A Lack Of Faith Leads To Sin

When Saul was named king, he had no real idea how he should act, so he went on herding his livestock just as he had always done, except he had a group of guys who went with him.  As a result, when the Ammonites attacked, he had no army on standby and had to put out a general call for the people to come fight.  After their defeat in I Samuel 7, the Philistines had been afraid to attack Israel as long as Samuel led them but when they learned that Saul had been chosen to lead Israel, they began to raid again. 

Two years after becoming king, Saul formed a small military force to stop the terrorist attacks, according to 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.” 

Because of the events in Judges 19-21, the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out and there were not enough to hold all their land,  The Philistines had established a military camp at Geba, so Saul placed a thousand troops in Gibeah to stop their depredations.  Under Jonathan, Saul’s troops captured the Philistine camp, in I Samuel 13:3-4.  “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.”  Saul used Jonathan’s victory to rally support against the Philistines.

The Philistines responded with an invasion by a far larger and better equipped army than Israel could field, in I Samuel 13:5-7, driving many of the Israelites out of their homes.  “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…”

Frightened by the size of the force against him Saul sent for Samuel to come and invoke God’s blessings on the army.  When Samuel didn’t arrive as soon as he thought he should, Saul took matters into his own hand, in I Samuel 7b-9.  “As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.  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.”

Because Saul had not trusted God to give the victory at Jabesh Gilead, he had threatened to kill anyone who didn’t help’s oxen.  This time the people were there, but the Philistine army was bigger, and he didn’t trust god to help them unless they offered a bribe in the form of a sacrifice, and he didn’t dare wait any longer.   Samuel arrived just as he finished, as I Samuel 13:10 tells us.  “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.”

Sal rushed to meet Samuel.  It was obvious to Samuel that Saul was up to something and he questioned him in I Samuel 13:11-12.  “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.”

Saul knew that only the priests were allowed to offer the sacrifices, as numbers 3:10 specifies.  “And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.”  He tried to excuse himself, first blaming Samuel for being late and saying he was afraid the people would leave if he didn’t act fast so he had gone agains his own reservations and offered the sacrifice. 

Samuel didn’t buy the excuses.  Saul was to obey God, no matter how he felt.  Because he had disobeyed, God would take the kingdom away from him, as I Samuel 13:13-tells us.  “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.”

We need to realize God cares about us and we don’t have to bribe him to act on our behalf.   He will always do his part if we just do what he says.  When we don’t trust him, we cause ourselves problems.  Saul’s hesitation to attack had resulted in all but about six hundred deserting him, according to I Samuel 13;15.  And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.”