Bible Commentaries

1 Samuel 14:43-44

Saul had a right to give this general order that there should be no stopping; that that day should be dedicated to the overthrow of the enemy; that no man should taste food. And yet in this, as in all Saul's conduct, there was a certain excess—an immoderation which carried it to rashness. For while, as a general order, it was wise, to make it special and particular was not wise. Jonathan made the poorest plea for a good cause that was ever made. Instead of saying, "I did not know your commands;" instead of saying, "Under God's providence, the time came when that command ought to have been set aside for the sake of destroying the Philistines"—instead of saying these things, he said, "I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand."

I. A little thing is always enough for disobedience. Besides, there was in his heart the idea that moral quality depended in some sense upon magnitude. Little things become important as a part of a series—that is, by aggregation. They collect and become powerful unities.

II. A little thing, or that which men call little, may be very trifling indeed for one purpose and in one direction; and yet for another purpose and in another direction it may be extremely potent.

III. Single actions may be insignificant, and yet by repetition may become well-nigh omnipotent.

IV. There are times when the soul stands at equipoise, and when it will take very little to carry down the scale. At such times we must be careful of little things. The breaking off of one bad habit may be the first of a series of steps which will lead to a spiritual change.

H. W. Beecher, Sermons, 5th series, p. 147.

References: 1 Samuel 14:6.—Parker, vol. vii., p. 68. 1 Samuel 14:14.—Homiletic Quarterly, vol. ii., p. 521. 1 Samuel 14:27.—S. Baring-Gould, One Hundred Sermon Sketches, p. 1. 1 Samuel 14:37.—Parker, vol. vii., p. 68. 1 Samuel 14:44.—Ibid., p. 69. 1 Samuel 14:52.—Ibid., p. 70. 1Sam 14.—Homiletic Magazine, vol. ix., p. 356.