Saul’s Lack of Faith Results In Separation

 The Amalekites were descendants of an illegitimate grandson of Esau.  They were a warlike nomadic people, constantly attacking their neighbors, and six hundred years before, they had attacked Israel shortly after they left Egypt.  During the period of the judges, they had repeatedly helped Israel’s enemies.  Now God directs Saul to repay them for their rejection of God’s authority and repeated attempts to destroy Israel, in I Samuel 15:1-3.  “Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”

 

They had had a thousand years to get over their anger at Israel, but had instead kept bringing it up again.  It was obvious they were never going to forgive or turn to him, so God directed Saul to exterminate them and everything they owned.  Saul went down to attack them, warning the Kenites, descendants of Moses’ inlaws to separate from them so they wouldn’t be killed by mistake, in I Samuel 15:4-7.  “And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.  And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.  And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.  And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.”

 

In the previous battles, Saul had depended on offering God sacrifices and manipulating the people with threats to accomplish his goals, and when he attacked the Amalekites, his focus was stil on what he wanted rather than on God, as I Samuel 15:8-9 describes.  “And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.  But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”

 

In the earlier cases, Saul’s actions could be easily passed off as unintentional mistakes, but this time he had deliberately ignored God’s command.  God expressed regret that he had called Saul as king, in I Samuel 15:10-12.  “ Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.  And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.”

 

When Samuel went out to meet Saul, he learned that he had gone by a round about way, hoping to avoid meeting him, like some child trying to hide what he had done.  When Samuel met up with him, he claimed to have done as God commanded, hoping to get by with it, as I Samuel 15:13 describes.  “And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.”

 

Samuel was not fooled at all.  If they had killed all the sheep and cattle as commanded there wouldn’t be any mooing or pleating.  Rather than admit his sin, Saul blamed the people, playing down their sin as I Samuel 15:14-15 states.  “And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?  And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. “

 

Samuel reminded Saul that he was the leader, and was responsible for what the people had done. And had no right to ignore what God commanded, In I Samuel 15:16-19.  “ Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.  And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?  And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.  Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?”

 

A typical narcissist, Saul refused to admit he was wrong, insisting he had done wrong and it was the people who had done wrong, but that their decision was based on a desire to worship God, in I Samuel 15:20-21.  “And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.”

 

Samuel pointed out that God wanted obedience rather than religious ritual, and that because he would not obey, he would be removed as king, in I Samuel 15:22-23.  “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”

 

Saul finally admitted he had done wrong but still blamed it on the people, asking Samuel to overlook what he had done, in I Samuel 15;24-25.  “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.  Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.”

 

Recognizing that Saul not serious in his repentance, Samuel refused to comply with his wishes and Saul tried to physically force him to do as he said, in I Samuel 15:26-27.  “And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.  And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.”

 

Samuel warned him that his efforts to force him to do as Saul wanted would not change God’s mind, in I Samuel 15:28-29.  “And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.  And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.”

 

Realizing Samuel was not going to overlook what he had done, Saul asked him to go along with him, as a show of solidarity before the people, and Samuel agreed to do so, in I Samuel 15:30-31.  “Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.  So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD. “

 

Though he went along with Saul, Samuel made it very clear Saul was in the wrong, demanding that he finish what God had commanded, in I Samuel 15:32-35.  “Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.  And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.  Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.  And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.”  Though he was forced to separate from Saul, Samuel still cared about him.

Misplaced Faith

Saul’s faith was in his own ability to get the support of God and the people.    He it was necessary to bribe God with various sacrifices to get him on his side.  As a result, he had broken God’s law by offering sacrifices himself, then later when The Philistines were running away he refused to go until he realized they were all going to escape if he didn’t get busy.  Even then he depended on his ability to motivate the people with fear because he was concerned with getting his own way, leading the people to sin. 

 

Having gotten his way the first two times, Saul would keep the same attitude this time, without concern about his men, as we see in I Samuel 14:35-37.  “And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.  And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.  And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.”

 

When Saul didn’t get the answer he wanted from God, he began to blame other people, as I Samuel 14:38-39 describes.  “And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.  For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. “

 

When the people refused to condemn Jonathan for violating his orders, Saul demanded a thorough investigation, in I Samuel 14:40-43.  “Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee. Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.  And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.  Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.”

 

A typical sociopath, Saul was willing even to kill his own son for violating his orders.  Fortunately, the people realized the victory was the result of Jonathan’s efforts rather than Saul’s, and saved him, in Judges 14:44-46. “And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.  And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.”

