4273 — KING SAUL OFFERING SACRIFICES
From 1 Sam. 13: 12, 13, it seems that God was displeased that Saul offered the burnt offerings. How could that be, as Saul was not the only one outside of the priesthood that offered offerings? The direction of God was that the priesthood was to be committed to Aaron and his sons. Read chapters 27-30 of Exodus. After that time, no one else was to perform the rites of a priest unless especially directed of the Lord. In 1 Sam. 10: 8, Samuel had instructed Saul to go to Gilgal, and to wait there till he came, when he would offer sacrifices. But Saul became impatient because of the delay, and presumptuously offered them himself, in his self-exaltation after his victory over the Ammonites, and this in face of the fact that he had been instructed to wait, and had not been ordained for any such service. Surely all the circumstances and all the dangers of the time and the occasion were as well known to God as they were to Saul, and God had told him to wait till Samuel came. Why did he not wait? In perplexing situations, men often entangle themselves more and more by using sinful means of relief. Impatience to help ourselves, and unwillingness to leave our concerns in God's hands, serve only to involve us in new troubles.