Saul wanted to do well as king, but he kept getting it not quite right. Samuel had said that he would come to where the army was encamped, to offer sacrifices to entreat the Lord’s favor prior to the battle; but Samuel was late, and so Saul went ahead and offered the sacrifices himself (I Samuel 13:8-9). And then, of course, Samuel arrived, and Saul had to try to explain why his disobedience was really a good thing: “When I saw that the people were slipping away from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines were mustering at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of the Lord;’ so I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering” (13:11-12).

Samuel was not pleased. His words to Saul were severe: “You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God,which he commanded you. The Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom will not continue … ” (13:13-14).

On the day of the battle, Saul tried again to establish God’s support by insisting that everyone would fast throughout the day (14:24). His son Jonathan had not been present when Saul issued this order, however, as he was scouting the enemy lines (14:1), and then saw the opportunity to begin the battle, confident that God would give them the victory. So it proved to be: but throughout the battle and the pursuit, none of the soldiers ate, and they were soon worn out. When Jonathan ate a bit of wild honey, it restored his energy and brightened his eyes (14:25-27). Soon this became known to Saul, and he ruled that Jonathan would have to die (14:43-44). But the soldiers knew that that was wrong, and they protested strongly: “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground; for he has worked with God today” (14:45).

Saul wanted to win the battle, of course. He saw that he needed God’s blessing, in order to do so. He probably didn’t think of his efforts as trying to manipulate or force God to grant him the victory, by demonstrating his devotion, and that of his soldiers: but that’s what he was doing. And it appears that he would have executed his own son Jonathan, just to prove he was right: even though Jonathan’s courage and faithfulness had brought on the victory.

* * * * *

Ah, Sovereign Lord! You are the one who rules over all our battles and all our circumstances, but we keep trying to come up with some way to make sure you are on our side, and must do our bidding. Teach us, instead, to set ourselves on your side, to do your bidding: in the confidence that whether we live or die, we belong to you.