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사울의 질문에 하나님은 침묵하시고, 사울의 결정에 백성은 반대합니다. 하나님과 백성을 이용만 하려던 사울은 결국 하나님과 백성에게 거절당합니다.

[ 사무엘상 14:36 - 14:52 ] (찬송288장)

대답하지 않으시는 하나님 

36사울이 이르되 우리가 밤에 블레셋 사람들을 추격하여 동틀 때까지 그들 중에서 탈취하고 한 사람도 남기지 말자 무리가 이르되 왕의 생각에 좋은 대로 하소서 할 때에 제사장이 이르되 이리로 와서 하나님께로 나아가사이다 하매 37사울이 하나님께 묻자오되 내가 블레셋 사람들을 추격하리이까 주께서 그들을 이스라엘의 손에 넘기시겠나이까 하되 그 날에 대답하지 아니하시는지라

 요나단이 맹세를 어긴 일이 드러나다 

38사울이 이르되 너희 군대의 지휘관들아 다 이리로 오라 오늘 이 죄가 누구에게 있나 알아보자 39이스라엘을 구원하신 여호와께서 살아 계심을 두고 맹세하노니 내 아들 요나단에게 있다 할지라도 반드시 죽으리라 하되 모든 백성 중 한 사람도 대답하지 아니하매 40이에 그가 온 이스라엘에게 이르되 너희는 저쪽에 있으라 나와 내 아들 요나단은 이쪽에 있으리라 백성이 사울에게 말하되 왕의 생각에 좋은 대로 하소서 하니라 41이에 사울이 이스라엘의 하나님 여호와께 아뢰되 원하건대 실상을 보이소서 하였더니 요나단과 사울이 뽑히고 백성은 면한지라 42사울이 이르되 나와 내 아들 요나단 사이에 뽑으라 하였더니 요나단이 뽑히니라 43사울이 요나단에게 이르되 네가 행한 것을 내게 말하라 요나단이 말하여 이르되 내가 다만 내 손에 가진 지팡이 끝으로 꿀을 조금 맛보았을 뿐이오나 내가 죽을 수밖에 없나이다

 백성이 요나단을 살리다 

44사울이 이르되 요나단아 네가 반드시 죽으리라 그렇지 않으면 하나님이 내게 벌을 내리시고 또 내리시기를 원하노라 하니 45백성이 사울에게 말하되 이스라엘에 이 큰 구원을 이룬 요나단이 죽겠나이까 결단코 그렇지 아니하니이다 여호와의 살아 계심을 두고 맹세하옵나니 그의 머리털 하나도 땅에 떨어지지 아니할 것은 그가 오늘 하나님과 동역하였음이니이다 하여 백성이 요나단을 구원하여 죽지 않게 하니라 46사울이 블레셋 사람들 추격하기를 그치고 올라가매 블레셋 사람들이 자기 곳으로 돌아가니라

 사울의 업적과 족보 

47사울이 이스라엘 왕위에 오른 후에 사방에 있는 모든 대적 곧 모압과 암몬 자손과 에돔과 소바의 왕들과 블레셋 사람들을 쳤는데 향하는 곳마다 이겼고 48용감하게 아말렉 사람들을 치고 이스라엘을 그 약탈하는 자들의 손에서 건졌더라 49사울의 아들은 요나단과 이스위와 말기수아요 그의 두 딸의 이름은 이러하니 맏딸의 이름은 메랍이요 작은 딸의 이름은 미갈이며 50사울의 아내의 이름은 아히노암이니 아히마아스의 딸이요 그의 군사령관의 이름은 아브넬이니 사울의 숙부 넬의 아들이며 51사울의 아버지는 기스요 아브넬의 아버지는 넬이니 아비엘의 아들이었더라 52사울이 사는 날 동안에 블레셋 사람과 큰 싸움이 있었으므로 사울이 힘 센 사람이나 용감한 사람을 보면 그들을 불러모았더라

[ 1 Samuel 14:36 - 14:52 ]

36Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day.38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today.39 For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”41 Therefore Saul said, “O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.”44 And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.”45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die.46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them.48 And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself. 

Who is God like?

Thinking & Understanding

Saul inquired after God’s will regarding the battle, but God remained silent. Saul declared that somebody must have sinned in secret and swore that he would find out the guilty person. He vowed that he would kill whoever was guilty even if that person was his son Jonathan. It just so happened that the lot fell upon Jonathan. However, Saul was unable to kill Jonathan because of the opposition of the soldiers who supported Jonathan. Saul’s vow, as selfish as the one he made in yesterday’s passage, failed to be fulfilled (vv. 36-46). This was a sign that God had departed from Saul. However, Saul continued to maintain his kingship by winning victory after victory in battle (vv. 47-52). 

Who is God?

V. 36 God did not answer Saul’s question. God’s silence was not the result of Jonathan’s violation of Saul’s oath (v. 45) but was a rejection of Saul. Silence is also a form of response. Therefore, before we complain that God is being silent or slow to respond, we must first reflect on ourselves. We must beware that meditation and prayer without self-introspection can lead to self-deception.

What lesson is God teaching me?

Vv. 38-45 Saul kept making reckless and excessive vows for selfish reasons. They were not pleasing to God and none of them ended up being fulfilled. Silent obedience is better than showy oaths. Are you someone who makes meaningless oaths or somebody who humbly obeys through action? 

Prayer

Lord, help me to listen to and communicate well with you and my neighbours rather than just talking without substance.