Follow the Instructions
Early in his career as the first king over Israel, Saul was given instructions from the prophet Samuel regarding waiting for him at Gilgal:
1 Samuel 10:8 (NASB95)
“And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you should do.”
Samuel’s directions are both clear and specific, yet Saul obeyed only part of the instructions.
1 Samuel 13:7–10 (NASB95)
7Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.
9So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.
10As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.
Saul was in Gilgal.
Saul waited seven days.
BUT he did not wait until Samuel came to him.
BUT he did not wait for Samuel to offer the sacrifices and offerings.
BUT he did not wait for further instructions from Samuel.
As soon as Saul finished making the sacrifices, Samuel arrived.
1 Samuel 13:11-12 (NASB95)
11But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
12therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”
Saul gives the following reasons why he disobeyed Samuel’s instructions:
· Saul saw the people scattering from him
· Saul saw that Samuel didn’t arrive after seven days
· Saul decided not to wait until Samuel arrived
· Saul saw that the Philistines were assembling for war nearby
Saul made his decisions based on what he saw: he saw the Israelites with him scattering out of fear. He saw the mighty Philistine army assembling for war. He saw that Samuel had not arrived after seven days. Based on what he saw, Saul concluded that the Philistines would come down to Gilgal to fight him, and he had to take matters into his own hands rather than wait for Samuel. He did not follow the instructions. As a result, there were consequences.
1 Samuel 13:13 (NASB95)
Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted 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.
In disobeying Samuel’s instructions, Saul disobeyed God, plain and simple.
We face a similar choice every day: Do we trust information we gather from our five senses, or do we trust God’s Word? Do we allow fearful people and frightening circumstances to sway us, or do we trust God’s promises to us? Do we make our conclusions based on what we see, or do we follow His instructions?
