Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Usual Abstinence
Hieromartyr Haralampos of Magnesia
Kellia: 1 Kings 14:36-46 LXX Epistle: 1 John 3:11-20 Gospel: St. Mark 14:10-42
1 Kings 14:36-46 LXX (1 Sam. 14:36-46), especially vs.
45, "Then the people said to Saul, 'Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great victory in
Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground.'"
King Saul's self-reliance was exposed earlier at Gilgal, when he would not wait for spiritual
guidance from the Prophet Samuel and the Lord (1 Kngs. 13). Saul exhibits the same impulsive
character fault again in this reading, but here, God dramatizes how He corrects His servants,
revealing to us how we may better respond to Christ our King and our God.
First, observe Saul thoughtlessly proposing to "go down after the Philistines by night and despoil
them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them" (1 Kngs. 14:36). He does not
consider the fact that his troops have been fighting all day and are exhausted. He fails to
recognize that nightfall will greatly hinder the task of overtaking and destroying the remaining
scattered enemy forces. He fails to consider that he is exposing his army dangerously by sending
them unprepared beyond their own territorial bounds into unknown terrain.
But see how God corrects him, through Ahijah the Priest (vs. 36). Would that we always see the
importance of seeking out the godly counsel of our pastors during the crises of our lives! For, by
the grace of God, pastoral counsel already was at hand in the king's camp and, to King Saul's
credit, he heeded his Priest's suggestion. All the flaws in his ill-conceived plan were thereby
averted. Trust in one's spiritual father is essential for Christians. As the monk Arsenius said of
his spiritual father: "I have a father according to the Spirit, from whom I daily receive the very
pure milk of divine grace, I mean my father in God, and he warms me in his womb like a new-born babe." How important that at least we consult our Pastors and Spiritual Advisors!
Unfortunately, Saul again displays his inflated self-confidence and impulsiveness, even as he
receives help from his Priest. Notice the silence that follows when Saul asks his two questions
(vs. 37). Despite the silence, he 'knows' that the cause of his plan being halted is due to a hidden
sin in the camp. He rejects any idea that his tactical proposal is flawed. He does not consider the
possibility that his over-zealous command to fast utterly, and not someone's sin, could be the
reason for God's silence after his question.
Still, God's silence leads to a correction of King Saul. He is forced to see that what Jonathan did
was not a sin. God also corrects us by silence in answer to our prayers. Often He builds our faith
in Himself when He does not answer. His silence forces us to trust. Evagrius the Solitary urges
us: "Do not be distressed if you do not at once receive from God what you ask. He wishes to give
you something better - to make you persevere in your prayer."
God also corrects Saul for pride when he will not admit the excess of his own rules. This time
the Lord speaks through the people's steadfast refusal to allow him to execute Jonathan: "As the
Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has wrought this great
victory with God this day" (vs. 45). The king imposed an extreme vow on his soldiers in the first
place and coupled it with a rashly devised punishment. He piles another oath on top of all these
poor judgments with no regard to mitigating circumstances or to the demands of justice in the
case. He is not even humbled by his son's humble acquiescence (vs. 44).
May we always be open to the cautions of God and others when we are certain that we are right.
Blustering and stubborn assertion are invariably unworthy of God's grace.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. Blessed art Thou, O Master, make me to
understand Thy commandments. Blessed art Thou, O Holy One; enlighten me with Thy precepts.
