This is a sequel post to my last post so if you haven’t read the first yet, you’ll want to read that before reading this second one (click here to read).

Who or what is king in your life? If it’s anybody or anything but God in Christ Jesus, then he, she or it will ultimately take from you and leave you empty and dry. The Israelites wanted a king like all of the other nations. God gave them what they asked for - King Saul. God also told the Israelites that Saul would be a taker. In today’s scripture, much like the kings we establish in our lives, Saul takes from the Israelites, leaving them empty and dry. But because of who He is, God gives to the Israelites and He gives to you.

24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. 25 Now when all the people came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’” And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.” - 1 Samuel 14:24-30

Not too long into Saul’s reign, the Israelite army battles the Philistine army. The first, small battle was won as “the Lord saved Israel that day”. After the battle, the men of Israel were feeling “hard pressed”. Saul, in his selfish desire for vengeance lays an oath on the men of Israel that they may not eat food until he is avenged of his enemies. But when the army came to a forest, in the forest there was honey on the ground! This was no accident. This was God’s provision! But the men of Israel wouldn’t touch it out of fear of Saul and His rash vow. The army became captive by the vow, suffered for it, and grew increasingly "faint". Because he hadn’t heard about the vow, Saul’s son Jonathan ate of the honey and his eyes turned bright!

Because of Saul’s oath, their focus was taken away from the Lord and his victory and put on Saul and his selfish desire for vengeance. Their focus went from God to Saul and from God to their stomachs. The army should be at it’s strongest, instead it is at it’s weakest. The kings we establish in our lives take our focus away from God, they take away our strength and malnourish our souls of what we truly need - God Himself.

The greatest victory is on the cross. We can go forward with strength, confidence and boldness in Christ’s victory. But our self-established kings will always try to take the victory and our spirit away from us. They will dampen the victory and make it seem “not so great”. They will empty us and leave us aching inside. Because of His mercy and grace, God always provided for the Israelites needs. In the wilderness, He made bitter water sweet, He rained bread from heaven, He gave them water from the rock. Despite Saul’s rash vow, God gives them honey! God is a giver! His provision was ultimately and finally fulfilled in Jesus Christ. When our self-established kings take from us, Jesus wants to give to us! When our kings famish us, Jesus nourishes us! When our kings empty us, Jesus fills us!

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed is the man that takes refuge in him?”  - Psalm 34:8

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” - Psalm 119:103

“...the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” - Psalm 19:9-10