Psalm 137, 144; 1 Samuel 14:16-30; Acts 9:10-19a; Luke 23:32-43
As Saul hears of the flight and confusion of the Philistines he first commands that the ark be brought forward, perhaps out of superstitious belief that the presence of the ark would bring them victory and then decides to move forward without the ark. He gave a foolish command and oath concerning the eating of food during the day of the battle. Why would he command his army to fast in the midst of strenuous exertion of battle? Remember that the Israelites were not well-armed, they were forbidden to have swords and spears, so the victory here as with Joshua at Jericho and Gideon, was against all odds and clearly pointed to the work of the Lord on behalf of His people. Jonathan, having not heard his father’s oath, ate of the honey they found and his vitality was restored. He speaks words here against his father and the folly of the oath, he had put the people at great risk. Jonathan is proving to be more a man of God than his father.
I believe that the temptations offered to Jesus here by the rulers, soldiers and criminals must have been greater than the physical pain. All the taunts hurled at Him in this hour of physical weakness must have roused inside Him the desire to do as they ask, prove Himself. Why does He not tell them what is happening here? Why not tell them that this must be but that in three days He will rise from the dead, all they have to do is wait at the tomb? He has already said these things must happen but He said it to those who were His disciples. Faith is always the key, we must believe by faith and not by sight and faith itself is a gift from the Lord. No one sees the truth in the situation. In the midst of this suffering and humiliation, Jesus prays for His tormentors that they be forgiven because they don’t know what they’re doing, they haven’t recognized Him so they truly don’t know how terrible this moment is, not for Him, but for them. The rulers, like Saul, have been foolish and have exposed the entire nation to God’s judgment in their own folly.
What a joy it must have been when Ananais heard the Lord calling his name. His answer is in line with all who have heard that voice, “Here am I, Lord.” What he heard next must have caused him to doubt he was hearing from the Lord after all. He is told to go and find Saul from Tarsus, the one who has been persecuting the church and who has papers from the high priest allowing him to arrest all those who believe in Jesus as Messiah and bring them bound to Jerusalem. Not surprisingly, Ananais balks at this command yet he is told again to go but is told that Saul has been chosen by God as an apostle so Ananais, probably with great doubt and trepidation, obeys the voice and is likely greatly surprised at the result. Something remarkable has happened to Saul, something only an encounter with Jesus could have done. Saul knows the forgiveness Jesus prayed for on the cross, he honestly didn’t know what he was doing before this encounter where Jesus revealed Himself to him.
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
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