1 Samuel 13:8-15a
8 Now he waited for seven days, until the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.
9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.
10 But as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.
11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Since I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord.’ So I worked up the courage and offered the burnt offering.”
13 But Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for the Lord would now have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
14 But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
15 Then Samuel set out and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul counted the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.
The Test of Faith
Saul unable to wait
Saul was well aware that a sacrifice must be offered before the battle. This promise appears in 10:8, where it is clearly stated that Saul was to wait for Samuel’s arrival for a period of seven days. Now, a situation arrived, to test whether Saul was a king faithful to the Lord. (1) Before the battle with the Philistines, Saul waited for Samuel’s arrival at Gilgal. This was in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord through Samuel. (2) However, Samuel did not arrive for quite some time, and the people began to desert their positions. This was a serious situation for Saul. (3) Saul, losing patience, decided to take on the role of a priest himself and offered a burnt offering. He did this on the seventh day. The seven days that Samuel instructed Saul to wait had not passed yet. This was a violation of the Mosaic Law. The right to offer sacrifices was given only to the priests. Also, the priest’s office was given to the tribe of Levi, but Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. (4) Just as Saul finished offering the sacrifice, Samuel arrived. Saul lacked just a moment more of patience.
Saul’s excuse
It is a serious violation of the Law for someone who is not a priest to offer sacrifices. When Samuel pointed this out, instead of confessing his own sin, Saul lined up excuses in an attempt to justify himself. His excuses were: (1) the people were scattering from him. (2) Samuel did not arrive on the appointed time (this was not true, as the seventh day had not yet ended). (3) The people and Samuel are at fault, not himself, as he had no other choice but to act as he did. Moreover, he did ask for the favor of the Lord, so, at the end, he believed he had done good. At this stage, it became clear that Saul had completely failed the test of faith. As a result, a declaration was made that “Saul is rejected for he is unsuitable as a king and someone else, who is yet unknown, but pleasing to the Lord, will be appointed in his place.” Are you currently facing a trial of faith? If so, let’s remember that it is of God’s plan leading you to a higher blessing. Let’s learn to endure in patience and achieve victory through faith.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, please help me endure in patience. Allow me to pass the test of faith. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.