Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! John 7:37

1 Samuel 14

Jonathan’s Plan

1 Now one day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul stayed in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron, and the people who were with him were about 600 men, 3 including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan was gone.

4 Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised people. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for there are no constraints on the Lord, to save by many or by few.” 7 His armor bearer said to him, “Do whatever is in your heart. Turn and look! I am with you, heart and soul.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “We will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them. 9 If they say this to us, ‘Wait until we come to you!’ then we will remain in our place and will not go up to them. 10 But if they say this, ‘Come up to us!’ then we will go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us.”

11 Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, “The Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves!” 12 The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something!”

Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” 13 Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer followed him. Jonathan struck the Philistines, and his armor bearer killed them after him. 14 That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within about half an acre of land.

Israel Defeats the Philistines

15 There was fear in the Philistine camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled, and the earth quaked, so there was great terror, sent from God. 16 The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and the multitude had melted in fear and scattered. 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now count, and see who is missing from us.” When they had counted, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not among them.

18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the Ark of the Lord here.” For the Ark of the Lord was with the Israelites at that time. 19 While Saul talked to the priest, the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased, and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!”

20 Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together and came to the battle, and they were all striking each other with their swords in great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before, and who went up with them into the camp, from all around, they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over by Beth Aven.

Jonathan Eats the Honey

24 The men of Israel were hard pressed that day, for Saul had extracted an oath from the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.

25 All the people came into the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the people had come to the forest, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan did not hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

28 Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ ” So the people were faint.

29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For then the slaughter among the Philistines would have been greater.”

31 They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint, 32 and the people pounced on the plunder and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood in it. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, “The people are sinning against the Lord, in that they are eating meat with the blood still in it.”

He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!” 34 Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Every man bring his ox here, and every man his sheep, and kill them here and eat, and do not sin against the Lord in eating meat with the blood in it.’ ” So every man brought his ox with him that night, and killed them there.

35 Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36 Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night and take plunder from among them until the morning light and let’s not leave a man among them.”

They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.”

Then the priest said, “Let’s draw near to God here.”

The People Save Jonathan

37 Saul asked counsel from God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. 38 Saul said, “Draw near here, all you leaders of the people, and let us see what sin has been committed today. 39 For as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.”

The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

41 Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, “O Lord, God of Israel, if this sin has been committed by me or by my son, Jonathan, then O Lord, God of Israel, respond with Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, then respond with Thummim..” And Jonathan and Saul were indicated, but the people were cleared.

42 Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand, and I must die.”

44 Saul said, “May God do so and more also if you do not die, Jonathan.”

45 The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with the Lord today!” So the people rescued Jonathan, that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul’s Victories

47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the Ammonites, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he defeated them. 48 He fought valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.

Saul’s Family

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua, and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any warrior, or any valiant man, he took him into his service.

John 7:33-53

33 Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer. Then I am going to him who sent me. 34  You will seek me and will not find me, and where I am, you cannot come.”

35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this word that he said, ‘You will seek me and will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

Living Water

37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38  He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Division of People over Jesus

40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some said, “What, does the Messiah come out of Galilee? 42 Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Messiah comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So a division arose in the crowds because of him. 44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid a hand on him.

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”

46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!”

47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you? 48 Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees? 49 But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is cursed.”

50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”

52 They answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”

53 Everyone went to his own house.

Psalm 109

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

1 O God of my praise, do not remain silent,
2 for they have opened the mouth of the wicked
and the mouth of deceit against me.
They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.
3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
and fought against me without a cause.

4 In return for my love, they are my adversaries;
but I am in prayer.
5 They have rewarded me evil for good,
and hatred for my love.
6 Set a wicked man over him.
Let an adversary stand at his right hand.
7 When he is judged, let him come out guilty.
Let his prayer be turned into sin.
8 Let his days be few.
Let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless,
and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children be wandering beggars.
Let them be sought from their ruins.
11 Let the creditor seize all that he has.
Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.
12 Let there be no one to extend kindness to him,
neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off.
In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by the Lord.
Do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before the Lord continually,
that he may cut off their memory from the earth;
16 because he did not remember to show kindness,
but persecuted the poor and needy man,
the broken-heart,ed to kill them.
17 Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him.
He did not delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
18 He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment.
It came into his inward parts like water,
like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself,
for the belt that is always around him.
20 This is the reward of my adversaries from the Lord,
of those who speak evil against my soul.

21 But deal with me, O God, for your name’s sake,
because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;
22 for I am poor and needy.
My heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like an evening shadow.
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak from fasting.
My body is thin and lacks fat.
25 I have also become a reproach to them.
When they see me, they shake their head.
26 Help me, O Lord, my God.
Save me according to your loving kindness;
27 that they may know that this is your hand;
that you, Lord, have done it.
28 They may curse, but you bless.
When they arise, they will be shamed,
but your servant shall rejoice.
29 Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor.
Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
30 I will give great thanks to the Lord with my mouth.
Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy,
to save him from those who judge his soul.

Proverbs 15:5-7

5 A fool despises his father’s correction,
but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so with the heart of fools.

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