Study 19: 1 Samuel 14: 24-34: Trent Evans
- Trent Evans
- Aug 2
- 7 min read
This study from 1 Samuel 14 explores how faithful obedience to God leads to victory, while pride and man-made restrictions bring about unnecessary struggle. Trent walks through Jonathan’s courageous trust in God, which sparks divine intervention against the Philistines, contrasted with Saul’s pride-driven oath that forces his army into a fast God never commanded. That legalistic burden weakens the people and leads them into further compromise. The study highlights how both legalism and liberalism distort our ability to recognize God’s provision and emphasizes the need to remain anchored in Scripture, not personal agendas or cultural pressures. It invites listeners to examine areas where pride may be limiting what God wants to do through their lives, and calls for a return to humble, Word-centered living
Sermon Outline
1. Context and Setup
⏱️ Timestamp: 00:00–04:28
Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:1–14
Jonathan and his young armor bearer prepare to engage the Philistines.
Trent highlights Jonathan’s dependence on God for direction (“green light”).
God's response shows His activity in unseen places.
2. God's Hidden Work & Panic Among the Enemy
⏱️ 04:28–06:14
Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:15
God sends panic throughout the Philistine army.
Emphasis: God is working beyond what we can see or control.
Spiritual takeaway: Trust that God's movement is bigger than our awareness.
3. Saul’s Response: Credit vs. Calling
⏱️ 06:14–08:23
Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:16–20
Saul’s focus is not on obedience, but on recognition and control.
Jonathan’s faith contrasts Saul’s insecurity.
Insight: Spiritual leadership seeks God’s glory, not personal validation.
4. Redeeming the Cowardly and the Distant
⏱️ 08:23–10:24
Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:21–23
God redeems the fearful and the betrayers through the faithful obedience of two.
Spiritual impact: Your faithful response can be a vessel of redemption.
5. The Imposed Fast: Legalism and Distress
⏱️ 10:24–13:15
Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:24
Saul forces a fast on the army to fulfill his own agenda.
Insight: Requiring more than God commands creates distress, not devotion.
6. Legalism vs. Liberalism
⏱️ 13:15–18:32
Key Concept: Theological distortion
Legalism: Adding to God’s Word; Liberalism: Taking away from it.
Quote: “Requiring more than God asks is theological legalism; requiring less is theological liberalism.”
Application: Let Scripture, not man-made rules, define our path.
7. Provision or Temptation? Discernment in the Gray
⏱️ 18:32–21:14
Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:25–27
Jonathan eats honey, unaware of the oath, and is strengthened.
Key teaching: When anchored in the Word, you can discern between God’s provision and the enemy’s bait.
8. One Voice, Many Consequences
⏱️ 21:14–25:36
Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:28–30
One soldier appeals to Jonathan, calling Saul “your father,” not “the king”—a sign of disillusionment.
Jonathan shows no nepotism: calls out his father's poor leadership.
Insight: We must address dysfunction at home before correcting others.
9. Diminished Returns: Pride's Cost to the Kingdom
⏱️ 25:36–30:00
Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:31–33
The fast leads to sin as the men eat meat with blood, violating God’s law.
Point: Forbidding what God allows can open the door to disobedience.
Saul refuses to acknowledge his role in their failure.
10. Pride, Provocation, and the Call to Humility
⏱️ 30:00–End (~43:17)
Key Scriptures: Leviticus 3:17, Ephesians 6:4, Psalm 51
Saul’s pride drives him to consider killing Jonathan to save face.
Trent closes with a call to humility and repentance.
Application: Pride, if unchecked, fractures families and communities. Repentance restores what pride tears apart.
Scripture References
1. 1 Samuel 14:1–14
⏱️ 00:00–04:28
Jonathan and his armor bearer initiate a faithful, God-led attack on the Philistines. Trent highlights Jonathan's dependence on God's direction, showing how God honors bold trust and obedience.
2. 1 Samuel 14:15
⏱️ 04:28–05:25
God sends a supernatural panic among the Philistine army. Used to show that God is active in areas beyond our vision, orchestrating victory in unseen ways.
3. 1 Samuel 14:16–20
⏱️ 06:14–07:28
Saul hesitates and is more concerned about who’s getting credit than leading faithfully. Trent uses this to contrast spiritual leadership driven by recognition vs. obedience.
4. 1 Samuel 14:21–23
⏱️ 08:23–10:24
Former traitors and cowards rejoin Israel in victory. Trent emphasizes how a faithful response to God can become a channel for redeeming others.
5. 1 Samuel 14:24
⏱️ 10:24–13:15
Saul imposes a fast on his army during battle. Trent calls this an example of theological legalism—placing burdens on others that God did not command.
6. 1 Samuel 14:25–27
⏱️ 15:22–17:18
Jonathan, unaware of the oath, eats honey and is strengthened. Used to illustrate how legalism blinds people to God’s provision and leads to unnecessary suffering.
7. 1 Samuel 14:28–30
⏱️ 22:15–25:36
Jonathan is confronted by a soldier and responds by calling out his father’s reckless vow. Trent shows Jonathan's spiritual maturity and his willingness to prioritize God's truth over family loyalty.
8. 1 Samuel 14:31–33
⏱️ 30:00–32:56
The troops, finally free to eat, consume meat without properly draining the blood. Trent explains this was a violation of God’s law (later supported by Leviticus 3:17), resulting from extreme hunger caused by Saul’s oath.
