Way back in the day King Saul made an impulsive decision. He ordered his men not to eat anything until evening, and until his enemy was defeated. He told them if they did eat, they’d be executed.  Healthy people know that lack of food means lack of energy and lack of energy means work won’t be accomplished in the best way possible. In this case, lack of food resulting in lack of energy could mean death to the men of Saul’s army.

 Of course they were distressed!! But they obeyed anyway.  

Saul’s son, Jonathan, showed up on the scene.  He had not heard his father’s order. He was hungry. He ate some honey and felt great after that. One of his men broke the news to him that his father vowed to put to death anyone who ate before the enemy was defeated.

Jonathan’s response to that went something like this: ”What?! Is my father crazy? I feel great after eating this honey. If he’d have allowed you all to eat you would have done better in defeating the enemy! My father really messed up!” Jonathan encouraged Saul’s men to eat. 

Saul got mad when he found out about it and told the men they were sinning against God. It’s interesting that he brought God into the picture when it was his decision that the men obey him and not eat. God gave no such rule!  

To make a long story short, when Saul confronted Jonathan about eating the honey, Jonathan was honest, said, ”Yep I did that and deserve to die.”

Jonathon’s King and his father proceeded to tell him that he was a dead man.   And, again, Saul brought God into the picture as if God validated what Saul was planning on doing. 

Saul makes a rule, won’t change it to protect his men from the possibility of being slaughtered and then is actually willing to kill his son for breaking it! Wow! How sick is that?   And then Saul has the audacity to spiritually mess with them in order to gain total control.  A father and a king chose to follow a rule he impulsively made over and above the relationships he had with the men of his army and his own son!

Check this out: Jonathan’s men stepped up to the plate and told Saul, ” As the Lord lives not one hair of Jonathon’s head will fall to the ground for he has worked with God this day. ” So the people rescued Jonathon and he did not die.  

(See 1 Samuel, chapter 24 for more details)

WHAT DOES THIS OLD TESTAMENT ACCOUNT HAVE TO DO WITH  LIFE NOW?   I believe rules are made to be broken for the sake of health and relationships if need be! God broke His own rules often; God’s pretty flexible when he makes rules. How many people do you know who are not?  What about you?

How are you doing with rules you’ve made? Do they need to be flexed? Are your rules – as a parent, pastor, teacher, friend - a threat to your own or someone else’s emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual well-being?  Are you willing to stand with those who are harassed by unjust rules like Jonathan stood with his men and as they stood with him?

Rules and vows that people may consider breaking:

1.  I HAVE TO drink today.
2.  I HAVE TO go back there.
3.  I HAVE TO work 80 hours this week.
4.  I HAVE TO  . . . .

Obstacles in the way of breaking rules and vows? 

1. Change
2. Fear
3. Loss
4. And . . .

Some rules and vows NEED to be broken in order to self and/or other protect. Even the ones we make!

I hope to get feedback.  What I write is a springboard for further discussion!

Pamela J. Merten MS, LPC