1 Samuel 14:18-19

Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God." (At that time it was with the Israelites.)  While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

First Samuel chapter fourteen is about when King Saul’s son, Jonathan, follows the impulse of the Holy Spirit and is used mightily by the Lord to break an apparent stale-mate between the Israelites and the Philistines.  Because of Jonathan’s faith and action, the Lord threw the Philistine army into confusion so that they began slaughtering themselves.  

The passage struck me because King Saul seemed completely oblivious to God’s will.  When he finally realized that the Philistines were being defeated, he called a priest to seek direction for him.  As the priest began to seek the Lord, Saul cut him off, didn’t wait for an answer, and joined the fray.  Perhaps to save time, Saul forbid his men to eat all day in the midst of fierce battle, and then after the battle ended, vowed to kill Jonathan because he had eaten!  The entire passage is incredulous because of Saul’s inept spiritual condition.  

It is critical that we remain in communion with the Lord, so that when the Holy Spirit moves we can immediately join in without hindrance to others.  Thankfully, there is grace for when we fail to connect with God each day, but 1 Samuel 14 is an important reminder to get our daily Bread by reading the Word and spending time in prayer throughout the day and in our prayer closets.