Act justly, love mercy - and be wise!

I had many things on my mind this morning, but somehow I ended up in 1 Samuel Chapter 14. The part where Jonathan, Saul’s son has been very brave with the result that, through his obedience to God’s prompting, the whole army rallies and defeats their enemies. Meanwhile, his father Saul tells the army they will be cursed if they eat anything: Jonathan doesn’t know this, eats some honey which revives him – while everyone else is fainting from hunger – and then Saul says Jonathan has to die because he broke the oath. Fortunately, the men won’t have any of it and rescue Jonathan.

How foolish! Among other things, power had gone to Saul’s head. The other verse I was thinking about was Micah 6:8 - He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Or, in The Message version: But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbour, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.

Difficult, sometimes, in our complicated lives – and no doubt too much of a challenge for Saul as king – but so simple!