Yet again, in 1 Samuel 14 we see King Saul acting with pride, rashness, impatience, and overconfidence, putting his valiant son Jonathan's life at risk. And we also see a growing distance between Saul and God. Just as in the last chapter, it seems Saul has become puffed up as king. He feels superior to the prophets and the priests; he offers sacrifices himself without their aid. And in this chapter we see him making rash oaths. The seriousness of oaths and the dangers of making rash ones has been a prevalent theme so far in Scripture. One of the best examples was Jephte in Judges 11. Saul's oath in 1 Samuel 14 seems very similar to Jephte's. Both men put their children's lives at risk because of the thoughtlessness of their words. It's debatable whether or not Saul was acting in good faith purely. His pride most likely clouded his judgment. At any rate, it is notable that every time Saul seeks God's confirmation as to whether or not he's acting according to His will, he receives only silence. The implication is clear. God does not approve of Saul's actions, and furthermore God no longer even favors him as king, for His eyes have moved to David (though this hasn't been revealed to Saul yet). Each successive chapter of the First Book of Samuel reveals more clearly that Saul's reign has quickly become a tumultuous one full of missteps and blunders. Samuel himself doesn't appear at all in this chapter and one wonders if he has washed his hands of Saul and has moved on to God's chosen one, David. The tone of the text here is one of emptiness and disapproval. King Saul is losing his grip on his kingdom. The tale is a tragic one, for it's not that Saul appears evil or intentionally antagonistic toward God. But he does lack faith and humility and seems to trust himself more than anyone else -- more than God even.
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