Today let’s consider some things done in the name of religion that really do not help our relationship with God. Each time I read this story in the Bible, a question wells up in my mind: Is this really necessary? Sadly, people still practice similar things today, even though they have seen clearly from the Word that it is not profitable. Biblical leadership principles remind us that true leadership in God’s house is rooted in wisdom, obedience, and a clear understanding of His Word rather than tradition or unnecessary burden.
Let’s discuss the fasting King Saul asked the whole of Israel to observe during war. I still ask myself many questions about this. Should people fast during war? If there had been no fasting, would God not have granted them victory? Is it when physical strength is most needed that they should fast in order to gain victory? These questions, and many more, come to my heart.
Also, God had already granted the Israelites victory over their enemies before the fasting was declared.
I Samuel 14:12 NKJV
[12] Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
The Lord had already delivered them.
You will also notice that Saul declared the fast even though he knew Jonathan, his son, was not in the camp.
I Samuel 14:17 NKJV
[17] Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.
Saul did not look for a way to pass the message to Jonathan. He did not make an effort to send someone to him. Yet he placed a curse on anyone who would eat that day. This is a very troubling leadership style.
If he did not know his son was missing, that would be a different issue. But he knew—and yet did nothing about it. Thank God the people did not allow him to kill his son for breaking an agreement he never heard about.
Before we consider Saul’s decision further, let’s see one more thing that invalidates the fast, which we may not easily notice.
I Samuel 14:18–19 NKJV
[18] And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel).
[19] Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
When you read the story of Saul, you will see that he is often distracted by noise. Noise repeatedly pushes him into decisions that are not aligned with God.
He was mostly influenced by external factors, not by a steady walk with God. He called the priest to bring the ark of God so he could consult the Lord. In fact, the Bible records that this was the first altar Saul built. But what happened? When Saul heard the increasing noise from the enemy’s camp, he abandoned seeking God. He told the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” He asked the priest to stop consulting God. Saul's leadership principle shows how unstable leadership becomes when decisions are driven by pressure rather than consistent dependence on God.
If it is not more necessary to consult God for victory, why then organize a general fast for the people?
We see this often with religious people. They neglect what builds their relationship with God and concentrate on what they can do to be accepted by God or to get something from Him.
It is better to consult God to know His will and direction for anything than to engage in fasting and prayer without His guidance.
Now let’s read the verse where Saul declared the fast.
“Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” — 1 Samuel 14:24
1 Samuel 14:24 GNT
[24] The Israelites were weak with hunger that day, because Saul, with a solemn oath, had given the order: “A curse be on anyone who eats any food today before I take revenge on my enemies.” So nobody had eaten anything all day.
Saul placed a curse on anyone who ate food that day. Was that curse necessary? When you read the verse carefully, you see clearly that he commanded the people to fast. At first glance, you might think he was zealous for the Lord. This is the kind of soldier you should never be.
But that was not the case. He had his own agenda. Listen carefully to his words:
“A curse be on anyone who eats any food today before I take revenge on my enemies.”
He needed this victory because he wanted to take revenge on his enemies. They were his enemies—not necessarily framed as God’s enemies.
It appears he wanted this victory so he could take pride in it. He wanted to count another triumph and show the people how strong and capable he was.
He was not seeing the people he was fighting as enemies of the God who called him. He did not even refer to them as enemies of Israel. They were “my enemies.” Now you see why he declared a fast?
Unlike David, who said to Goliath:
1 Samuel 17:26 (NKJV)
“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:45 (NKJV)
“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
David saw the battle as the Lord’s battle. Saul personalized it.
Calling the Lord’s enemies “my enemies” is not wrong if it is done to give glory to God. But as a proud man who wanted to take credit for the Lord’s battle, Saul’s words reveal his heart.
When we do not have the correct perspective of spiritual matters, our activities often do not align properly. We make mistakes we should not make.
So all the people decided to fast, but one person was not around when the decision was made—so he did not fast.
While he was fighting and hungry, he saw honey and ate it. Later, Saul decided to consult the Lord for the next battle, but God did not answer him.
