1 Samuel 14:31-35

³¹ That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. ³² They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood. ³³ Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.” “You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”

³⁴ Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.’” So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. ³⁵ Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.

Celebration Fail

Everyone has a weakness or vulnerability. Vulnerability can be exposed during celebration. Victory is really great. No doubt about that. Yet, videos show people put themselves at risk or in danger when celebrating their victory.

Not everyone can properly handle victory. People do crazy activities during celebration party and end up in the hospital. Victory can’t make one think wisely. Celebration is a trap of carelessness. In addition, before competitions end, when some players celebrate too early, they lost. Victory can’t make them smarter!

It says in Ecclesiastes 7:2-4, ² It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. ³ Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. ⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

Can you readily accept this truth without reservation? Celebration is great. So, why choose mourning? The Wisdom of Solomon was given by the Lord. The Lord blessed him to write godly Words of wisdom. Words of wisdom written by Solomon can only be understood and applied properly with the help of God.

Warning: Anyone can be vulnerable during celebration. It happened after the Israelites defeated the Philistines. After the battle, they were tired and weary.

1. Weary

³¹ That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. ³² They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.

It was tough victory for Israel! Mikmash was about 15 kilometers north of Jerusalem. Aijalon was about 30 kilometers west of Mikmash. Imagine: They fought up and down the hills for 30 kilometers with empty stomach? They were hungry, weary and tired, why? King Saul warned them not to eat or be cursed.

Well, they’re victorious. So, they ate their plunder together with the blood. What they did was a violation against the commandment of the Lord.

It says in Leviticus 3:17, This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.

The Israelites were scared of the curse of King Saul so that they did not eat before their victory. But, celebration of victory caused them forget the Lord’s commandment. It says that it’s a lasting ordinance for the generation to come. So, the generation of King Saul was not exempted from this commandment.  It’s been observed that it’s not wise to buy groceries with empty stomach.

Have you noticed all food looks delicious when you go to grocery store hungry?

Don’t go to stores when hungry. Hunger can cause you not to think very wisely.

In Genesis 25:27-32, ²⁷ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. ²⁸ Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. ²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) ³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” ³² “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

Was it hunger that trapped Esau to decide foolishly? He was favored by Isaac. He was skilled hunter. So, it was possible that he came home with a wild game to show off to his father, but he was hungry. As favorite son of Isaac, Esau may have felt superior over his brother Jacob, not just because he was favorite son he also regularly brought home a wild game, and he became arrogant.

His confidence in his stature as skilled hunter and favorite son of his father made him ignore his birth right. Observers may suggest that the reason of Esau’s behavior when he ignored his birth right was because the Lord loved Jacob, and He hated Esau. Believers should know God’s decision is right? God is righteous. Whatever He does is righteous. It is by faith we believe and obey, not question.

It says in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, ¹³Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. ¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

The Lord’s command not to eat meat with blood in it, there’s no stipulation that would exclude those who are hungry. After victory, the Israelites violated it. Did God allow them to be very hungry to expose their disobedience to Him?

Many times God situates us in a very difficult situation to expose our faith in Him, whether we trust or still doubt Him. It’s a warning for all of us.

2. Warning

³³ Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.” “You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” ³⁴ Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.’” So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. ³⁵ Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.

Saul was selective of what command of the Lord he wanted to obey. The command of the Lord not to eat meat that has blood in it was given through Moses. Maybe, Israelites considers the commandments that the Lord gave to Moses as commands greater than commands given to prophets like Samuel.

Aren’t we guilty of such attitude? We obey instructions of those we respect. We should prayerfully consider if God is talking to us, when we hear God’s word.

It narrated in Matthew 21:23-27, ²³ Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” ²⁴ Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ²⁵ John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Lord Jesus could have just answered those who asked Him, but why did He not give them answers? Christ implies that He is the authority. He was not bound by human authority to answer their questions not related to His mission.

The Lord’s mission was to bring salvation to those who seek Him and not to entertain questions of doubters. He knew that they won’t believe Him anyway.

Many problems had been experienced inside the church when leaders try to solve problems caused by oppositions. There will always be objections and oppositions to the work of the Lord. Some would even pretend or disguise as spiritual needs. We need to be prayerful for our church leaders. May the Lord give them wisdom and revelation of what should be prioritized in the church.

King Saul and his men were victorious. They defeated their enemies. It’s proper for them to celebrate and eat their plunder. But eating meat with its blood, hunger caused them to ignore that it was not acceptable to the Lord.

The Lord defines what is right in His eyes no matter what circumstances we may have, hungry, victorious, or just ordinary moment. So, be prayerful!

It says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Should we rejoice only during victory? It says rejoice always! So, when we lose, we also rejoice. We rejoice when we are satisfied. We rejoice when hungry. No situation should cause when we should rejoice. Well, good and bad situations expose us if we doubt or trust the Lord. By God’s grace we can rejoice. Amen!

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