The passage I read was 1 Samuel 13:1-14
You can find that passage here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+13%3A1-14&version=NIV
My attempt to summarize:
A King in impatience and disobedience makes choices that end up being detrimental to his very kingship. Saul loses his blessing as king in that he discerned un wisely to make a burnt offering himself, even though he was told to wait.
As I reflect:
I can relate to Saul and I think if we all look deep enough or if we look through the history of our actions we all can relate to Saul in several ways.
Israel had gotten together for battles before but this is the first time they had an official army (though not well equipped by any means). Jonathan is Saul’s son and is rather gifted in war. He goes and successfully attacks a Philistine outpost which kinda starts this whole war off. You see, for years the Israelites had hung their heads low as a sort of servant nation with the Philistines reigning over them. But Jonathan had enough and decided to stand up to the enemy and no longer allow heads to be hung low. He uses his gift and when Saul heard of the victory, he began to show some of his true colors by taking all the credit in his announcements to Israel of his success.
Stopping here I see already two things that most of us can relate to.
1 – if we have a God given gift, then we ought to use it for the good of others… Regardless of the odds against us.
2 – It can be a temptation to us all to take credit that is due to another. Most commonly we do this with God. When He has allowed us a promotion at work, we take the credit instead of glorifying him. Or perhaps you received a new house or paid off your current house and took credit for your great financial wisdom instead of giving God the glory. There are many examples I’m sure we all could think of where this mis credit has taken place in our lives. The important thing is to recognize it, repent of it, and give God the credit and glory due His name.
Moving on, we see the fear building in the Hebrews as their nemesis grows before them. This is common in all Christians that at some point or another may come to recognize the great spiritual war that is being waged against us. It is important in these times that we (unlike the Israelites) do not run and hide from our enemy, but rather stand faithfully knowing that our God is with us always. In our weakness He is strong and victory is His if we will but be faithful in His will.
Verse 7 – 10 discuss how Saul lost faith, obedience, and patience. He chose to break the rules. You see, a priest was the only authorized person of this time period to make a sacrifice to Yahweh. Saul was not a priest. Samuel was, and had told Saul to wait for him that he may make the sacrifice to God and thus receive a blessing on the Israelite army for this battle.
I believe that we often act in a similar way and there is a price to pay when we do. This is simply put, disobedience. Can anyone of us say that we have never been disobedient to the Lord? Surely not. We have all been there. The question is, what was done about it.
The next few verse describe Saul as excusing himself to Samuel in a way that almost surely communicated he knew he was at fault from the start. Saul implies that it is Samuels fault for being late and that something had to be done before the Philistines attacked and killed all the unblessed people in his scattering army.
Have we done this? When we have sinned and we knew it was sin, did we then blame someone else or try to excuse our sin? I believe just as common as it is to find a sinner, you will surely find a sinner excusing their sin. But there are repercussions for sin and that is exactly what Samuel then tells Saul. Not only does he tell him of the great price for his sin, but almost adding insult to injury he tells Saul what greatness could have been his (having a monarchy set up for his children to continue ruling the nation) and that now would instead be lost due to disobedience.
I wonder how many promises we have missed out on in our lives due to failure to repent before our Lord. More than wondering, I believe the proper action is to learn from our mistakes and to turn from them (repentance) to align ourselves obediently with the Lord’s will in our lives. I believe that Saul was an example to us to be patient and wait on the Lord and be obedient no matter what the circumstance. In his example we are shown that disobedience has a great price and though we as Christians today can receive the forgiveness of Christ, it doesn’t means that we may reap all the blessings and wonders the Lord has for us if we continue to make sinful decisions out of disobedience. Let’s be faithful to wait on the Lord and let’s reap with great joy together the blessings that are in store for His faithful followers.
Let’s also be sure to know our role. I think it’s important to support one another but to do so by using the gifts and talents the Lord has allotted us… This is best done when we know our role. Know your role Christian.
My response to the Lord:
Yahweh, I am humble in kneeling before you my King. I ask only to serve you better, that you would lead me to do your will. I pray that I would be patient during my trials and time of tribulation, not to act outside of your will in hopes of hastening a return to easier times. I pray that I would simply wait on you and if any movement is made that it be made with your blessing and in your timing. I want to be no where other than where you want me and I want to do nothing other than what you would have me do. Father, I trust you and with my actions I pray others would see and benefit from the proof of that trust in you. How could I ever hope to lead or mentor others in any way if I should fail to rely first on you with all that I am and for all that I will be. May I always act within the role you have set for me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
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