1 Samuel 13:11
And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
Saul answers Samuel's rebuke with three excuses, that his people were scattering, that Samuel had not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were gathering for battle. The appointed time had not yet fully run out, with only a few hours remaining of the seven days, but he refused to wait. In fear of attack before he had sought the Lord, he forced himself to offer the burnt offering, seizing the sacred work of the priesthood that as king was never given to him. Instead of looking to God in humble, prayerful trust, he looked at discouraging outward appearances and acted in impatience, unbelief and presumption. When reproved he stubbornly justified his disobedience rather than confessing his error, and by that disobedience he dishonored God's service, set a ruinous example, and forfeited his right to the kingdom.
Saul's Excuse at Gilgal
When asked what he had done, Saul answered with three excuses: his people were scattering from him, Samuel had not come within the days appointed, and the Philistines were gathering together at Michmash. He pointed to his deserting soldiers, to Samuel's apparent delay, and to the mustering enemy as his explanation for disobeying and offering sacrifice himself.
The appointed time had not fully expired when he acted. Only a few more hours remained to the last moments of the seven days, but he refused to wait for them to pass.
He was afraid the Philistines would come down on him at Gilgal before he had made supplication to the Lord. That fear of attack without first seeking divine favor drove his decision to act at once.
He forced himself to offer the burnt offering, taking upon himself the sacred office of priesthood which as king was never given him. This was contrary to God's command that only those consecrated to that office should present sacrifices, and by doing it he took a responsibility that did not belong to his position.
He could have made humble supplication with his whole heart without any sacrifice. The Lord accepts such prayer even as the silent petitions of a burdened heart, for it makes a difference who should approach God and in what way.
Instead he looked at discouraging outward appearances rather than looking to God and trusting Him. In fear, impatience, unbelief and foreboding he acted presumptuously instead of waiting for God's direction, trusting the promised divine help on the stated conditions, preparing the people to seek God, and remaining humble, self-distrustful and prayerful. He blamed the crisis and Samuel's delay for his own presumptuous choice rather than obeying the command to wait.
God permitted Samuel's detention to reveal Saul's heart and to show what he would do in an emergency. The test proved he would not obey orders from heaven and could not be trusted as head of the nation. His example, if followed, would erase the distinction between the sacred and the common by opening the priesthood to men of war on any occasion.
Reproof, Consequence, and Warning
When reproved, Saul stubbornly justified and defended his disobedience instead of admitting his error and accepting correction. Although he recognized Samuel as a prophet sent by God, he should have accepted the reproof and obeyed him even though he did not see his own sin. Blind self-confidence led him to reject correction rather than confess. A willingness to be corrected could have helped restore him to God's favor, while self-justification left him likely to repeat the sin. That proud refusal to acknowledge his sin was repeated later when he insisted on enforcing his own unreasonable order even at the cost of Jonathan's life.
His sacrifice was an act of disobedience, not genuine piety. Religious service performed against God's command dishonored God's service, weakened him, and placed him beyond the help God was willing to give. He did not stand the test of faith in a trying situation. Yet his error was not yet beyond remedy, for God would give him another opportunity to learn unquestioning faith in God's word and obedience to His commands. By disregarding God's requirements he set a ruinous example for Israel and forfeited his right to the kingdom. He lost the honor of leading Israel to victory, for in the battle that followed God worked through Jonathan and his armor-bearer and delivered Israel so that the victory would be credited to God, not to Israel's righteousness, valor, or wisdom.
The verse warns against impatience when instruction from the Lord seems delayed. Saul became impatient because Samuel did not come just when expected, fretted over the delay, and decided to move independently of Samuel. He rushed into the performance of a work God had not given him to do, reasoning that as king he was equal to any office. Impatience thus leads to making duties for oneself and acting on one's own schemes, plans and contrivances instead of constantly looking to the Lord, waiting on Him, watching and learning what He wants.
Though tall and well proportioned in appearance and designated king of Israel, Saul was unfitted by experience and character for the work. The Lord changed his heart by His Spirit, made him a converted man, gave him influence with the armies of Israel, and set him right in the work. If he had cultivated humility and the fear of God, trusted in God, learned His will, and refused to exalt himself, the Lord would have given him grace to succeed. Instead he presumptuously followed his own judgment, exalted himself, and failed. His failure warns that even an inexperienced man entering the ministry need not fail if he will receive the word of the Lord from faithful older workers and do God's will rather than exalting self. No man must be chosen for the ministry because of appearance or set apart unprepared without close seeking of the Lord to know His will.