 

God had chosen Saul as king, and would bless his efforts to free israel, even though his motivations were wrong, as we see in I Samuel 14:47-48.  “So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.  And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.”  He was unable to wipe out the enemies, he was able to block their efforts to invade Israel repeatedly.  The Philistines would make repeated attempts to gain control, as I Samuel 14:52 describes.  “And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.”  Because of the ongoing threat, Saul would maintain a standing army, drafting the best warriors.   

 

Trying To Make Things Happen

 When Jonathan and his armor bearer attacked the Philistine guard outpost, God caused an earthquake at the same time.  Hearing the fighting and feeling the earthquake, the Philistines panicked.  Desperate to escape, they killed anyone who got in their way, as I Samuel 14:16tells us.  “And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.”

 

Jonathan had wanted to have an idea what was needed before talking to his father. He had originally had no intention of attacking them, but when the opportunity presented itself, he seized it.  When Saul realized the Philistines were fighting and running away, he demanded to know who was causing it.   upon learning it was Jonathan and his armor bearer, Saul called for priest to pray and see what they should do, in I Samuel 14:17-18.  “Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.  And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.”

 

While Saul was talking to the priest about the prayers he wanted, the Philistines kept running away, and finally Saul told them to forget about taking the time to pray and get busy chasing the Philistines since it was obvious God was giving them the victory, in I Samuel 14:19-20.  “And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.  And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.”

 

Like the Midianites in Gideon’s day, the Philistines were so frightened, they were killing each other in their efforts to escape.  Seeing the possibility of victory, the people who had given up on Saul returned to help, n I Samuel 14:21-23.  “Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.  Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.  So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.”

 

In the battle with the Ammonites, because he didn’t trust God to inspire the people, Saul ahd threatened to destroy their oxen if they didn’t come to help him.  This time, he called for a curse on anyone who ate anything before he had achieved victory, in I Samuel 14:24-26.  “And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.  And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.  And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.”

 

Saul’s statement, “…Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies,” reveals that he was far more concerned about getting his way than about what God wanted.  Because he did not understand it was God’s battle, he had to try to make everything happen the way he wanted it.   Jonathan had stepped out by faith, seeking God’s leadership, and as a result, He had not heard Saul’s order, and when God supplied readily available food, he ate some, as I Samuel 14:27 describes.  “But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.”

 

Because he was acting in the flesh, depending on his own efforts Saul’s actios actually hindered the people’s ability to fight, as Jonathan pointed out, in I Samuel 14:28-30.  “Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.  Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.  How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?”

 

Suffering from a shortage of nutrients after a day of extreme exertion, when they were finally allowed to eat, the Jews did not waste time following the Old Testament laws about draining the blood from the meat before cooking it.   Rather than acknowledging his mistake, Saul blamed the people for disobeying God,  as I Samuel 14:31-34 tells us.  “And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.  And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.  Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.  And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.”

 

Rather than reminding the people what God commanded, Saul gave an executive order demanding that a priest be present to oversee the butchering.  Unfortunately, Modern Jews have adopted and expanded Saul’s command, demanding that a priest oversee the processing of foods to make them kosher. 

 

Jonathan Trusts God

 As a result of his hesitation, most of Saul’s army had deserted, and he was no longer able to send out troops to stop the Philistine raiding parties, so they became more aggressive, as we see in I Samuel 13:17-18.  “And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.”

 

In their raids on Israel, the Philistines had killed or captured the metal workers who could make effective weapons and had seized any weapons they found, leaving the Israelites unarmed, as I Samuel 13:19-22 describes.  “Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his ax, and his mattock.  Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.  So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.”

 

The main Philistine encampment was at Michmash, making it easy for them to raid the Israelites and control the main trade route, as I Samuel 13:23 tells us.  “And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.”  They were able to prevent the caravans passing through from trading with the Israelites,  After Jonathan’s victory over the Philistine camp at Geba, Saul had gathered the army, but when he kept dithering and did not attack, the people lost confidence in his leadership and returned home, leaving him only about six hundred men, as I Samuel 14:2-3 descries.  “And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.”

 

Knowing his father was afraid to attack with such a small force, Jonathan decided to secretly scout the Philistine camp and see if there was anything they could do, in I Samuel 14:1.  “Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.”  There was a canyon between the Israelite and Philistines camps, that Jonathan would need to cross in order to spy on the Philistine camp, according to I Samuel 14:4-5.  “And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.  The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.”  With philistine guards posted along the edge of the canyon, it would be almost impossible to sneak into their camp. 

