One Year Bible Commentary and Readings for Friday, May 13th
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In chapter 14, we see Saul leading the Israelites to many victories. Saul seems to be more obedient to the Lord and less compulsive in his decision making. How?
1. He included and confidened in Ahijah, the priest, wherever he went.
2. Though the men were hungry from fighting the Philistines all day, he rebuked them when they ate from animals before draining the blood out of them. So the troops brought the animals and drained the blood out of them before giving them to Saul as a sacrifice. Then the text says, "Saul offered the first of many sacrifices."
3. When Saul excitedly said, "Let's go now and pursue and destroy every last Philistine", Abijah checked his enthusiasm by saying, "Let us ask God first!" Saul listened to Abijah and asked God if they should attack again. When the Lord did not reply Saul knew something was wrong, so he called all of his army commanders to come to him. He wanted to find out who had committed the sin and when he found out he committed to kill that person even if it was his son, Jonathan.
When he has cast lots they came to him and Jonathan. The final lot showed it was Jonathan who was the guilty party. As he had committed by oath, he went to kill his son, but the people intervened and talked him out of it. They reasoned that Jonathan bravely fought in this battle, so why would he do this to him. Saul listened to them.
Apparently God was happy with this act of obedience because Saul and his army continued to defeat all of the Canaanite nations. The text says, "Wherever Saul turned he was victorius".
Other commentators say Saul was still foolish and rash in the vows he made regarding Jonathan. I can see the logic in that, especially since the oath he made the soldiers take was pretty harsh considering the condition they were in. Yet, I do see in Saul a greater level dependence on the Lord for the reasons listed above. In the end Jonathan was shown mercy probably because Jonathan didn't even know about the oath when he ate some honey. In faith he went into battle trusting the Lord for victory, which the Lord gave him.
Saul is a great example of someone who learned from his mistakes. Most importantly he learned to wait on the Lord and take advice from others, especially the priest Ahijah, whom God had anointed. He was even ready to kill his son to honor the oath he had made, but God had mercy on him. as he instructed the Israelites to stop Saul from doing this!
Click Here to Read John 7:31-53
As we move along in chapter 7, we continue to see two types of reactions from the Jewish people. Many of Jewish people believe in him and longed to see more signs from him. They were genuinely wondering if he was the Messiah. The Pharisees are increasingly threatened by him and begin to plot how to get rid of him. Also, though they should have been well versed in the prophesies relating to the Messiah, they completely missed the point when Jesus said things of a prophetic nature concerning himself.
When Jesus said he was returning to be with his Father, somehow they interpreted it to mean he was going to go to another country, perhaps even to the Greeks. They did not understand that Jesus came from heaven and was going back to heaven.
Jesus Promises Living Water
Jesus had already used the metaphor of bread saying he was the "bread of life". Now he is going to use the metaphor of water. He says that anyone who believes in him rivers of living water will flow through them.
There is an important connection in what he is saying here and the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Feast of Tabernacles lasted eight days. All through the first seven days water from the Pool of Siloam was carried in a golden pitcher and poured out at the altar to remind everyone of the water God miraculously provided for a thirsty Israel in the wilderness. It seems that on the eighth day there was no pouring of water – only prayers for water – to remind them that they came into the Promised Land.
The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles emphasized how God provided water to Israel in the wilderness on their way to Canaan. Jesus boldly called people to Himself to drink and satisfy their deepest thirst, their spiritual thirst. - Guzik
In parentheses we are told that Jesus is referring to the Holy Spirit, who would not be poured on the disciples until Pentecost. When we say, "pour out Your Spirit Lord", it is an allusion to this text.
What kind of water is flowing out of you today? If you believe in Jesus the Holy Spirit lives in you! When we are abiding in Christ, the Spirit of Christ flows through us to the people around us. We can only exude the joy and love and peace of Christ when we are living in reliance on the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Every day we should pray, "Come Holy Spirit and pour out your power and love in and through my life!"
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