Just a Little Honey, Why Not?

Slightly updated

The second part of a story found in 1 Samuel 14

Part of the Glass Castle Series.

Jonathan was enthused about the battle, but he was getting tired, really tired. He noticed that his fellow comrades were also wearying, although they were valiantly pursuing the enemy. He had been rooting out ‘demons of darkness’ in a thick woods and paused for a moment to catch his breath.

            “Ah, honey!”

In their haste that morning they had forgotten to take time for their devotions, time to receive the special food from the King that would help them to battle on tirelessly. Seeing that honey dripping onto the ground caused Jonathan to rejoice.

“Surely the King of Love is with us,” he cried, “and has blessed us with nourishment even though we had been too hasty to take time to eat this morning.”

In his eagerness to taste the delectable treat he hadn’t noticed that all the men around him had fallen silent and were watching him.

“Know you not that the Captain specifically asked us not to waste time eating?” someone ventured.

“What? What kind of logic is that?”

“He was so confident of our success that he told us it wouldn’t be necessary.”

Jonathan looked slowly around him. “But look how much better I feel. I am refreshed. Think how much better all of you would feel if you had taken a moment to feed on the manna from Heaven, or even just a little honey.”

He saw that some of them were beginning to scuff the leaves under foot so said briskly. “But all is not lost, men. We are still in the army of the King, so let’s go to it with renewed vigor now that we have rested a bit.”

The fight was renewed, and many of the enemy was routed, but Jonathan knew secretly that the victory would have been greater if they would have stopped for nourishment.

The day waxed and waned and although there were many victories, disaster befell them. Some of the weaker soldiers became contaminated by the enemy’s food, and even their bold, impetuous Captain saw that something had to be done or the triumph of the day would turn to tragedy.  

The King of Love would have wanted them to take time for devotions, I mean heavenly manna or even a bit of honey, but since they listened to a different voice they weren't truly prepared for battle.