 

Remembering the stories about Gideon, Jephthah and Samson, Jonathan decided to just trust God to guide them, and his armor bearer agreed to go with him, in I Samuel 14:6-7.  “And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.  And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.”

 

Their plan was really simple.  If the philistines ordered them to halt or started shooting, they would run, because they were almost out of range.  If the Philistines invited them up in hopes of intimidating them, they would take it as a sign God wanted them to attack the outpost, as described in I Samuel 14:8-10.  “Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.  If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.  But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.”

 

The Philistines did not see two men as a serious threat, and asked them to come up, making fun of the Israelites and intending to intimidate them, as I Samuel 14:11-12a describes.  “And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.  And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing…”

 

It was clearly the sign they had asked for, so Jonathan and his armor bearer climbed up the cliff, even though it was so steep they had to use their hands to climb and would not be able to defend themselves, as I Samuel 14:12b-14 describes.  “And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.  And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.  And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.”

 

When they reached the top, they were surrounded by the Philistine guards.  Since Jonathan had the only sword, he made the primary attack wounding them and his armor bearer finished them off.  They only killed about twenty men, but the Philistines had heard the stories about Israel’s victories in the past and God used those stories to instill fear.  The fear was compounded when he also sent a small earthquake, as I Samuel 14:15describes. “And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.”

 

Panicked by the earthquake and desperate to escape, the Philistines killed anyone who got in their way, as I Samuel 14:16tells us.  “And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.”

The Philistines Invade

 The plagues God had sent on the Philistines while they held the Ark of the Covenant, and their total defeat by Israel had convinced them that an attack on Israel would be foolhardy, so throughout Samuel’s judgeship, they made no attacks, as I Samuel 7:13 tells us.  “So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”  When Samuel made his sons judges in his place the Philistines heard about the unrest and began to encroach on Israel’s land.  When Saul became king, they seized the opportunity to invade, setting up various outposts, raiding and terrorizing different communities.    

 

Israel had never maintained a standing army, but like Switzerland, had depended on citizen soldiers.  Saul established a small army to deal with the raiders, in I Samuel 13:1-2.  “Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.”

 

Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, really upsetting the Philistine leaders.  The victory inspired many the Israelites, as I Samuel 13:3-4 tells us.  “And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.  And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.”

 

In retaliation, the Philistines brought a huge force to attack, and realizing they were facing a larger and better equipped force the Israelites lost their confidence, with some going into hiding and others fleeing across the Jordan for safety, as I Samuel 13:5-7 describes.  “And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.  When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.  And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.”

 

Saul’s confidence had been destroyed by the opposition they faced, and he had sent for Samuel to come and perform sacrifices in hopes of getting God to act on their behalf.  Samuel didn’t arrive when Saul expected him to, so Saul assumed the role of priest, in I Samuel 13:8-10.  “And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.  And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.”

 

Just as Saul finished offering the sacrifices, Samuel arrived, and questioned what he had done, in I Samuel 13:10-12.  “And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.  And Samuel said, What hast thou done?

 

And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;  Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.”

 

In explaining what he had done, Saul makes it clear he knew that under God’s law he was not allowed to serve as a priest.  Saul viewed the sacrifices as some kind of magic spell to get God on his side, rather than as an act of worship, and as a result he did not dare go into battle without making the sacrifice.  Making the sacrifice was more important to him than obeying God.  He didn’t understand that “… to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams,” as Samuel explained in I Samuel 15:22.  Unfortunately, like Saul, a lot of people put their faith in some ritual such as fasting or prayer or giving to the church rather than in God’s love and righteousness. 

 

Samuel warned Saul that his lack of faith would ultimately cost him the kingdom, in I Samuel 13:13-15a.  “And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.  And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin.

 

Saul had started with a three thousand man army, and after hearing about Jonathan’s victory people had flocked to him, but because he lacked faith to go forward, most of the people had left, leaving him with only about six hundred, as we see in I Samuel 13:15b-16.  “And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.  And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.”

A Merciful and Gracious God

Israel had demanded a king, even though it went against God’s perfect plan, and Saul had not been trusting God when he threatened the people, but God still gave them the victory.  God is a very merciful and gracious God, and frequently he blesses our efforts even when we are not following his will exactly.  Samuel gathered the people together for an official coronation ceremony.   He started out by reminding them that it was their idea to demand a king and asking if he had done something that caused them to demand a king, in I Samuel 11:14-12:3.  “Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.  And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

 

And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.  And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.  Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.”

