What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 14:35? Then – The word “Then” signals a response to the frantic events of the day: Jonathan’s daring attack (1 Samuel 14:1–14), the sudden panic in the Philistine camp (14:15), and Saul’s hasty oath that no one eat until evening (14:24). – Scripture often places pivotal spiritual decisions right after moments of crisis or victory—think of Noah’s altar after the flood (Genesis 8:20) or Moses’ altar after the Amalekite battle (Exodus 17:15). – The timing reminds us that worship should follow every deliverance; it keeps self-congratulation in check and redirects honor to God (Psalm 115:1). Saul built an altar – Building an altar was an act of public worship and covenant acknowledgment, much like Abram at Shechem (Genesis 12:7) or Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 35:7). – For a king, the gesture meant more than personal devotion; it modeled national dependence on the LORD (Deuteronomy 27:5–7). – Saul’s hands had just kept people from eating; now they turn to build. The contrast exposes his earlier misstep and hints at repentance (1 Samuel 14:24, 33). to the LORD – The phrase clarifies the altar’s purpose: exclusive devotion to Yahweh, not to any pagan deity (Exodus 20:24–26). – Earlier, Saul’s spiritual focus had wavered—consulting the priest but quickly stopping him (1 Samuel 14:18–19). Here, the altar sets his attention squarely on the covenant God. – The text underscores that true worship is God-directed, not king-centered (Psalm 29:2; Isaiah 42:8). it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD – Although anointed years earlier (1 Samuel 10:1), Saul had never erected an altar until now. The delay highlights a pattern: he often acted militarily before acting spiritually (1 Samuel 13:7–12). – Compare Jonathan, who regularly invoked the LORD’s name in faith (14:6). Saul’s late start underscores the spiritual gap between father and son. – The note also foreshadows Saul’s later failures; sporadic worship can signal inconsistent obedience (1 Samuel 15:22–23; Hosea 6:4). – Yet God allows new beginnings. Even a tardy altar can become a turning point, just as Manasseh’s late repentance was accepted (2 Chronicles 33:12–13). summary 1 Samuel 14:35 captures a rare high moment for Saul: after a chaotic battle and a rash oath, he finally pauses to honor God. The sequence teaches that worship must follow deliverance, that leadership includes modeling reliance on the LORD, and that it is never too late to start building altars of obedience—even if earlier steps were missed. |
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