Fear seems to have been the one constant in Saul’s life. On the day he was to be anointed as king, he tried to hide himself among the baggage (10:22), perhaps hoping that the responsibility of the office would pass him by. Then, when the immense Philistine army gathered to attack him, he was so afraid that his own soldiers would scatter that he offered a sacrifice to God, even though the Law of Moses reserved that responsibility only for the Levitical priests (13:11-12).

And in today’s passage, we see the immense damage that is done when we try to lead others through fear. Yes, by making all his people swear not to eat anything until the battle was over, Saul was probably just trying to ensure that they would continue fighting until the battle was completely finished. But because his soldiers were afraid to eat anything, they quickly became exhausted, and thus unable to fight any more effectively than if they had stopped to enjoy some of their enemies’ spoils along the way (14:30). Worse yet, by the end of the day they were so famished that they were willing to satisfy their hunger with raw meat, thus violating the prohibition of the Law of God against eating blood (see Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:14). No, trying to motivate people through fear is usually counterproductive.

And Saul himself was so afraid of God, so afraid of the consequences of breaking even a rash and irrational oath, that he was even willing to kill his own son (14:39). Why would he go to such extremes? Because instead of trusting in God’s love and grace and mercy, Saul’s understanding of God seems to have been limited only to the fear of breaking God’s law. Yes, Saul knew all about fear.

And maybe you understand that kind of fear all too well. Maybe you’re focused on doing all the right things or avoiding all kinds of bad behavior because you’re afraid of God’s punishment. On the other hand, maybe you don’t want to follow Jesus because you’re so afraid of what people might think about you, or because you’re afraid of missing out on some of the things you imagine the world has to offer.

But why did the people stand up to Saul’s fears and deliver Jonathan from death? Because instead of cowering in fear either of his father or of the Philistines, Jonathan “worked with God this day” (14:45). And the good news is that once we see Jesus for Who He really is, once we get a glimpse of His love for us, accepting the gracious pardon He offers us at the cost of His own life, then we are free to follow and serve and obey Him not out of fear, but out of the gratitude and love that His sacrifice deserves. Such trust in Christ frees us to work with Him, doing what He wants and saying what He says because we want to.

So, will we continue living in fear today? Or will we put our faith in the One Who died to save even sinners like us?

I Samuel 14:24-46 (NASB)

24 Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
25 And all the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.
26 When the people entered the forest, behold, there was a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath; therefore, he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
28 Then one of the people answered and said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.'” And the people were weary.
29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.
30 “How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”
31 And they struck among the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very weary.
32 And the people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have acted treacherously; roll a great stone to me today.”
34 And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'” So all the people that night brought each one his ox with him, and slaughtered it there.
35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.
36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” So the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”
37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt Thou give them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him on that day.
38 And Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today.
39 “For as the LORD lives, who delivers Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not one of all the people answered him.
40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”
41 Therefore, Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.
42 And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!”
44 And Saul said, “May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great deliverance 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 rescued Jonathan and he did not die.
46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.