1 Samuel 13:13, commentary and pictures

Samuel told Saul he had acted foolishly in violating God's express command by forcing himself into the priest's office to offer the burnt offering himself instead of waiting in faith. He was tested at Gilgal by Samuel's delay to the last hours of the appointed days while overwhelming Philistine forces faced him and his people scattered and trembled, and he looked at outward appearances and grew impatient rather than trusting God in humble prayer. If he had obeyed and kept the commandment, the Lord would have established his kingdom upon Israel forever, but his disobedience forfeited that promised future and his kingdom would pass to another man God chose to lead. Though he knew Samuel was God's prophet, self-confidence led him to reject reproof, stubbornly justify himself and blame Samuel, when willingness to be corrected and confess his error would have helped restore him to God's favor. The verse teaches God's people to constantly look to the Lord for instruction and wait on Him to learn His will instead of acting from their own judgment and schemes, for king and people can prosper only while acknowledging God's supreme authority.

Saul's Presumptuous Sacrifice

At Gilgal Saul was put to the test when Samuel delayed to the last hours of the appointed seven days. Thirty thousand chariots and overwhelming Philistine forces were arrayed against him while his own people scattered, hid themselves, and trembled. Instead of trusting God and waiting, he looked at outward appearances, grew impatient and passionate over the delay, and fretted about it. God permitted the detention to reveal his heart and to show what he would do in an emergency.

Rather than waiting or offering humble supplication and silent prayer for God to accept, he forced himself to take the sacred office of priesthood for which he was not appointed. He offered the burnt offering himself and officiated contrary to God's command, rushing into a work God had not given him to do. Reasoning that as king he was equal to any office, he decided to move independently of Samuel. That unbidden act was presumption and sacrilege that blurred the sacred and the common.

Samuel's word foolishly means Saul violated God's express command. His excuses of distress and delay did not make the disobedience acceptable. His outward show of conscientious piety was not genuine obedience but a failure of faith and obedience that dishonored God's service.

Though Saul recognized Samuel as a prophet sent by God, self-confidence led him to reject reproof. He stubbornly justified himself, defended himself, and blamed Samuel instead of acknowledging his sin. He should have accepted correction even though he could not see his own sin.

Kingdom Promised and Forfeited

If obedience had been kept, the kingdom would have been established over Israel forever and made permanent, but foolish disobedience forfeited that promised future. Because the commandment was not kept, the kingdom would not continue. It would pass to another man chosen to lead the people.

Failure under pressure proved unwillingness to obey orders from heaven, and that failure made the ruler unfit to govern as God's representative. Success had made him self-confident to take honor to himself rather than remain dependent on God. The monarchy could prosper only while king and people acknowledged God's supreme authority and followed His will. The act set a ruinous example that would lead the people to blur the sacred and the common as had been done.

Sacred sacrificial service was entrusted to those appointed for it and pointed forward to the sinless offering of God's Son. Disobedience cost the honor of leading the armies against the Philistines, so victory was given through Jonathan and his armor-bearer that God's name, not Israel's righteousness, valor, or wisdom, would be magnified. The judgment is reflected in foreknowledge of being dethroned, with descendants never again holding royal honor and perishing because of those sins.

The disobedient religious service weakened the offender and placed him beyond the help God was willing to give. Yet the error at Gilgal was not yet beyond remedy, and another opportunity would be given to learn unquestioning faith in God's word and obedience to His commands.

Correction Example and Warning

Saul knew the one who rebuked him was a prophet sent by God, so even when he could not see his own sin he should have accepted correction rather than letting self-confidence rule him. A willing spirit to be corrected and to confess error would have helped restore him to divine favor and would have guarded him from repeating the sin. Instead he stubbornly defended himself and cast blame upon Samuel.

The failure began in impatience when the expected time passed without Samuel's coming, for Saul fretted over the delay and chose to move independently of him. Reasoning as king that he was equal to any office, he rushed into a work God had not given him to do. The lesson is constant looking to the Lord for instruction, waiting on Him to learn what He wants and watching for what He wants. In place of fretting, making duties for oneself, and acting full of one's own schemes, plans, and contrivances, which amount to nothing, God's people are to wait and learn His will.

Saul was tall, well proportioned, and prepossessing in appearance, yet by experience and character he was unfitted for kingship. God by His Spirit changed his heart, making him a converted man with a visible change of spirit that gave him influence, even with the armies of Israel, and setting him right in the work. This standing was conditional upon cultivating humility and the fear of God, trusting in God, learning His will, and not exalting himself. He failed because he presumptuously followed his own judgment instead of doing God's will and did not receive and obey the word of the Lord from old faithful standard-bearers. Men entering the ministry, however inexperienced, must receive that word and do God's will, or they will fail as Saul did.