What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 14:17? Saul said to the troops who were with him • Saul is surrounded by a shrinking, fearful army (1 Samuel 13:6–7). • His leadership is reactive; he waits for reports rather than seeking God’s guidance, a contrast to Jonathan’s earlier faith-filled initiative (1 Samuel 14:6). • Psalm 20:7 reminds us that some trust in chariots and horses; Saul leans on human assessment instead of divine direction. Call the roll and see who has left us • Taking attendance was common for accountability (Numbers 1:2; Joshua 7:14). • Saul hopes to explain the Philistine confusion (1 Samuel 14:15–16) by locating the source within his ranks. • Proverbs 27:23 urges knowing the state of one’s flocks; Saul applies a military version of that wisdom, yet without first seeking the Lord (contrast 1 Samuel 14:36–37). When they had called the roll • Obedient soldiers act promptly, showing military discipline even under pressure (2 Samuel 24:2–4). • The orderly roll call underscores that God is never the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), even when men are. They saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there • Jonathan’s absence reveals God’s hidden work: two faithful men have already routed the enemy (1 Samuel 14:13–14). • Zechariah 4:6—“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit”—is illustrated as the Lord uses a pair rather than an army. • The loyalty of the armor-bearer (1 Samuel 14:7) models Ecclesiastes 4:9–10; two truly are better than one in God’s service. • Saul’s delayed discovery highlights the difference between title and trust. Jonathan trusted the Lord; Saul trusted procedure. summary 1 Samuel 14:17 shows Saul relying on human methods to solve a divine mystery, while God is already acting through Jonathan’s daring faith. The verse contrasts reactive leadership with proactive trust, underscoring that the Lord can achieve great victories through a few who believe Him literally and act courageously. |
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