By praying when he should be pursuing and fasting while trying to fight, Saul is doing a great job of nullifying what could have been a great victory. When the restrictions on eating are lifted in the evening the hungry soldiers fall on the spoil to devour it, without regard to ceremonial requirements that blood be drained from meat (Leviticus

This is a great victory for Jonathan, and Saul through him. Israel have no weapons, so God uses Philistine weapons (verse 20). Deserters are emboldened to join the chase (verse 21). Cowardly hiders are inspired to join the rout (verse 22). Surely this is a great victory for Saul!Sadly, again Saul exposes his own limitations. In verses 17-19 he asks

We saw yesterday how these verses show us one man's faith and obedience leading him to take on the enemy of God's people. He is the champion, fighting to save his people and used by God to rout his enemy. But there's more to it than Jonathan simply being a model of faith for us to follow. This is a

Hope is gone. Saul, the king who was to deliver them, is doing nothing. He is outnumbered, out-equipped and outmanoeuvred. Saul gave way to fear when he saw the few fighters he had. Enter Jonathan, his son - verse 1. Jonathan is a man of faith. His statement in verse 6 is incredible. But it is simply based on who

Chapters 13-14 really form one big story. Having rejected God as king, his people have a king of their own choosing - Saul. Now we see the consequences of this.The situation they face is utterly dire. The enemy Philistine forces are huge: 30,000 chariots (like tanks), 6000 cavalry, and infantry like the sand at the beach. They have invaded deep

As we look back over this chapter, it has been pretty gloomy this week. We've focused on fears, folly, and the fallout. But there is hope here too. Saul and the people have done things their way, and it has and will lead to pain. But God will do things his way, and provide for them despite their folly -

In verses 11-12 Saul lists his excuses for having taken matters into his own hands: the people were scattering, Samuel hadn't come, the Philistines were mustering and threatening to attack, he had not sought God's blessing on his battle, and he forced himself to do it - he was a reluctant disobeyer! But Samuel cuts right through all the excuses

Faced with the incursion of a huge force into his territory and a frightened and fleeing people, new King Saul stands at a critical juncture. He is reluctant to engage the Philistines without "seeking the favour of the LORD" (verse 12) by offering sacrifices. He has been waiting for Samuel (verse 8), as told to in 10:8, which seems to

The newly crowned King Saul begins to develop a standing army of 3,000 chosen men, splitting them between himself and his son Jonathan. Jonathan defeats the Philistine outpost that was in Saul's own backyard of Gibeah (Geba in verse 3 is either an alternative spelling or a nearby area). Saul trumpets his victory (verse 3). He uses the word "Hebrews"

As we noted yesterday, the point of verse 1, though hard to translate and understand, is to signpost to us the beginning of a new era for Israel with Saul as their king. It should be bright and glorious. He is exactly what they asked for. He is a king like the nations (8:5) - tall, handsome, and from a