Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men….

Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
1 Samuel 14:2, 6 (NIV)

I was raised in the pomp of high-church pageantry that often traded the Spirit for spectacle. Later, I found myself entrenched in the rigidity of fundamentalist formulas. In that particular tribe, the exchange was religious rule-keeping taking the place of living righteousness.

Along my life journey, I’ve learned and observed that faith is never a formula.

Today’s chapter provides a fascinating contrast between faith and religious formula. What makes it even more fascinating is that the contrast is between father and son — between King Saul and his son, Jonathan. The author of Samuel continues to reveal the fatal flaws in Saul’s character, while establishing Jonathan as the kind of young man perfect to be a mentor and bff to David.

As the chapter opens, Israel remains badly outmatched by the Philistines. Saul’s army is small, frightened, and poorly armed. The momentum from the disaster in yesterday’s chapter still hangs over everything like smoke after a fire.

Saul sits under a tree with 600 men. Jonathan decides to act, saying “Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” And this statement is the beating heart of the chapter.

God rewards Jonathan’s faith. He climbs up dangerous cliffs to approach a Philistine outpost. His surprise, special-forces attack sparks a wide-spread Philistine panic. When this happens, Saul finally moves to pursue their enemies. But his actions reveal that Saul is less depending on God and more dependent on religious formulas.

The first thing Saul does is ask for the Ark of the Covenant to be brought forward. The author already established back in chapter four that when Israel tried to use the Ark like a military good luck charm the results were not favorable. Saul seems not to have learned that lesson.

Saul then demands that his entire army begin fasting, which is a long established religious practice intended to purposefully suppress physical appetite in order to expand and deepen spiritual sense and understanding. Saul, however, is using the fast as another religious good luck charm.

“If we fast, God will be happy with us and give us His favor!”

Only God didn’t ask Saul and his army to fast. This is Saul thinking that God will be manipulated by his formulaic religious rigor. It’s foolish. Asking an army in an active military campaign not to eat will only weaken them physically and discourage them emotionally. By the time they start plundering their vanquished foes, the men are so starved that they sin by eating the meat before it was drained of blood as prescribed by the Law.

Saul then builds an altar to God and inquired of God whether he should pursue the fleeing Philistines. He once again eschews acting in faith looking for a religious formula to provide him certainty. Wouldn’t you know it? God remains silent.

In the quiet this morning, I find myself reflecting on this very simple and stark contrast between father and son. Am I sitting under a tree going through religious motions or climbing the cliff with Jonathan?

Saul had the title.
Jonathan had the faith.

Saul waited passively while maintaining appearances. Jonathan stepped forward into uncertainty trusting God. And what struck me as I meditated on the passage this morning is that Jonathan didn’t have certainty — he had willingness, and that matters.

How often have I delayed obedience waiting for:

• absolute clarity,
• guaranteed outcomes,
• perfect conditions,
• zero risk.

But throughout the Great Story, God moves through people willing to take the next faithful step before the whole map is visible.

“Perhaps the Lord will act…”

There’s humility there, but there’s also courage. Not arrogance. Not paralysis. Just simple faith.

Finally, there’s Saul’s tragic command for his army to fast.

Jesus once criticized religious leaders for tying up “heavy burdens” and laying them on people’s shoulders. Saul exemplified that management style perfectly. But God’s kingdom is not sustained by starvation. It is sustained by trust.

Jonathan’s faith strengthened the people.
Saul’s insecurity drained them.

And that remains true in every generation. Whether it’s business, family, church, or community — I want leaders who feed courage not fear. As a leader I want to motivate people to climbing cliffs with hope, not leave people sitting faint beneath trees.

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