Disobedience Can be Your Downfall

1st Samuel 13

Have you ever watched a movie and you see one of the main characters heading into trouble and you wish you could warn them. You may even watch and see some of their mistakes and so, how could they make that mistake? Sometimes we see that in real life and we could warn people but they do not always listen. Sometimes it even happens in our own lives. We choose to not listen to others who may warn us about pit falls that are ahead. For some reason they can see it but we can not. I think it is we choose to not. 

In this chapter Saul is fading fast from a man who should have been honoring to God to a man who wants honor and fame for himself. It may be subtle now but it is starting to show.

Disobedience

We see the enemy, the Philistines raging war on Israel and we know that the Philistines have been the enemy from the beginning of this book. This time the fighting has gotten so bad that the Israelites are living in caves and hills because the oppression of the enemy is so much. In verse 5 we see that the Philistines had mustered 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and enough troops that looked like the sand of the seashore.

They were afraid of the mighty and many Philistines. The scene then goes to a specific part where we see Saul and the leaders waiting. We read in verse 8 that he needed to wait seven days which were given by Samuel for them to wait for the sacrifice. This sacrifice was to go before the Lord and they would then ask the Lord what He would want them to do. 

We see that the enemies were coming in fast. Saul waited to seventh day but there was no Samuel. He could have thought, maybe something happened? Maybe Samuel won’t come? I wish that were the case but Saul being pressed by the people and not being obedient decided that he could do the sacrifice and ceremony which resulted in true disobedience to God. Saul was commanded to wait but when he could have waited a little longer, he did not.

Samuel confronted Saul and we do not see any remorse from Saul. He just carried on with what he was doing. I wish I could tell you, if Saul repented then the lines that came out of Samuel’s mouth would not have but Saul did not repent, nor realize his sin.

Samuel then told him, his days as king are done. They are numbered and God has found someone after his own heart. Samuel was speaking about David. We see that Saul numbered the people and decided that he was going to do what he needed to do.

God gives us chances to repent from disobedience. It may be the Holy Spirit convicting you are getting caught for something. God puts those flashing lights up and we need to heed the warning. We need to turn towards Christ who is the one who settles our disputes with God. Turn from sin and turn towards God.