1Sa 13:11 | KingComments | STEP | Saul must wait seven days in Gilgal. This is what Samuel told him. This will be the great test, as the great test of faith is always patience, waiting for God’s time. Much of God’s work does not come about through impatient, premature action by man. It is about endurance or patience having “a perfect work” ( ). However, the flesh is impatient. Waiting is hard for us. We are often in a hurry. Just look at the highway, where we as believers race over and annoy ourselves if someone does not let us pass by. Saul cannot wait because he has nothing of the LORD in him. By having to wait for Samuel it is also clear that Samuel is still the real connection between God and His people. Saul, the soldier, who is ready for battle, must wait for the prophet of God who will tell him what to do. Saul is waiting. Until he sees that as time goes by, the people become more and more afraid and start to run away. He sees his army shrinking. As the army shrinks, so does his patience to wait for Samuel. Patience can be an accomplishment of the flesh. Saul can muster to keep the prescribed commandment and waits seven days. To wait longer, faith is needed ( ) and Saul does not have it. He orders that the burnt offering and the peace offerings be brought to him so that he can offer. Although he is not a priest, he offers. He thinks that as king he has the right to do so. It is an act of audacity. Such an act costs the later king Uzzia dearly, for God punishes him with leprosy on his forehead. He keeps this leprosy until the day of his death ( ). Why does Saul offer and does not go without sacrificing to the enemy? It seems that he wants to keep up a semblance of religion. Thus many believers go to church or to the meeting and do what is appropriate, only to keep up the outward appearance, while within there is nothing directed at the Lord. It is only for others. When Saul has brought the burnt offering and is about to bring the peace offerings, Samuel appears on stage. Saul leaves the offerings for what they are and goes to Samuel to greet him. He knows how much he needs Samuel and he is also aware that he has done something of which Samuel said he would do it himself. Before Saul can say anything, Samuel asks Saul the question: “What have you done?” It is the question of the spiritual condition of the person addressed. This question should lead someone to speak honest about his actions. It is a next question God has asked a man. The first question is to Adam: “Where are you?” ( ). The question, ”what have you done”, God asks Cain, after he has killed Abel ( ). Saul’s three excuses show that he does not count with God, but only according to his own possibilities. If God has no place in a person’s thinking, he will sit down to think himself and then come to intellectual conclusions that lead him to wrong decisions. 1. He sees people leaving him. Because his trust is in men and not in God, he comes to an act of unbelief. By the way, could he win the war with people who have as little faith as he does? 2. His lack of faith becomes public when he sees that Samuel does not come at the right time. Indirectly he accuses Samuel of breaking his word. 3. His eyes are on the power of the enemy, while he should have seen God; his eyes should have been on God’s power. Man’s thinking always seeks ways out. He presents God as a God Whose favor must first be obtained, as if it were an idol. Saul has the courage of the flesh that lifts itself up to action. He blames the circumstances. Actually, he says: ‘I was forced to act like this because of the circumstances. I didn’t want to do it, but I couldn’t do anything else when I saw the Philistines coming toward me.’ We are all inclined to speak in the same way. When we have spoken a hard word or done a stupid action or refused to obey, we also easily blame the circumstances. Saul wants to cover all his actions with the good deed he believes he has done in offering the burnt offering. Hypocrites place a great emphasis on outward acts of a religious nature and are therefore of the opinion that they should be exonerated from a violation of the law.

‏ 1 Samuel 13:11

Saul Is Impatient and Offers

Saul must wait seven days in Gilgal. This is what Samuel told him. This will be the great test, as the great test of faith is always patience, waiting for God’s time. Much of God’s work does not come about through impatient, premature action by man. It is about endurance or patience having “a perfect work” (Jam 1:4). However, the flesh is impatient. Waiting is hard for us. We are often in a hurry. Just look at the highway, where we as believers race over and annoy ourselves if someone does not let us pass by. Saul cannot wait because he has nothing of the LORD in him.

By having to wait for Samuel it is also clear that Samuel is still the real connection between God and His people. Saul, the soldier, who is ready for battle, must wait for the prophet of God who will tell him what to do. Saul is waiting. Until he sees that as time goes by, the people become more and more afraid and start to run away. He sees his army shrinking. As the army shrinks, so does his patience to wait for Samuel.

Patience can be an accomplishment of the flesh. Saul can muster to keep the prescribed commandment and waits seven days. To wait longer, faith is needed (Jam 1:3) and Saul does not have it. He orders that the burnt offering and the peace offerings be brought to him so that he can offer.

Although he is not a priest, he offers. He thinks that as king he has the right to do so. It is an act of audacity. Such an act costs the later king Uzzia dearly, for God punishes him with leprosy on his forehead. He keeps this leprosy until the day of his death (2Chr 26:16-21).

Why does Saul offer and does not go without sacrificing to the enemy? It seems that he wants to keep up a semblance of religion. Thus many believers go to church or to the meeting and do what is appropriate, only to keep up the outward appearance, while within there is nothing directed at the Lord. It is only for others.

When Saul has brought the burnt offering and is about to bring the peace offerings, Samuel appears on stage. Saul leaves the offerings for what they are and goes to Samuel to greet him. He knows how much he needs Samuel and he is also aware that he has done something of which Samuel said he would do it himself.

Before Saul can say anything, Samuel asks Saul the question: “What have you done?” It is the question of the spiritual condition of the person addressed. This question should lead someone to speak honest about his actions. It is a next question God has asked a man. The first question is to Adam: “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9). The question, ”what have you done”, God asks Cain, after he has killed Abel (Gen 4:10).

Saul’s three excuses show that he does not count with God, but only according to his own possibilities. If God has no place in a person’s thinking, he will sit down to think himself and then come to intellectual conclusions that lead him to wrong decisions.

1. He sees people leaving him. Because his trust is in men and not in God, he comes to an act of unbelief. By the way, could he win the war with people who have as little faith as he does?

2. His lack of faith becomes public when he sees that Samuel does not come at the right time. Indirectly he accuses Samuel of breaking his word.

3. His eyes are on the power of the enemy, while he should have seen God; his eyes should have been on God’s power.

Man’s thinking always seeks ways out. He presents God as a God Whose favor must first be obtained, as if it were an idol. Saul has the courage of the flesh that lifts itself up to action. He blames the circumstances. Actually, he says: ‘I was forced to act like this because of the circumstances. I didn’t want to do it, but I couldn’t do anything else when I saw the Philistines coming toward me.’ We are all inclined to speak in the same way. When we have spoken a hard word or done a stupid action or refused to obey, we also easily blame the circumstances.

Saul wants to cover all his actions with the good deed he believes he has done in offering the burnt offering. Hypocrites place a great emphasis on outward acts of a religious nature and are therefore of the opinion that they should be exonerated from a violation of the law.