Day 1099: A ransomed life- 1 Samuel 14 vs 36 - 48

36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul enquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. 38-39 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.

40-41 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

42-44 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken. Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die.

46-48 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. 1 Samuel 14:36-48 English Standard Version

Saul was eager to destroy the Philistines from the land and the people were happy for him to take the lead. But in stepped the priest who said “Let us draw near to God here.” It’s always good and wise to seek God first before we undertake any task. So Saul did that, and God gave no answer. Which led to Saul's challenge to find out whose fault it was. And, once again, he was rash with his words, saying “as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.”

And so he asks God to show by means of Urim and Thummin who was to blame. 'Got Questions' says on it's website that Urim (lights) and Thummim (perfections) were gemstones carried by the high priest of Israel, and used by him to determine God’s will in some situations. As the Bible doesn't give enough information, no one knows today the precise nature of them, or exactly how they were used. But they were clearly effective, and Jonathan and Saul were indicated.

After the next question to the Lord, Jonathan was singled out. At this stage Saul determines that Jonathan, who'd confessed to the crime, must die. The marvellous thing is that Jonathan was willing to take the full penalty. But the people who up till then had said Saul should do 'whatever seems good to you', intervened. They said, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” And they ransomed the life of Jonathan.

We're not told how this was done, whether by their words, or by some other means. But the result was that Jonathan did not die. How grateful we should be that we were also ransomed, and that not with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:18-19) Our sins cried out for our death – but our Saviour paid the price.