 

When they stated it was not a result of anything he had dons, Samuel said that God was witness of their sin, reminding them of how God had punished them when they disobeyed bringing enemies against them and how he had saved them when they turned to him for help, in I Samuel 12:4-11.  “And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

 

And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand.  And they answered, He is witness.

 

And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.  Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.  When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.  And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.  And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.  And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.”

 

Each time before they had trusted God to send a leader to guide them.  Instead of trusting God to lead them again, they had demanded a king to take responsibility for them as they saw the Ammonite power arising.  Now a king had been crowned, but they needed to realize that in no way reduced their responsibility to obey God, as he explains in I Samuel 12:12-15.  “And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.  Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.  If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.”

 

It was the wheat harvest, a time when the wheat had ripened and the wheat was drying out so that it would not rot when stored.  Even a small rain could destroy the entire crops or lightening could set the fields on fire, but it almost never rained during that early part of the summer.   Samuel told them he would pray and God would send thunder and lightning and rain to destroy their wheat crop as a reminder that their demand for a king was wrong, in I Samuel 12:16-18.  “Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.  Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.  So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.”

 

Until they saw God destroy their crops, the people had not considered their sin in demanding a king very serious.  Frightened by the results, they repented and asked for forgiveness.   Samuel reminded them that God is a gracious and forgiving God, but that they still needed to serve him, in I Samuel 12:19-23.  “And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

 

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.  For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.  Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:  Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.  But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.”  Like a loving father, God does not hold grudges against his children, but if they will not learn he will punish them again 

 

Saul’s Leadership Tested

Time after time invaders had occupied areas of israel, and each time, when they finally sought the Lord, they had driven them out.  Shortly after Saul was crowned as king, the Ammonites invaded Jabesh Gilead.  Rather than calling for the new king to aid them, the people of Jabesh Gilead initially tried to appease them, in I Samuel 11:1, offering to surrender.  “Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.”

 

Viewing the attempts to appease them as a sign of weakness, the Ammonites decided to capitalize on their weakness, demanding that the Israel submit to them completely, even allowing them to poke out one of each man’s eyes as a sign of their cowardice, as described in I Samuel 11:2.  “And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.”  Hesitant to allow them to put their eyes out, the People asked to be allowed to try to get help in fighting them, promising to surrender without a fight if no one came to their aid within a week, in I Samuel 11:3.  “And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.”

 

With no central government, the Ammonites were sure they couldn’t raise a significant force and would surrender without even fighting, so they agreed and messengers were sent out asking for help.  Some of the messengers went to Saul’s hometown.   Saul was out taking care of his livestock and did not learn of the request for aid until he returned, in I Samuel 11:4-5. “Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.  And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.”

 

The people were concerned about the people of Jebesh Gilead having their eyes put out, but no one felt any responsibility to prevent it until Saul came home and heard about the request.  When he heard what was going on, the Spirit of the Lord came on Saul and he realized their responsibility to protect their own people, and was angry that they were not doing anything about it, as I Samuel 11:6-7 describes.  “And the spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.  And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.”

 

Unfortunately, as James 1:20 warns, “…the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”  Instead of trusting God to draw the people and give him the victory, Saul effectively threatened to put anyone who didn’t help him out of business by destroying their farming equipment, and as Romans 14:23 warns, “…whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” In the future his lack of faith would become a serious problem. As an immediate result, he had a huge army and was successful in defeating the ammonites as I Samuel 11:8-11 describes.  “And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.  And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.  Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.  And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.”

 

It was the first test of his administration, and the people were impressed, calling for the execution of those who had opposed Saul’s coronation, in I Samuel 11:12-13.  “And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.  And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.” Saul was humble enough to realize the victory came from the Lord and forbid the execution of those who opposed him.   

Saul Is Installed As King

The people had demanded a king, rejecting God’s plan.  Instead of forcing them to follow his plan, God had directed Samuel to allow them to do things the way they wanted.  Even in their sin, God still directed who he wanted to serve as their king, directing Samuel to anoint Saul.  Samuel then gathered the people, reminding them that their demand for a king was effectively placing the king in God’s place.   They didn’t understand that in the future those kings would put their own desires ahead of God and lead the people to disobey him.     

 

He explained that because they had demanded one, God would choose a king for them.  I Samuel 10:17-21 describes the way God designated who was to be the king.  “And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.  And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.  When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.”

 

Though God had shown multiple signs that Saul was to become king, he really didn’t believe Samuel, and hid himself, but was soon exposed, in I Samuel 10:22-24.  “Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.  And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.  And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.” The people had wanted a king who could go fight for them, and Saul was nearly a foot taller than anyone else.  His size would give him an advantage in a fight, and most of the people readily accepted him.

