“When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel.
Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
1 Samuel 13:6-14
“A lot can go through your head while you’re waiting. What are some of the thoughts that have bombarded you during one of your latest waiting experiences?
What do you think God is most wanting to purge out of us when He forces us to wait on Him?
Any serious student of Israel, or of David, must face why God rejected Saul as king of Israel. We begin to comprehend the reason by examining the time when Saul mustered an army for war against the Philistines, but the Israelite army was so badly outnumbered that they hid in caves.
God gave Saul a chance to shine. He could have taken his place among the great men and women of faith. According to verse 8, he ‘waited seven days, the time set by Samuel.’ God was teaching his new king to wait on the Lord.
Imagine the strain on the fledgling king as watched his army melt away before his eyes. The prophet told Saul to wait until he came to offer the sacrifice before battle. By the seventh day, Saul’s patience snapped. He could no longer stand to see his army disintegrate. No doubt he chafed under the criticism of his men. He dared not go into battle without making an offering to God, so he offered the sacrifice himself.
Have you noticed the truth of the old statement that God is seldom in a hurry but He’s never late? How often do we give up on God and on obedience just five minutes before deliverance? As Saul made the offering, Samuel arrived. At first glance Saul’s infraction may seem minor and Samuel’s reaction harsh, but we must remember, Saul was king of God’s people. If you aspire to greater authority, you must accept greater accountability that goes with it.
Samuel demanded to know what Saul had done. The king’s response reflected his fear of public opinion, his lack of trust in God, and his cavalier attitude toward obedience. Saul said when he saw the men scattering and Samuel didn’t come, he ‘felt compelled to offer the burnt offering’ (vs. 12).
We dare not minimize disobedience to God. The prophet responded to Saul’s excuses and blaming with harsh words. Saul had a clear command from God. He disobeyed, an it cost him the kingdom.
Lord God, as David declared, may I be certain of seeing Your goodness come to pass in my current situation, whether in triumph and victory or in loss and turmoil, as I experience Your mighty supply of grace and power sustaining me. Because of Your Spirit’s life at work in me, I will wait for You, Lord, courageous and with a strong heart. Yes, Lord, I will wait on You (Ps 27:13-14).”