A Contrast in Oaths
King Saul began well but ended poorly. In 1 Samuel 14, we have recorded the account of Jonathan – King Saul’s son – winning a victory over the Philistines. In Saul’s battle, things were not going so well. In fear, Saul put the people under an oath – “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies” (vs 24).
Observe these matters. First, Saul put the people under an oath, not himself. Second, it was a foolish oath since the men were in battle and would need nourishment. Third, Saul’s focus was on himself – “until I have avenged myself…” God’s glory or honor is not in view at all.
To his credit, Saul did restrain the people from eating the meat with its blood (vs 34) and Saul built an altar to the Lord (vs 35). This was his first altar. Despite these external appearances of obedience, Saul’s heart did not follow God. That is the reason God did not answer Saul when he prayed that day (vs 37).
Rather than reflecting on himself, Saul made a further oath: “As the Lord lives, who delivers Israel, though it is in Jonathan [the reason God was not answering Saul’s prayer], he shall surely die” (vs 39). Still, no self reflection at all. Finally, it was determined that Jonathan is the one who had previously eaten (honey), violating his dad’s oath (which he knew nothing about). Saul foolishly charged his son: “you shall surely die, Jonathan” (vs 44). But the people stepped in and saved Jonathan from the foolishness of his father.
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Because Abner had earlier killed Joab’s brother, Asahel, Joab had the opportunity to kill Abner and took it. David is trying to build up God’s kingdom and unite the people of Israel so he has been bending over backward to reach out to Saul’s clan and supporters.
In light of Abner’s murder, David commands a national state of mourning, complete with sackcloth. King David, himself, wept over Abner’s death and wrote a psalm of lament. He also fasted. His people tried to get David to eat but in that state, David makes an oath: “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down” (3:35). Observe David’s oath. He called on God to punish him (not the people, as in Saul’s oath) if he ate anything.
The major difference between Saul and David was in their heart. Saul was self-centered. David was other-centered. David truly cared about his people. 2 Samuel 3:26 says, “Now all the people took note of it [David’s oath], and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased all the people.”
Are you fundamentally self-centered or other-centered?
–Paul Holland
