Saul Rebels Against God
July 4, 2022
Commentary
The real nature of Saul begins to show in this chapter. As we get a good view of him we begin to see that he is a phony. After reigning two years over Israel He organized and commanded an army of two thousand, stationed in Micmash to the north of Jerusalem (vv. 1-3). His son, Jonathan, was in charge of one thousand troops in Gibeah. Jonathan attacked and destroyed the Philistine garrison in his area but Saul took all the credit for it (v. 4). He called all of Israel together and gave a phony report. This was just the beginning of a growing pride for Saul that grew into an ugly obsession and eventually destroyed him. The Israelites became terrified as they saw the mighty Philistine army. They forgot that God was on their side and He couldn’t be defeated.
After a preliminary encounter at Geba, halfway between Micmash and Gibeah, the Philistines apparently recovered from there loses, and with 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers and innumerable foot soldiers, pushed the Israelite troops eastward all the way to Gilgal (vv. 5-7). Saul waited seven days for Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice but, when he did not arrive, he took it upon himself to offer the sacrifice (vv. 8-9). This was against God’s laws (Deut. 12:5-14) and Samuel’s instructions to Saul. Under pressure from the approaching Philistines, he took matters into his own hands and disobeyed God.
When Samuel confronted him, Saul had plenty of excuses but he had disobeyed God and this was sin (vv. 10-12). He was not willing to wait for Samuel. He was impatient and presumptuous. He thought he had three good reasons for not waiting for Samuel to appear: (1) The people were scattered; (2) the Philistines were coming against him; and (3) Samuel was a little late in arriving. Saul was told in the beginning that if he obeyed God, he would be blessed, but if he disobeyed, there would be judgment (vv. 13-14). Samuel tells him that because of this he will lose his kingship. Saul has disobeyed, so God has another man to be King. He is going to bring him on the scene a little later. Even Samuel, at this time, does not know who he is.
Application
Like Saul, my true spiritual character is revealed under pressure. He was doing a good thing in offering a sacrifice, but he was doing it in a wrong way. The methods I use to accomplish goals are just as important as the attainment of those goals.
1 Samuel 13:1– 14 (NET)
1 Saul was [thirty] years old when he began to reign; he ruled over Israel for [forty] years. 2 Saul selected for himself 3,000 men from Israel. Of these 2,000 were with Saul at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel; the remaining 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. He sent all the rest of the people back home.
3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost that was at Geba and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul alerted all the land saying, “Let the Hebrews pay attention!” 4 All Israel heard this message, “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel is repulsive to the Philistines!” So the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 Meanwhile the Philistines gathered to battle with Israel. Then they went up against Israel with 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 The men of Israel realized they had a problem because their army was hard pressed. So the army hid in caves, thickets, cliffs, strongholds, and cisterns. 7 Some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan River to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul stayed at Gilgal; the entire army that was with him was terrified. 8 He waited for seven days, the time period indicated by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the army began to abandon Saul.
9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” Then he offered a burnt offering. 10 Just when he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel appeared on the scene. Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.
11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “When I saw that the army had started to abandon me, and that you didn’t come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines had assembled at Micmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt obligated to offer the burnt offering.”
13 Then Samuel said to Saul, “You have made a foolish choice! You have not obeyed the commandment that the Lord your God gave you. Had you done that, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom will not continue. The Lord has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him, and the Lord has appointed him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the Lord commanded you.”