Another Foolish Vow

1 Samuel 14
      What is it with people in the Old Testament and crazy vows?  Remember Jephthah in Judges?  He made a rash vow and sacrificed his daughter.  Never mind that the Lord had some harsh things to say about child sacrifice!
      Now, it's Saul.  His vow is ridiculous on a couple of levels.  First, does he know nothing about war?  Why would you forbid your soldiers from eating?  Sure, he doesn't want them distracted by plundering when they should be pursuing, but you need energy to pursue.  Second, Saul bull-headed-ly (is that a word) goes ahead with it.  It's like, "Well, Jonathan, I'm glad you got the ball rolling and chased off the Philistines and everything.  I'm proud of you, son.  Now, I have to kill you."  Thank goodness the rest of the Israelites had better sense!  "Um, Saul, the Lord kinda blessed Jonathan; probably He doesn't want you to kill him."
      This is going to be a pattern with Saul. Bull-headed is a pretty good description of the man.  And, really, we're not so much different.  A lot of times we take counsel only with ourselves, or if we do take counsel with others, we often tend to think that our first idea was the best.
      Where's the Jesus connection?  I suppose it's in the figure of Jonathan, who is willing to submit to his father's demand, despite its injustice.  In the same way, Jesus doesn't protest the miscarriage of justice that is His trial.  Obviously, the chief priests are concocting charges on the spot, and even Pilate recognizes there's nothing to them.  But still He's condemned.  Likewise, while the injustice is not in the Father, it is the Father's will that Jesus should stand in the place of sinful humanity, and Jesus accepts that will of God, too.