Saul’s Disobedience

1 Samuel 13:1-15
Key Verse 1 Samuel 13:13

"You acted foolishly," 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.”


Introduction:

Saul broke the command of God given in 1Sa 10:8. Although it was emergency situation he acted foolishly according to Samuel. Here we can see what is lacking in Saul. That is, absolute obedience to the command of God regardless of situation. Saul’s mistake teaches us what kind of attitude we should have toward the commands of God. It is to obey them regardless of our situations.

1        Read verses 1-4. How old is Saul when he becomes king and how long did he reign over Israel? (1)  How does Saul choose his army? (2) How is the war started and who are summoned to join Saul? (3 -4)

1-1) Read verses 1-4

Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty- two years.
[2] Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.
[3] Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, "Let the Hebrews hear!" [4] So all Israel heard the news: "Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines." And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.


1-2) How old is Saul when he becomes king and how long did he reign over Israel? (1)

“ Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty- two years.”

Although he was not a great king the Lord gave him 42 years to be king. The Lord is patient and compassionate.

Saul had more than enough time (42 years) to learn true obedience and please God.
 

1-3) How does Saul choose his army? (2)

 “Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.”

a) This was the first “regular” army for Israel. Previously, Israel only had a militia that assembled in times of national threat. Now, for the first time, Israel has a professional army.

b) Saul chose three thousand soldiers in two divisions. He even sent back the rest of the men into their homes.

Maybe he thought that it was more than enough to protect his country because Micmash was known for a crag that is steep and full of rugged rocks.

He is good at relying on the circumstances and has a keen sense to adjust himself.

But his calculation turns out to be wrong.

At the same place called Micmash the Philistine armies invaded with numerous soldiers.

c) Also Jonathan is in charge of 1000 soliders. For the first time Jonathan appears here in chap. 13.  


1-4) How is the war started and who are summoned to join Saul? (3 -4)

“[3] Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, "Let the Hebrews hear!" [4] So all Israel heard the news: "Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines." And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.”

a) We can see that Jonathan was a leader. He led a successful attack. Yet this attack merely wakened the Philistines.

b) Israel had enjoyed the “peace” as subjected people: everything will be fine as long as they lived under the rule of the Philistines.

Through this attack, Jonathan proclaimed, “We won’t live as your subjects any more.”

c) In this way Israel became a stench to the Philistines. As long as the Israelites stayed in their weak, defeated “place,” the Philistines thought the Israelites were great guys.

But as soon as the Israelites show some boldness in the LORD, and are willing to battle against the LORD’s enemies, the Philistines consider the Israelites a stench!

The same principle is true spiritually in our lives.

Our enemies are principalities . . . powers . . . the rulers of the darkness of this age . . . spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places ( HYPERLINK "http://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=eph+6:12&t=en_nas&sr=1" \t "_blank" Ephesians 6:12).

But our spiritual enemies have the same attitude as the Philistines. As long as we are weak, they don’t mind us at all. They may be even kind to us.

But as soon as we show some boldness in the LORD, and are willing to battle against the LORD’s enemies, our spiritual foes consider us a stench.

Our enemy is very shrewd and appeared in and through our close worldly friends and beloved parents and brothers who persecute us.

If peace with devil is more important to you than victory in the LORD, you may not like to bother yourselves and remain as an underdog all the time.

But here a young man named Jonathan took an initiative to attack for God’s glory.

We must learn of his Spirit to live by faith and render glory to our living God!

And God will help us to grow as a remarkable spiritual general like Jonathan.

* They say that Saul attacked the Philistines- this indicates Saul’s characteristic by stealing his son’s credit and success.

2        Read verses 5-7. How do the Philistines respond after Jonathan attacked? (5) What do the men of Israel do when they see their situation is critical? (6-7a) Who remained in Gilgal? (7b)

2-1) Read verses 5-7

“The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. [6] When the men of Israel 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.”


2-2) How do the Philistines respond after Jonathan attacked? (5)

“The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven.”

a) It was a fierce backfire from the Philistines.

3000 chariots were compared to bulldozer typed tanks in our modern day.

6000 charioteers and numerous infantry soldiers who are equipped with iron weapons (far advanced than that of Israel). It is formidable armies in those days.

b) The Philistines were descendants of Greek (Crete) and their weapons were well advanced and nobody was able to compete with them.

It reminds me of a war between Great British armies and a primitive American army during American Independent War.


2-3) What do the men of Israel do when they see their situation is critical? (6-7a)

“[6] When the men of Israel 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.”

There are a couple of groups: hiding group and sell out group!

Their courage was too low to cope with the critical situation.

They just wanted to stay where they used as the Philistines’ subjects. 

Now is high time for them to appreciate what Jonathan had initiated and fight for their benefits. But they ran away and compromised due to their fear.


2-4) Who remained in Gilgal? (7b)

“Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.”

Saul was confirmed as a king in Gilgal. (1 Samuel 11:15)

Still he remained at Gilgal.

He was not able to give influence to his followers (soldiers).

3        Read verses 8-10.  What seems to make their situation worse? (8) How does Saul take matters into his own hands? (9) When does Samuel arrive? (10)

3-1) Read verses 8-10.

“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.”


3-2) What seems to make their situation worse? (8)

a) ““He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter.”

We are not so clear about that Samuel did not come to the end of seven days.

