From “Feast of Tabernacles,” Chapter 11- Tabernacles – The Feast of Rest, continued
The strange part of the whole thing is this, that the whole purpose and plan of God for this day and hour is completely lost and obscured amidst the shout of victory, and most of the saints do not know what it is all about. They can see healings, miracles, prophecy, laying on of hands for the bestowal of gifts, singing in the Spirit… and so forth; and they do not understand that it is God in mercy preparing His people to enter into the very heritage of Canaan. They do not realize that this is but the foretaste and earnest of their heritage, and that God would now lead them in to possess the land. And so King Saul–for he was king, and this was his battle, and his victory–he charged the people with a strange oath, forbidding them to eat any food until he was avenged of his enemies. (Just that very morning he was resting under a pomegranate tree with no thought of pursuing the enemy at all. But he must maintain his kingdom and show his authority and keep the people under his rule and sway.)
The battle continued with ever-increasing momentum, the people pursuing the enemy, and the backslidden Hebrews coming out of their hiding places and joining the battle along with their comrades. But it was a hard struggle, and the people became faint as the battle wore on. How hungry they were! But they could taste nothing, because Saul had charged the people with a strange oath. This was no time to eat; this was a day of battle. This is no time to talk about Divine life, and freedom from sin and the carnal nature, and appropriation of resurrection blessings; those things belong to the rapture!
And so they fought; and as they pursued the enemy they came into a wood. The trees were literally flowing with honey, but they could not touch it. A curse was pronounced upon any man who would taste any food until victory was complete. Is it not strange how men in high places are constantly charging the people with strange oaths as to what they shall accept and what they shall not accept? And the people are hungry for the heritage of Canaan, but they fear the oath. Saul has made the decree, and that is enough. “Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening.” This is the hour of the Church’s struggle, we are told, and it is no time to be talking about our heavenly heritage and trying to enter into it.
But like Jonathan there are some that “heard not” when this curse was laid upon the people. And like Jonathan they have discovered that the fruit of Canaan is to be their strength and sustenance even while they fight the Devil, and not after they go to Heaven. In fact, it is part of the spoils of victory; it is right in our pathway as we pursue the enemy and throw his ranks into utter confusion. And so Jonathan simply put forth his rod and took a little honey (for the trees “dropped” or literally “flowed” with honey), and put the honey to his mouth, and “his eyes were enlightened.” Just as simple as that! The people argued with him that he was doing wrong, because the king had said so. They themselves were really hungry for the same thing, but that did not matter either. If the king said so, that was enough. Jonathan was under the curse. GHW
How hungry are we for the fruit of Canaan to strengthen and sustain us? Are we content to stumble into the battle late, ill prepared and prone to weariness, and not take of the honey, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, because someone higher up has said it is a curse? Has church leadership aroused you to the battle and told you to fight without allowing the Holy Spirit that flows from heaven to be your source of strength? Have you been told the gifts of the Spirit are not for today or told to be careful, for you might offend someone in their operation in your life? Have you been forbidden the “enlightenment” that only the Spirit can bring because leadership wants to control you instead of equipping you?
The curse of the Law, here I am speaking of this legalism and egotism Saul portrayed, fell on Christ on our behalf so that the righteousness of God could fall on us, like honey from the tree, though we did not deserve it. In Colossians 3:13, the apostle Paul tells us, citing Deuteronomy 21:23, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us– for it is written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE.’”
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