I Samuel 14:37 NKJV
[37] So Saul asked counsel of 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.
Why was God silent? I believe it was because of two things:
1. Jonathan broke the law of the fast.
I Samuel 14:27 NKJV
[27] But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened.
2. The fast pushed the people into eating with blood, which God had already commanded them not to do.
I Samuel 14:33 NKJV
[33] Then they told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood!” So he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day.”
This goes back to where God instructed Israel not to eat meat with blood.
Deuteronomy 12:23–25 (NKJV)
“Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat.”
So the people sinned against God at the same time the covenant of fasting was broken.
It is important to remember that God is a God of covenant. He keeps covenant and expects His children to honor covenant as well.
This is why we should respect covenants made in our churches or in any group. When a group decides to fast, it becomes a covenant before God that members should not take lightly.
Being in the time of grace, we may think it does not matter, or we may not see immediate consequences—but it does matter.
There are many covenants we may enter into as a church or as a group. When a group agrees to do something, that agreement carries weight and should not be broken casually.
If you cannot be part of the agreement, say so early. Do not allow the decision to be finalized before you secretly act contrary, assuming nobody will know.
A group is weakened when a collective covenant is broken by one of its members. The strength of a chain is determined by its weakest point. This principle applies to any group bound by covenant. The group is either strengthened or weakened by what each individual does with the agreed covenant.
God responded to the breaking of the covenant because He is a God of covenant.
So when God remained silent, a search was made to find out who had sinned, and Jonathan, the son of Saul, was identified. Because of what God had used Jonathan to accomplish, the people would not allow Saul to kill him. This introduced another layer of tension and weakened Saul’s leadership further. How to live a fasted life is not about impulsive religious commands like Saul’s, but about a consistent posture of dependence, sensitivity to God, and self-control led by the Spirit.
Do you see how one wrong decision can create multiple negative ripple effects?
When Jonathan heard about his father’s decision for the people to fast, he said:
1 Samuel 14:29 GNT
[29] Jonathan answered, “What a terrible thing my father has done to our people! See how much better I feel because I ate some honey!”
1 Samuel 14:30 GNT
[30] “How much better it would have been today if our people had eaten the food they took when they defeated the enemy. Just think how many more Philistines they would have killed!”
Jonathan spoke the truth.
Why would someone fast when physical strength is needed for battle—especially when the fast was not directed by God?
Why is this study necessary? The Bible says:
II Timothy 3:16 NKJV
[16] All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
There is instruction in righteousness we need to learn here. The instruction is that there are times when you should not fast.
Sometimes we think we can bribe God with fasting into answering our prayers. No. God is moved by His Word and His will—not by religious pressure.
If God leads us to fast, we should obey. But we must not use fasting as a tool to force God to answer our prayers. Am I saying fasting does not aid quicker answers to prayer?
Not at all. Fasting helps us spiritually by keeping the flesh subdued and the spirit strengthened, making us more sensitive to what God is saying. It can also make our prayers more focused and spiritually intense.
But we receive these benefits when we are led to fast.
I have also discovered that it is better to fast to build your relationship with God than to fast merely to get answers to prayer.
In other words, when you want to seek the face of God, to know Him more deeply, and you do not want to be distracted by food or other things, you can add fasting as you are led.
In all things, be led into fasting. Do not treat it as a mere religious activity.
There are some ministers who turn every problem into fasting and sowing of seeds.
They believe that if you do not fast and sow seeds, you will not receive answers to your prayers.
But when you read through the Bible carefully, there is nowhere that Jesus or His disciples sent people away to fast and sow seeds before addressing their issues. So where did that idea come from?
Sometimes sick people come to prophets seeking help, and they are told to fast. This mirrors Saul’s situation. How do you ask someone who needs nourishment and strength to fast unnecessarily?
How long we fast is not proof of spirituality. Therefore, we must be guided in how we fast. We must be led into fasting.
We should not allow fasting to create multiple problems for us as it did in the case of King Saul.
If you learned anything from this, share it so others can learn as well. If you have questions, leave them in the comment section or send them on WhatsApp. I will respond.
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