Samuel and Saul 1 Samuel 13, 15
This post discusses how King Saul failed to obey God’s instructions exactly as given by Samuel.
When the Philistines gathered to fight against Israel, God, through Samuel, gave instructions to King Saul about sacrificing before the fight.
God’s instructions said wait seven days and then sacrifice.
When Samuel failed to show, King Saul substituted his idea of how things should be done and offered the sacrifice. In this way Saul committed a twofold, grievous sin. He did not wait as instructed by God and only authorized priests should offer sacrifices.
When Samuel asked, “What have you done?” Saul made excuses and claimed he forced himself because the people were scattering, the Philistines were mustering, and Samuel had not arrived.
Samuel expressed God’s displeasure, 1 Samuel 13:13:
“…You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you.”
Because Saul failed this test by not obeying exactly, his dynasty as a kingdom was forfeited.
Incredibly, Saul later received a second chance to obey God:
Samuel instructed him, “…go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel, and donkey.’”
But Saul again substituted his ideas instead of obeying God exactly.
He “spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them.”
Saul lied to Samuel and said that he had obeyed. But Samuel heard the noise of the cattle and sheep. So, Saul then blamed the people by saying they brought the animals to sacrifice to the Lord. Saul claimed he obeyed and only brought the king alive.
Samuel explained to Saul that obeying exactly superseded sacrificing in importance. Further, God viewed Saul’s presumption of his wishes over God’s will as sin and worshipping idols. As a result, God rejected him as king.
Christianity also demands exact obedience, Colossians 3:17:
“whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
What can be learned?
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Our ideas for worship substituted for Bible commands and examples will never please God.
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God expects worship and exact obedience.
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