Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Saul, Saul, Saul...simple obedience would have preserved a dynasty. But Saul proved himself incapable of simple obedience.
Now, I honestly don't know how much time has passed between chapters 12 and 13. Chapter 13 says that Saul was 30 when he became king...but we start off with Saul's son, Jonathan, attacking a Philistine outpost. We kinda have to assume Saul was really, really young when he became a dad, and Jonathan was really, really young when he led the attack... like, both in their teens...and even then, it could easily have been a couple...or even five...years later. In any case, Jonathan effectively swatted the bees nest and all the bees were out for blood, converging on the Israelites as they waited at Gilgal for Samuel to come and make the proper sacrifices before they headed into battle. But, for whatever reason, Samuel was delayed and he didn't arrive at the set time. The soldiers started to scatter and Saul, worried that he would not have enough men to fight if they waited any longer, made the sacrifices himself. And of course, Samuel arrived just as they were finishing up.
"I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering," Saul protested...and Samuel responded
"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command." 1 Sam. 13:13-14: 'Heart' is H 3824
On the surface, this doesn't look so awful...Saul made an offering. But the problem was that Saul wasn't authorized to make that specific offering. And, as we saw back in Numbers, authority matters in these things. Samuel represented the guidance of God, and by offering the sacrifice himself, Saul actually dishonored both Samuel and God; he ignored the holiness of the sacrifices, treating them as a rather mundane thing. Waiting for Samuel to offer the sacrifice was a symbol of waiting for God to act on their behalf. But Saul couldn't wait.
Then, in the next chapter, Saul does another foolish thing, but it's not related to the verse mentioning 'heart'...or, at least, not directly. Johnathan once again takes the initiative to attack a Philistine outpost, slipping out of camp with only his armor bearer, saying 'Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf....'
"Do all that you have in mind, " his armor-bearer replied. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." - 1 Sam. 14:7, 'heart' is also H 3824
He had the complete support of his armor bearer, and the two of them, with God's help, actually decimated the outpost, which God used to incite a panic attack amongst the Philistines who began what appears to have been a chaotic retreat. Amazing what God does with someone who is fully committed. The Israelites in the area noticed the retreat, they began to pursue them...and Saul spoke a curse against any man who would stop and eat before the battle was over. Jonathan, who wasn't there, didn't hear this, and at one point he ate some wild honey...which none of the other men would touch, because of the oath of Saul. Needless to say, the men were fainting from hunger after pursuing the enemy while fasting, which lead to other problems besides just fainting soldiers...the men gorged themselves when they were finally allowed to eat, dishonoring God again by eating meat with the blood still in it. And, of course, when Saul found out what Jonathan had done, he intended to kill him for breaking the fast but the men prevented it. However, they had to cease their pursuit of the enemy because of Saul's oath...which was completely unnecessary. The men did not need any more incentive to pursue their enemies. Saul was still trying to be the one in control...the one who is calling the shots. Contrast that with Jonathan, who just wanted to give God a chance to do something.
Finally, in chapter 15 Saul's disobedience not only cost him a dynasty, but it cost him the kingship personally. Sent by Samuel to obliterate the Amelekites, carrying out a long-standing judgement, Saul kept their king and the best of their animals alive, in direct opposition to his instructions. He set his own standard of obedience, so by his definition, he did obey. (see 1 Sam. 15:20) Only problem...it wasn't his definition of obedience that mattered. Samuel pronounced God's judgment on what Saul had done, then left him and went home.
Samuel never visited Saul again, although he mourned for him. Saul never fully relied on God, and he considered God's instructions to be more guidelines than actual commands. And, make no mistake, it cost him.
As it will cost anyone who takes it upon him/herself to determine what the standard of obedience is or who attempts to define the terms oneself instead of listening to what God has said. Consider Saul before thinking it really isn't a big deal.
It is.
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