Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 14:24-35.
“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. All the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 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. 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. Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were weary. Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 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.”
They struck among the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very weary. 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. 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.” 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. And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.” 1 Samuel 14:24-35.
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“He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23.
Saul troubled his people by putting the people under an oath. “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.” Verse 24.
The people became weary and were not able to fight against their enemies, the Philistines, as well as they could have fought if they ate.
“… And the people were very weary. 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. Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” Verses 31-33.
Saul’s own son, Jonathan, said, “My father has troubled the land.” Verse 29.
The lesson from today’s Scripture is that our words can cause trouble. Moreover, our words can cause more trouble than we think they possibly can.
Saul’s words caused more trouble than just causing the people to be weary and less effective in their fight against the Philistines; Saul’s words caused the people to sin against the LORD. Later we will read that Saul’s words even endangered the life of his own son Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14:43-45.
“See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6.
But, there is hope!
Specifically, one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control. Galatians 5:22-23.
More generally, by the Spirit, we can put to death the deeds of the body. Romans 8:13.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16.
“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 