Saul had been in Gilgal for many months. He knew the Philistines were assembling a huge army against him, and that once they were organized it would be hard for him to defeat them. 

Saul probably felt that a quick response (or attack from his army) gave them the best chance to win the battle.

As we know well, Samuel had told Saul to wait for him at Gilgal for seven days. (1Sa 10:8) Then Samuel would preside over sacrifices, and Samuel would give Saul advice which he received from the Lord and Saul would be victorious. 

b) But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him: This added to Saul’s anxiety.

First, the waiting for Samuel was stressful, because he felt time was his enemy. Second, the people were scattered from him.

Saul might say something like this as many other generals or kings would say;

“Soldiers! we’re going into battle against the Philistines. They have more men and more chariots,  than we have. Soon Samuel will come and lead us in sacrifice before God. Then we’ll go out!”

But it didn’t happen like that. The days dragged on, and Samuel hadn’t come yet. The troops were losing confidence in Saul as a leader, and beginning to scatter. Saul felt he was in a lot of trouble!


3-3) How does Saul take matters into his own hands? (9)

“[9] So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering.” It was unauthorized offering because Saul was appointed to be king and prophet but not priest. To offer offerings belong to the duty of priest.

a) And he offered the burnt offering. This was plainly sinful.

First, Saul plainly disobeyed the Lord’s command given through Samuel. Second, Saul was a king, not a priest, and only priests were to offer sacrifices. Saul had no business in what only a priest should do.

Especially to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings requires many complicated steps that must be followed according to Leviticus. The bible shows the prescribed way in great detail.
 
b) Levites and Priests are professional job. Likewise Bible teachers are to handle the word of God correctly with reverent fear.

God designated Levites and Priests to do this job done.

God would not allow the kings of Israel to be priests and the priests to be kings.

In  HYPERLINK "http://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=2ch+26:1-23&t=en_nas&sr=1" \t "_blank" 2 Chronicles 26:1-23, king Uzziah tried to do the work of priest and God struck him with leprosy.

Clearly, out of fear, out of panic, out of not knowing what else to do, Saul does something sinful.


3-4) When does Samuel arrive? (10)

a) “[10] Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.”

Saul decided to perform the sacrifice not more than an hour before Samuel arrived!

If he would have trusted God and waited one more hour, how different things could have been!

b) The last moments of waiting are usually the most difficult, and tempt us most to take matters into our own hands.

Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him: Saul is really overstepping his position now.

Literally, Saul wanted to bless Samuel - perhaps as if a priest blesses someone!

 

4        Read verses 11-15. What is Samuel’s question? (11a) How does Saul reply? (11b-12) How does Samuel rebuke him? (13a) What is the result of his disobedience? (13b-14a, 12:25) What kind of person does God seek out instead? (14b) How many men are left with Saul? (15)

4-1) Read verses 11-15.

“"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 Micmash, [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 acted foolishly," 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 leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command." [15] Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.”


4-2) What is Samuel’s question? (11a)

““"What have you done?" asked Samuel.”

Samuel said, “What have you done?” Samuel already knew Saul had done something wrong.

But Samuel was not looking for reasons or excuses. All Samuel wanted to hear was confession and repentance.


4-3) How does Saul reply? (11b-12)

“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 Micmash, [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."”

a) And Saul said: I saw that the people were scattered from me: “I had to do something to impress the people, and sustain their support.”

He should have been more concerned with pleasing God instead of pleasing the people.

b) You did not come within the days appointed: “Samuel, it was really your fault. If you would have come earlier, I wouldn’t have needed to do this.”

But if Saul would have obeyed and trusted God, God would take care of Samuel and the timing.

Even if Samuel was totally in the wrong, it didn’t justify Saul’s sin. We often try to blame our sin on someone else.

c) If Saul would have obeyed and trusted God, the LORD would take care of the Philistines.

He could have cried out the LORD for the whole nation with a humble heart.

Therefore I felt compelled: “I had to. It just seemed like the right thing to do. I couldn’t wait any longer.”

Even though Saul felt compelled, he was not supposed to be ruled by his feelings and merely practical need.


4-4) How does Samuel rebuke him? (13a)

“[13] "You acted foolishly," Samuel said.”

Nothing is harsh than this rebuke by saying, “you acted foolishly.”

4-5) What is the result of his disobedience? (13b-14a, 12:25)

“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 leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command."”

Samuel did not go around the bush but straightforwardly pin point his sin problem so that he may repent plainly.

His disobedience is not one time transaction but tremendous effect over his kingdom and his descendants.

Saul will rule the Israel for more 20 years but God already determined to impeach him as a king by saying “now.” Done deal!


4-6) What kind of person does God seek out instead? (14b)

“The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command."

Though God has rejected Saul, He has not rejected Israel. Because God loves Israel, he will raise up a king, a man after His own heart.

Saul was a man after Israel’s heart. He was all about image and prestige and the things men look at. But God will now give Israel a man after His own heart, and raise that man up to be king.


4-7) How many men are left with Saul? (15)

“[15] Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.”

In conclusion:
May the Lord raise up many servants of God who follow Jonathan’s faith to fight a good fight against our inner enemy no matter how difficulty it might be. Through Saul’s case of failure, we may pray to overcome impatience. May the Lord help each of us to grow up as God’s servants who are ready to obey God’s words with absolute attitude and win victory. Amen.

One word: After God’s own heart!

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