May 13- I Need Some Food

May 13, 2011

Scripture Readings:
I Samuel 14:1-52; John 7:31-53;
Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7

I am not a glutton- I am an explorer of food.  
~Erma Bombeck

I Samuel 14:1-52

Some exercise and fitness experts say that your metabolism is like a fire.  When you start eating during the day, it is like you have lit a fire in your metabolism.  In order to keep the fire burning hot, you need to eat small meals throughout the day.  The small meals are like kindling on a fire.  As you eat the small meals, your metabolism burns the meals quickly and the fire is kept burning hot. If you eat a large lunch, it is like putting a large log on the fire.  It actually slows down the heating process because it is hard to burn through the large log.  You will supposedly lose weight if you eat smaller, lighter meals that are easier to digest and metabolize.  My husband experimented with this and lost 45 lbs.  Today, we see Saul make a stupid and prideful oath about food that affects his army negatively.

As the story begins, Jonathan, Saul's godly son, goes over to the Philistine camp to see if the Lord will help Israel defeat the pagan enemy.  Jonathan's presence does incite panic from the Lord over the Philistine camp and they begin fighting themselves in confusion.  You see the Lord use this technique against Israel's enemies many times in Scripture.  Saul sees the confusion from a far and rushes with his troops to the site.  Saul had taken an idiotic oath earlier in the day that no one could eat anything until his enemies were defeated.  Obviously, this causes his soldiers to be faint and weary. 

Jonathan is unaware of the oath and eats some honey he finds in the path.  After the battle, Saul's half-starved soldiers begin ripping into the plundered cattle and eating it raw.  This is forbidden in Mosaic law, so Saul gets angry.  Saul wants to continue to chase the Philistines, but everyone wants to consult the priests to find out from God if this is a good idea.  God's silence indicates that someone has sinned.

Eventually, Jonathan confesses that he ate honey and has broken his father's foolish oath.  Jonathan's actions in feeding himself in order to stay strong for battle are wise. He was unaware of his father's foolish oath. Saul, revealing his horrible character, prepares to kill his own son over this.  The soldiers remind him that Jonathan saved them from the Philistines that day and they do not allow Saul to kill Jonathan.

Saul is an example of rash, prideful behavior.  This will eventually be his downfall.  God has blessed Saul with a godly son.  Jonathan is an example of measured, humble behavior. We will see conflict between these two men as their differences increase.

Saul wanted to starve his men and feed his pride.  Do you feed your pride each day?  Do you starve yourself spiritually by not turning to God for sustenance? Or do you feed on God's Word and find strength for the battle?

John 7:31-53

Jesus is at the Temple during the Feast of Shelters and many are believing in him as he teaches.  The Jewish leaders are puzzled.  Jesus is stating that where he is going they cannot come. Towards the end of the Festival, Jesus shouts to the crowds that if they are thirsty he will give them living water that will flow from within.  He is speaking about the Holy Spirit.

Some people believe he is the Messiah, but there is dispute among them because they know that the Scripture are clear that the Messiah will come out of the city of Bethlehem of David.  People think that Jesus was born in Galilee because he grew up there.  The religious leaders contemplate this and say that no prophet is supposed to come out of Galilee. This was an obstacle that some could not overcome.

What obstacles get in your way of believing that Jesus is the Messiah?  Do you have the living water that flows from within inside of you?

Psalm 109:1-31

Although this psalm is written by David, read the words as if you are Jesus in the Temple during the Feast of Shelters.

Proverbs 15:5-7

Fools despise their parents' discipline.  Taking correction is a wise thing to do.

What did you notice today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal

Kathy Fullerton
© 2011