In this chapter, Saul disobeyed the Lord’s command, and as a result, the Lord is going to replace Saul as king after 42 years of leadership. The chapter begins, “Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years. Saul selected three thousand special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took two thousand of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other thousand went with Saul’s son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.” (1 Samuel 13:1-2)
Jonathan then defeated part of the Philistines at Geba, causing the Philistines to have great hatred towards the Israelites. As a result, Saul sounded the call to arms throughout Israel and the entire army mobilized and met at Gilgal.
“The Philistines mustered a mighty army of three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and as many warriors as the grains of sand along the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. When the men of Israel saw the vast number of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead.
Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Saumuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. So I said, “The Philistines are ready to march against us, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!” So I felt obliged to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”
“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have disobeyed the command of the Lord your God. Had you obeyed, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your dynasty must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already chosen him to be king over his people, for you have not obeyed the Lord’s command.” (1 Samuel 13:5-14)
Samuel then left Gilgal, and many of the men in Saul’s army left out of fear; he was only left with 600 troops. Also, in those days, there were no blacksmiths in Israel because the Philistines wouldn’t allow them out of fear the Israelites would make weapons. Therefore, none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us be patient and wait on you. Help us recognize that in your silence, you are still establishing us. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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