“What Have You Done?”
“What Have You Done?”
Blessings folk!
Ok, one more look at this passage.
Remember, repetition is at the heart of learning.
Give close heed to what Saul did and his response to Samuel.
1Sa 13:5-14
Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen,
and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance;
and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed),
then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.
Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead.
But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel,
but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.
So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.”
And he offered the burnt offering.
As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came;
and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.
But Samuel said, “What have you done?”
And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”
Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted 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 over Israel forever.
“But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
Saul did not wait for Samuel.
Oh sure, he waited nearly to the end.
Still, he did not wait until the end of seven days.
Saul allowed the situation to instill fear.
- The people were leaving
- The enemy was gathering
- Samuel had yet to arrive
Therefore, Saul saw fit to present a burnt and peace offering before going into battle.
This was not his role, function, responsibility.
Rather than trust in the Lord, he trusted in himself.
He was the king.
Not the priest/prophet.
He reacted even more foolishly when confronted…”so, I forced myself…”
He tried to blame Samuel.
He piously and subtley tried to blame God… “I have not asked the favor of the Lord”…before going into battle.
This type of excuse-making is rampant within the leadership of the institutional church today.
Give close listening to what is being said by people.
You will be amazed at how much is excuse, covering of self, etc. etc.
Verbal bloviating.
Saul did not keep the commandment of the Lord.
What was the outcome?
The kingdom was taken from Saul…though it would be many years before he would be removed. HIs kingdom would not endure.
The Lord would have established his kingdom over Israel forever…but now it was gone.
The Lord would seek a man whose heart was after His heart.
The Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people.
All because Saul did not keep what the Lord commanded.
Do as the Lord instructs/commands.