And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
-First Samuel 13:5-14 (King James Version)
Waiting is hard, you don't need me to tell you that. Waiting is hard, especially when it is coupled with fear. Fear of current circumstances, fear of the future, fear of the unknown, all are worse when you are waiting for instruction, or waiting for help, or waiting for answers. In today's reading, we see Saul, King of Israel, in need. The Philistines had gathered to go to war with him, his men were fearful, they were hiding wherever they could find shelter. He knew he was to wait for Samuel, the prophet of God, to come and give instruction. But, it seemed that Samuel wasn't coming. So Saul took matters into his own hands, he offered the burnt offerings on the altar. Saul knew God's instruction, yet he waited not.
Have you ever felt that things were so bad, that you thought God wasn't going to show up? Sure, we've all been there. It makes me think of Lazarus, as we read in John 11. Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, was sick, and his sisters sent word to Jesus. They felt they were in dire straights, and only Jesus could keep their brother alive. Jesus got the message, but didn't come. He waited 2 whole days before He left where He was and started out for Bethany. Lazarus died in the meantime, and I'm sure his family was devastated. They knew Jesus could heal him, yet He didn't come. When Jesus finally arrived, Martha, one of Lazarus' sister, met Jesus and said, "Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. (John 11:21-22)." She shared her true feelings. "Jesus! If you'd have come, Lazarus wouldn't have died." Even during that trial, Martha knew the power of God. Later in the chapter, Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave. His life was restored.
Back to Saul, he, too, was in dire straights. We read in First Samuel 10:8, "Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do." Saul was told to go and wait, and Samuel would come and offer the offerings, and reveal what he should do. Saul waited, and on the seventh day, he could wait no longer. Saul offered the offerings, breaking what he was told to do. It may have seemed right, in his eyes, yet it was breaking the command he was given. And that lapse of obedience cost him dearly. We read in First Samuel 13:13-14, "And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee." Saul's lapse of obedience to what the Lord commanded him cost him his kingdom. It cost him everything.
Waiting is difficult, but it's necessary. Samuel revealed to Saul that if he had followed the commands of God, his family would have ruled over Israel forever. Yet, he failed to follow the commands. What are you waiting for? What has God commanded of you? Don't let a momentary lapse in judgement and obedience cost you everything. Wait on God, even when it hurts to wait. God will come through, even if He is 4 days late. Think About It.
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