1 Samuel 14



[24] And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured

the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening,

that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any

food.

[25] And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the

ground.

[26] And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped;

but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

[27] But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the

oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and

dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were

enlightened.

[28] Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged

the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this

day. And the people were faint.

[29] Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you,

how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this

honey.

[30] How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil

of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater

slaughter among the Philistines?

[31] And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and

the people were very faint.

[32] And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and

calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the

blood.

[33] Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD,

in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a

great stone unto me this day.

[34] And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them,

Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them

here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And

all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them

there.

[35] And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar

that he built unto the LORD.

[36] And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil

them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they

said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us

draw near hither unto God.

[37] And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines?

wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that

day.

[38] And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and

know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

[39] For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan

my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people

that answered him.

[40] Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my

son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what

seemeth good unto thee.

[41] Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot.

And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

[42] And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan

was taken.

[43] Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan

told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod

that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.

[44] And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die,

Jonathan.

[45] And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought

this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall

not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God

this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

[46] Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines

went to their own place.

[47] So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his

enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and

against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines:

and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.

[48] And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel

out of the hands of them that spoiled them.



Saul's Family



49 (1Sa 31:2; 1Ch 8:33) Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi,

and Malki-Shua. And the names of his two daughters were Merab,

the firstborn, and Michal, the youngest.

50 (2Sa 2:8) And the name of the wife of Saul was Ahinoam,

the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his army

was Abner, the son of Ner, the uncle of Saul.

51 (1Sa 9:1; 9:21) Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner

was the son of Abiel.

52 (1Sa 8:11) There was strong war against the Philistines

all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any strong man,

or any valiant man, he took him into his service.



[49] Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the

names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn 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 captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

[51] And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the

son of Abiel.

[52] And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul:

and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.



2) Our Daily Bread for 10 April 2026 titled Safe in God's Hands

by Nancy Gavilanes



Isaiah 41:8-14



8 (2Ch 20:7; Jas 2:23) But you, Israel, are My servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

the seed of Abraham, My friend.

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

and called from its remotest parts,

and said to you, "You are My servant;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you."

10 (Jos 1:9; Isa 41:13-14) Do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

11 (Isa 45:24; Ex 23:22) Certainly all those who were incensed against you

shall be ashamed and humiliated;

they shall be as nothing,

and those who strive with you shall perish.

12 (Ps 37:35-36; Job 20:7-9) You shall seek them

and shall not find them, even those who contended with you.

Those who war against you

shall be as nothing, as a thing of nonexistence.

13 (Isa 45:1) For I, the Lord your God,

will hold your right hand,

saying to you, "Do not fear;

I will help you."

14 (Ps 22:6; Isa 43:14) Do not fear, you worm Jacob,

and you men of Israel.

I will help you, says the Lord

and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.



[8] But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of

Abraham my friend.

[9] Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from

the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have

chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

[10] Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I

will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with

the right hand of my righteousness.

[11] Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and

confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall

perish.

[12] Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended

with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a

thing of nought.

[13] For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear

not; I will help thee.

[14] Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee,

saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.



I shut my eyes as the amusement park ride creeped higher - trying to ignore

all the creaking coming from this wildly popular ride I was on. When it

stopped for a moment, I made the mistake of peeking and was horrified to see

the plunge we were about to take. I closed my eyes again and screamed the

whole way down. That childhood memory still makes me shudder.



Sometimes in life it can feel like we're falling further and further with no

one to catch us. But when life seems chaotic and out of control, we can find

comfort in knowing that God is with us. As believers, we know that God dwells

in us through the Holy Spirit. We can speak to Him and be guided by Scripture.



God wanted to assure the Israelites that He would "catch" them even in the

midst of their "fall" of rebellion. He said through the prophet Isaiah,

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will

strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"

(Isaiah 41:10). God wanted them to know He would help them through their

trials (v. 13). How encouraging it must've been for the Israelites to know

that God hadn't abandoned them even while they were living as prisoners

in a foreign land.



When our life feels like it’s out of control, we can take courage knowing that

God is there to help us. We're safe in His loving and mighty hands.



Reflect & Pray



What challenge are you facing today? How does it feel knowing God is with you?



Dear God, thank You that I'm safe in Your hands.