9. Leviticus 3:17
⏱️ 31:43–32:56
Used to explain why eating meat with blood was a sin. Supports the previous point that obedience to God’s law was compromised by Saul’s legalism.
10. Ephesians 6:4
⏱️ 35:53–36:45
"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger..." Applied to Saul as a national father figure. Trent uses it to show that while Israel was responsible for their sin, Saul provoked it by placing them in a compromised position.
11. Psalm 51 (Implied)
⏱️ 42:19–43:17
Trent references David’s cry: “Create in me a pure heart.” This becomes a call for honest self-examination and repentance for those struggling with pride, especially within families.
Word Study
📖 Word Study: Distress (1 Samuel 14:24)
🔹 Word: Distress
Language: Hebrew (Old Testament)
Hebrew Word: נָגַשׂ (nagas)
Strong’s Number: H5065
Pronunciation: naw-gas’
🔍 Definition:
Simple: To press, drive, oppress.
Extended: Refers to being put under pressure, oppressed, or hard-pressed—often with violent or aggressive overtones. It can describe external affliction or internal emotional strain.
🔁 Synonyms:
tsar (H6862) – adversary, affliction
lachats (H3905) – oppression, pressure
🚫 Antonyms:
shalom (H7965) – peace, completeness
revach (H7309) – relief, enlargement
📖 Other Biblical Uses:
Exodus 3:7 – “I have surely seen the affliction [nagas related] of My people...”
Isaiah 58:3 – “...you exact all your labors” (NKJV) – i.e., drive them harshly.
2 Kings 6:32 – The king threatens judgment in a moment of deep distress.
💡 Reflection:
In 1 Samuel 14:24, the Israelite army is described as being in distress because of Saul’s man-made oath. This word highlights the unnatural burden placed on them—one that God did not authorize. Understanding nagas shows how human pride and control can push people beyond God’s design, creating unnecessary suffering and spiritual vulnerability. This deepens the sermon’s warning about religious control that lacks divine backing.
📖 Word Study: Faith (Implied through Jonathan’s actions)
🔹 Word: Faith / Believe
Language: Hebrew (Old Testament)
Hebrew Word: אָמַן (aman)
Strong’s Number: H539
Pronunciation: aw-man’
🔍 Definition:
Simple: To confirm, support, or believe.
Extended: To stand firm, to trust with stability. It's the root of “Amen” and expresses the idea of holding something as sure or trustworthy.
🔁 Synonyms:
batach (H982) – trust
chasah (H2620) – take refuge
🚫 Antonyms:
ma’al (H4604) – act unfaithfully
sarar (H5637) – rebel
📖 Other Biblical Uses:
Genesis 15:6 – “And he believed (aman) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.”
Deuteronomy 7:9 – “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful (aman) God...”
Isaiah 7:9b – “If you do not stand firm (aman), you will not stand at all.”
💡 Reflection:
Though the word faith isn’t explicitly spoken, Jonathan’s actions are grounded in aman—a steady, trusting posture before God. His willingness to act only if God allows reflects a deep confidence in God’s sovereignty. This word reinforces the study’s theme of obedience born from trust rather than control.
📖 Word Study: Legalism (Theme: Adding to God's Word)
🔹 Word: Add / Addition (to God’s commands)
Language: Hebrew (Old Testament)
Hebrew Word: יָסַף (yasaph)
Strong’s Number: H3254
Pronunciation: yaw-saf’
🔍 Definition:
Simple: To add, increase, continue.
Extended: Often positive in neutral use, but in the context of commands, “adding” to God’s word is forbidden and becomes a symbol of presumption and control.
🔁 Synonyms:
rabah (H7235) – to multiply, increase
🚫 Antonyms:
gara (H1639) – to diminish or withhold
See also: Deuteronomy 4:2 (used as contrast – do not add or take away)
📖 Other Biblical Uses:
Deuteronomy 4:2 – “You shall not add to the word which I command you...”
Proverbs 30:6 – “Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”
💡 Reflection:
Saul’s imposition of a fast God never commanded exemplifies yasaph—he added to what God required. This burdensome “addition” weakened his people and led to sin. Studying yasaph in this light shows how legalism distorts leadership and hinders God’s provision. Trent's warning becomes more vivid when we see how Scripture condemns spiritual overreach in the name of control.
Questions for Deeper Study
✨ Reflection Questions for Deeper Study
Where in my life might I be adding expectations—on myself or others—that God has not required?
📖 Read: Deuteronomy 4:2; Matthew 23:4Consider how legalism might be showing up in your thoughts, relationships, or spiritual practices. What would it look like to return to God's original command instead?
How do I respond when God asks me to act in faith, even when the path is unclear or I feel alone?
📖 Read: 1 Samuel 14:6–7; Hebrews 11:6Reflect on a time when you had to move without knowing the outcome. How did God meet you in that moment? How can Jonathan’s example shape your next step?
Am I willing to humbly confront spiritual pride—whether in myself or in those closest to me—for the sake of God’s kingdom?
📖 Read: 1 Samuel 14:43–45; Proverbs 27:5–6; Galatians 6:1Think about Jonathan’s refusal to excuse his father’s actions. How do you discern when to speak up, and how can you do so with truth and grace?
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