IN this chapter we see Saul in difficulties, and we may feel, at our first reading of this chapter, that he is treated by God, through Samuel, very harshly, and perhaps unfairly. However after closer thought we will have to appreciate that in this chapter we have a very serious and important lesson of the spiritual life, which is to trust and obey. This is the essence of the spiritual life, however difficult it may be sometimes. The sad fact is that from this time of failure, the reign of Saul was in difficulties and did not fulfill any of the potential it had had at the beginning. The sad fact was that although repentance and sorrow in Saul could have reversed the judgement of God in his life, yet he never really seemed to be able to humble himself under the authority of God in a right way.

THE STORY

Saul has begun his reign, and commences by raising a regular force of troops in order to set about freeing Israel from the tyranny of the Philistines. His first action is to attack a Philistine outpost or garrison, and destroy it (v.3-4). By this act he virtually declared war on the Philistines.

Naturally the Philistines prepared to retaliate. Saul called Israel to arms, and the people rallied to his call, but soon became terrified by the massive size of the army oppossing them, and Israelites began to hide away and leave Saul's army.

Saul remained at Gilgal where Samuel had told him to wait for him, in order to receive God's direction before any action against the Philistines should be undertaken, but while Saul was waiting the required seven days, Samuel did not seem to come, and Saul saw his army dwindling in numbers and the enemy gaining strength and confidence. In the face of this dilemma, on the seventh day, but before the day had ended, Saul took things into his own hands, and offered sacrifices to claim God's aid, and so acted on his own in disobedience to the direction of God through Samuel to wait seven days until Samuel should come and tell him what to do.

Samuel does in fact come before the seventh day is ended, but after Saul had finished his sacrificing, and Saul finds himself challenged concerning his disobedience. He is told by Samuel he has acted foolishly, and that now God would not be with him, and that another would be prepared by God to take his place as king.

UNDERSTANDING THE LESSON

The fault of Saul was not that he offered sacrifices, but that he was disobedient, and lost faith in God. Saul should have believed God through the word of Samuel, and waited until the seventh day had been completed. God kept his word for Samuel came before the seventh day ended.

The assumption is that when Samuel came he would bring direction from God, which came with God's power acting on Saul's behalf, so that Israel would defeat the Philistines. Saul had plenty of evidence of the way of obedience and faith being the way of victory. The history of Joshua, and Gideon, to name just two, would have been sufficient. Samuel had reminded Israel of such interventions of God in chapter 12:11. Yet Saul lost faith, and acted in his own wisdom and strength, possibly feeling his wisdom was best. He resorted to human wisdom.

The rest of the chapter is a dismall story of Israel's continued oppression by the Philistines.

THOUGHTS FOR OUR DISCUSSION

What lessons concerning faith and obedience do we learn here? And how may we profit by these lessons, and apply the lesson of faith and obedience to our lives and the life of the church of God today?

What lessons do we learn here as to how the work of God should be approached? Also as to how we should approach the problems and difficulties of life?