By Andrew Williams – February 3, 2022
And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
I Samuel 13:7-11 NKJV
Good morning fellow disciples.
Wait: To stay proceedings, or suspend any business, in expectation of some person, event, or the arrival of some hour.
At this time in the history of Israel it was usual for the priest to offer sacrifices before the military left out for war. Samuel had given king Saul the instruction to wait on him to come to offer the sacrifice. But Saul became impatient when he saw that his men were about to desert him and that the opposing army was gathering against him.
He went ahead and offered the sacrifices to God. Even though he was anointed by God as king, it wasn’t his duty to offer the sacrifices. That duty and privilege belonged to the priest who God anointed.
This incident highlighted yet another way that Saul was disobedient to God. He overstepped his authority! He disrespected Samuel the priest! He disobeyed God’s anointed priest and prophet. In doing all this, he listened to his fears and to the people instead of God.
One of the overarching themes in the Bible is the theme of obedience versus disobedience. No matter what sin we look at, it comes down to a matter of whether we obey God or disobey God.
Why didn’t Saul wait? The answer is: “he was disobedient to God’s word”.
My question to you today is this: “why didn’t you wait on God’s anointed or God when you were instructed to?”
Prayer: Father God, I hear You speaking to me. I have read Your Words and I understand them. I’ve heard Your messengers. There are times when I see exactly what I need to do and when I need to do it, but honestly sometimes I don’t wait.
I hear Your Holy Spirit speaking to me, and instead of listening to Him and obeying Him, I try to make Him do things my way. I know that I’m wrong Lord! I confess my sin of disobedience to You and to Your word. Please forgive me!
From now on I will wait on You. I will not go ahead of You, and I will not lag behind You. I want to see Your will done in my life and the lives of others around me, so I will be obedient to You from now on. Amen.