1 Samuel 13: Keeping your cool

Have you ever done something without really taking the time to read the instructions? Ever put together a bookcase, installed a screen door or made something where you just decided to go out on a limb and wing it? That’s what we find the new King of Israel in 1 Samuel 13 doing.

Saul was just given specific instructions and regulations about being King. Yet he decides to do things on his own, ignoring what was most important. First Samuel 12:24-25 tells him to fear and serve God faithfully and that if he doesn’t his kingship will be taken away. But he fails and it brings drastic consequences. Saul attacks the Philistines; he’s engaged in battle and it’s not going well. As Saul’s men begin to scatter, and out of fear he loses his cool. He gets scared and making a last ditch effort he calls for burnt and fellowship offerings to be made; while hoping that somehow God would bail him out of this dire situation. He says he felt compelled to offer the burnt offering. His decision to call on God this way was an act of desperation, not worship.

You see back in 1 Samuel 10:8, Samuel gives Saul crystal clear instructions about what to do in this situation. But out of fear rather than obedience, Saul steps in and offers the sacrifices that Samuel was meant to offer. He intrudes on the priest’s office and responsibilities. Saul sinned by failing to keep God’s commandment given through Samuel.

His consequences are grave. Samuel tells him he acted foolishly and informs him that his kingdom will not endure. What we need to realize and I hesitate to acknowledge is there are far too many times when we are just like Saul. We fail to heed God’s instructions. We fail to realize if we had just paid close attention to the instructions we’d be far better off. Friends God wants us to follow His word to a “t”. He doesn’t want us failing to follow; He doesn’t want us going off on our own and doing things as we see fit. When we do we are being disobedient. He wants us, like 1 Samuel 13:14 says, to be people after his own heart. What matters most to Him needs to matter most to us. Learn His word and follow it. Meditate on the Word so that you’ll always find yourself following God’s directions.

Life is going to bring us into stressful situations that press us into making on the spot decisions. So we need to be prepared to respond the right way. Saul failed to remember God's word. Learn from Saul's story that we always need to keep our cool and remember the importance of God's holy word in our lives. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God will be thoroughly equipped for every good work. We may not experience consequences as severe as Saul, but consequences come our way when we're disobedient. Doing the right thing in God's eyes is what we're asked to do. God's given us His spirit to do this. Now we just have to ask ourselves if we want God's blessings in our life or the consequences of our rebellious actions. As for me, I want God's blessings. How about you?

Posted by Joe Stecz