Scripture Daily

Context No. 3118 of 4322 · 1 Samuel

Context · Reflection

1 Samuel 13:10-14: in context

10It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. 11Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn’t come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash, 12therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of the LORD.’ I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.” 13Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you; for now the LORD would have established your kingdom on Israel forever. 14But now your kingdom will not continue. The LORD has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the LORD has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which the LORD commanded you.”

Saul waits for Samuel while his army melts away and the Philistines gather. Unable to wait any longer, he offers the burnt offering himself. Just as he finishes, Samuel arrives, and his rebuke is severe: you have done foolishly; you have not kept the LORD's command; the LORD would have established your kingdom forever, but now it will not continue, for he has sought a man after his own heart.

Saul's failure looks almost understandable. The army was scattering, the enemy massing, Samuel late; he forced himself, he says, to offer the sacrifice out of anxiety and expedience. But it was disobedience. He took into his own hands what was not his to do, because he would not wait on God's timing and God's servant. Under pressure, he trusted his own management over God's clear command, and it cost him the kingdom. Fear and expedience can push us to seize control, to act outside God's command and justify it by the circumstances, but God asks obedience even when waiting feels impossible.

When pressure and delay tempt me to seize control and act outside God's command, do I trust him enough to wait and obey?

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