Him. Secondly, our pride will always come back to bite us in this world as well. People who walk with arrogance often times have temporary positions of power, but that fades away just like it did with Saul in the next chapter in 15:26 :"You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being King over Israel".

Thank God that he forgives and re-shapes us through repentance. If you have been a result of me defending myself instead of God, I truly beg yoru forgiveness. If pride is in the driver seat of your life, it may be a good time to read what happens at the end of Saul's life. A little hint: It ain't good.