BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 11-13
Up until I Samuel 13, things had been going pretty well for Israel’s first King. Saul had been anointed King and had served for two years and all seemed to be going according to plan. Jonathan, his son, had attacked a garrison of the Philistines and the world was finding out that you don’t mess with God’s people. However, it doesn’t take long for things to begin to go south. After Jonathan’s attack, the Philistines were making plans for all-out war against the Israelites. I Samuel 13.5 records that they had thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horseman and soldiers that looked like the sand on the seashore. Saul becomes afraid, because he knows that he is about to face an opposition like no other he has ever seen. In preparation for war, Saul knows that Israel must offer a burnt offering to the LORD to inquire to the LORD for help. He also knows that only a priest could offer this sacrifice. As he awaits Samuel (who served not only as judge, but priest as well) at Gilgal for seven days (the time allotted by Samuel to arrive), he begins to grow impatient. Saul perceives that his soldiers are getting afraid of the impending attack and the longer they wait for battle, the more afraid they become of the Philistines. In an effort to speed up the process, Saul goes ahead and offers the burnt offering himself. He knows that it is unlawful for him to do so, but in his mind the current situation deemed it necessary. Wouldn’t you know it, as soon as he finished Samuel arrives. “What have you done? You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God…” (I Samuel 13.11,13). Because of Saul’s disobedience, Samuel informs him that God will replace him as King with a man after God’s own heart. If only Saul had of waited just a little bit longer. If he had only been more patient with Samuel in getting there, things might have turned out differently for Saul. Unfortunately, this was the beginning of the end for Israel’s first King. Can’t the same thing be said about us? How often do we pray to God asking for Him to help us in some way, only to grow so impatient with His lack of an answer we take matters into our own hands? We justify it by saying the circumstances demanded it, or by telling ourselves we have no other choice. Yet, we always have a choice! The psalmist once said, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalm 27.14). Twice in that short verse we receive an imperative statement that says, “wait on the LORD ”. Someone once said, “Timing is everything” and I believe that to be the case, but whose timing are we generally focused on? If the Spirit of Saul could speak to us today regarding whether or not we should take matters into our own hands, I believe he would say, “You might want to wait just a little longer, because God’s timing is never off”.–