Where is the Pathway?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5 & 6
Saul depended upon his own reasoning. He turned his back on God’s path for himself.
Who would have thought that Saul would make a choice to defy God? After all, Saul was chosen by God to be the king of His beloved Israel.
We really don’t know when Saul began the tragic turn away from God’s authority. But we know he made an intentional decision that changed the course of his story.
As this week’s story opens, we find Saul and his son, Jonathan, leading 3,000 men against a Philistine garrison. The enemies of Israel said “…that Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines.” (v. 4)
When the Philistines heard that their garrison had been attacked and defeated by Saul and Jonathan, they mustered together an army of 36,000 men.
“When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.” (v. 6)
You can imagine the terror of the Hebrews with their relatively small band of 3,000 men against 36,000 Philistine warriors. An attack would mean the certain destruction of Israel.
How easy it is to forget about the mighty power of God. We forget that God already knows the end of the story. God has divinely planned the story that no man can destroy.
What was Saul supposed to do in the face of this crisis? Well, go back and read 1 Samuel 10:6-8
Saul was told by Samuel to follow these instructions:
- Remember that God is with you.
- Watch for His signs.
- Wait seven days for me (Samuel) at Gilgal.
- I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings.
- Wait till I come to you and show you what you should do.
Watch and wait. That was what Saul was instructed to do. Samuel’s delay was divine. It was an intentional test of Saul’s obedience and faith.
God knew Saul’s heart. But Saul thought he could hide his rebellious inclination. All people think they can hide their sin nature.
Some live that way for a lifetime. They walk further away from God to be eternally separated by sin. (Isaiah 59:2)
Others go to Jesus for the remedy and are born-again to walk in newness life. (Romans 6:4)
Saul did wait for seven days. But when Samuel did not come on day seven, Saul turned to do his own thing. He rejected God’s plan. He defied God.
One could argue that Saul did the sensible thing. After all, Samuel’s delay could have meant that he wasn’t going to show up at all. The Philistine’s victory over Israel seemed certain if Saul didn’t do something.
Obedience is not easy. But when God is silent, that is not the time to disobey. It is the time to trust Him.
The hardest part of obedience can be not knowing what to do. But Saul knew what to do. Watch and wait.
Even devoted believers struggle with obedience. We are pulled by temptations, fear and even by logic. But those that have a deep abiding confidence in God’s care discover that obedience is possible, if not easy. It is possible through the power of God enabling you to wait.
That is where our key verse comes in. “Trust, obey, acknowledge Him and God will direct your path.”
Saul stepped out in open rebellion against God. He took it upon himself to offer the burnt offering. This was an offense to God. Samuel was called by God to perform priestly duties.
Then Samuel came to Saul.
And Samuel said, “What have you done?” (v. 11)
Saul explains himself to Samuel (vv. 11 & 12)
- … the people were scattered from me
- …you did not come within the days appointed
- …the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
- …The Philistines will come down on me…
- … I have not made supplication to the Lord.’
- …I felt compelled,
- …I offered a burnt offering.
“And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue…” (vv. 13 & 14)
Saul did go on to rule Israel as king as long as he lived. But he ruled without God’s covenant authority. He was about thirty when his throne was established and he would live another 40 years before David would become King.
Before you close chapter thirteen, there is an interesting detail about the military strategy of the Philistines. It has to do with their control over allowing Israel to have certain weapons. Read 1 Samuel 13: 19-23.
It is important to read this for context concerning next week’s continuing story about Saul.
An important takeaway from this lesson is this-
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
Psalm 37:23
When devoted believers face what feels like long days of silence, not knowing what God is doing, we can still trust Him. What better place to be than in the steps that He has ordered for our days?
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Psalm 32:8
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.gi
Statement of Faith
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 