Let Your Yes Or No Be Sufficient

# 189 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:24-28, “And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food. 25 Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; 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; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened. 28 Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were faint. (1 Sam 14:24-28) Again, we see the ineptitude of Saul as a military commander/king. He foolishly orders his troops to a total fast on the day of battle. His logic apparently being that to take time to eat would slow them down in their pursuit of the Philistines. On top of that, he adds the punishment of death for anyone who breaks his order and eats. To a man, his army was distressed, the word means “to drive as cattle.” Having been driven like cattle the men were weak and hungry, and the very thing they needed was being withheld from them by this foolish order. Jonathan, unaware of his father's order grabs some honey and is immediately strengthened for battle. The rest of the soldiers are terrified at his act. They know that Jonathan has signed his own death warrant through his innocent snack. How foolish it is to make such oaths. Ps 109:17 says, “As he loved cursing, so let it come to him; As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.” No wonder Jesus reminded us in Mt 5:34 "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 "nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 "Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' “ Oaths must be backed up, and no one but God has the power to back up an oath. Let your yes or no be sufficient.