Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.” And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.
Comment: Who was the ‘they’ who told Saul? They may have done it for a number of reasons. The best would have been if they wanted God honoured and didn’t want His judgement to fall upon His people. Sadly sometimes people can do things for other motives – censoriousness, legalism, wanting to see those they report to get into trouble. I hope that it was for honourable reasons. It certainly proved that people knew what they should be doing. And Saul acted quickly and decisively so that God’s law was honoured and his soldiers fed. The animal had to be dead and the blood drained out of it before it could be eaten. Still in parts of the Middle East meat is cut from living animals (there is no refrigeration) but it reads as if they were not doing it the ‘Kosher way’ and the blood was not being drained before the meat was eaten. In the Bible blood is very specially related to life and is central to seeking forgiveness and salvation in the Bible.
Prayer: Teach me to do things Your way, O God.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage. It reminded me of a verse from Proverbs 14:12. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” The opposite of this is Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” These are wise words which we need to heed in our life. God bless you.
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Amen!
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