Monday Thought – February 8, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Saul remained at Gilgal, and the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. He said, ‘Bring me the burnt offering.’ Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.” (1 Samuel 13:7-10)

Saul was preparing for battle against the Philistines. The army of Israel had been assembled. The Philistines were gathered, ready to attack. Saul waited at Gilgal because he wanted to seek God’s favor by sacrificing and praying to Him. Samuel had instructed Saul to wait for him at Gilgal and he would come to offer the sacrifice on behalf of the army. Samuel was delayed and Saul grew impatient. Saul was afraid the Philistines would attack before Samuel came. So Saul took matters into his own hands. He disregarded Samuel’s instruction to wait for him and made the sacrifice himself.

It seemed like the right thing to do. Saul was afraid. He knew he needed God’s favor to do battle against the Philistines. The Philistine army was larger and better armed. Victory would only come from the Lord. Even though it seemed right and Saul was acting out of a desire to receive God’s favor, he was disobedient to God’s instructions. He acted out of fear and not faith.

When Saul told Samuel what he had done Samuel responded: "You acted foolishly. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. Now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command." (1 Samuel 13:13-14)

It was fearful, foolish and disobedient. Because of his unwillingness to obey the Lord, Saul’s family would be removed from the kingship of Israel.

It’s an illustration of how important faith, respect, and obedience are to the Lord. Say “no” to fear, to doing what you want, to disobedience. Say “yes” to faith, to respecting God’s instructions, to obedience.

His, by Grace, Steve