 

Before he let them go, Samuel reminded the people about God’s commands, including the instructions as to how the king was to conduct himself, writing it all down in special book, as I Samuel 10:25-26 describes.  “Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.  And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.”

 

 

God had clearly designated Saul to be the king, and there were many who God directed to support him, but he did not have the support of all the people.  There were a group who were nto serving God, but the devil, who refused to support him, as I Samuel 10:27 describes.  “But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.”  At this point, Saul was following God, and he took no action to get rid of those who opposed him.  It is important to understand that opposition does not mean god has not called one to fulfil a particular calling.  Paul faced this in I Corinthians 16:8-9, saying, “But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.  For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” 

God Gave The People What They Demanded

Israel was rebelling against God in demanding a king, but God had instructed Samuel to give them what they wanted, in I Samuel 8:7.  “And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”  Sometimes God gives us what we ask for even when it against his will, as Psalms 106:15 tells us.  “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”  Such demands are not based on faith that God will do what is right, but on our selfish desires and inevitably, the results are unsatisfactory.   We need to learn to pray according to God’s will, as I John 5:14-15 describes.  “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

 

A short time after the people demanded a king, a young man looking for some lost donkeys came to ask Samuel if he knew where to find them.  He was the man Samuel was to appoint as king, as I Samuel 9:15-20 tells us.  “Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.  And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

 

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

 

And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.  And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?”

 

After dinner, Saul went with Samuel to worship at the high place, and the next day, Samuel anointed him to be king, in I Samuel 9:25-10:1.  “And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.  And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.  And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God.  Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?”

 

Like Gideon, Saul had no expectations of being king.  God gave Saul some signs to prove that the message was from God, just as he had given signs to Gideon.  The signs are listed in I Samuel 10:2-8.  “When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?  Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.  After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.  And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.  And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.”

 

God would not give specific instructions until Saul was sure it was God’s plan.  The signs appeared just as Samuel had described, in I Samuel 10:9-13.  “And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.  And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.  And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?  And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. “ 

Israel Demands A King

 Samuel had started out as a small child to serve the Lord, and I Samuel 7:15 tells us, “And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.”  We don’t know how long he Judged Israel, but when he got old he appointed his sons to be judges, as I Samuel 8:1-3 tells us.  “And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.  Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.”

 

While Samuel served the Lord fully and had been richly blessed, his sons had never seen how God worked in their own lives, and as a result did not take God’s commands seriously.  They took sides in legal cases, favoring powerful or wealthy people, and accepting bribes to rule in their favor, and people began to complain about not getting fair deals.  They decided they would be better off establishing a new form of government, and asked for a king like other countries had, in I Samuel 8:4-5.  “Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

 

Throughout history, men have tended to try to pass their positions and power to their children, but unfortunately, many times the children do not understand what makes the business or organization work, and begin to focus on getting the most benefits they can from their position.  Before long people begin to demand new leadership, or the company or organization goes bankrupt.  Fortunately, because Samuel’s sons were not priests, they did not turn the people against God like Eli’s sons had done. 

 

Samuel could understand that what his sons were doing was wrong, but he was concerned about the demands for a new form of government rather than the one God had established.  When he prayed about it, God pointed out that the problem was not really about his sons abusing their position, but about the people rebelling against God’s authority, in I Samuel 8:6-9.  “But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.  Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.”

 

God told Samuel to let the people have what they wanted, but to warn them that it would not be like they thought.  Samuel tried to warn them, in I Samuel 8:10-18.  “And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.  And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.  And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.  And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.  And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.  And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.  And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.  He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.  And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”

 

Samuel warned them that supporting such a strong central government would require a high level of taxation, and would mean thousands of people being drafted to serve in the military or other government offices and people’s lands and properties being seized for government purposes.  Unfortunately, like the people pushing for socialism in America today, the people were focused on the benefits they thought such a system would provide and refused to consider what they would be giving up to get it, as we see in I Samuel 8:19-20.  “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”

 

They ignored the fact that the only way the king could fight their battles was by forcing them to join his army and fight for him, and that the only way he pay for his programs was by taking what the people earned, which would require a large and expensive bureaucracy to oversee collecting taxes and paying the government employees.  The more a government does for people, the more it costs.  When Samuel told God what the people had said, God told him to give them what they wanted, in I Samuel 8:21-22.    “And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.  And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.”  No amount of facts or logic will change some people’s minds.  They refuse to simply believe what God has said.