In 1 Samuel 13, we see a story of distress. Under the reign of Saul, Israel faced a severe threat from the Philistines. The Philistines were coming and they weren’t coming to make friendships. They were coming with destruction in their eyes. The people of Israel were very scared of this threat and hid away from the imposing armies. Saul was instructed by Samuel to wait 7 days to sacrifice, according to the ceremonial laws.
Saul, distrusting God and His plan, decided to offer the sacrifice himself when Samuel was late in arriving to Gilgal. The thought probably went through Saul’s mind: “I waited seven days, and I’m in a hurry. God wouldn’t want his people to be destroyed by the Philistines, so it will be okay if I make the sacrifice.”
As Saul was offering up the sacrifice, Samuel came, and he wasn’t happy. He rebuked Saul (Ch. 13:14-15), and let Saul know there would be consequences for his actions. The kingdom would be taken away from Saul and given to a man after God’s own heart.
Saul didn’t have faith. He didn’t trust in God to provide for him. However, we see a better example of a Christian leader in Jonathan. In 1 Samuel 14:6b Johnathan says,“It may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” He had faith that God would give the victory to his people, in the way that God wanted, and for his glory and praise.
How many of us can see ourselves in Saul? How often do we complain to God, “I’m sick of this situation or this thing I deal with, I’m ready to go fight my battles now.” Or we say, “I’m tired of waiting, I am ready to be done with the lot in life you gave me.”
We have to do what Saul failed to do and trust in God, like Johnathan! We must trust in his timing. He set up those laws for Saul for a reason, and he set up trials and other difficulties in our life for a reason too; to glorify his name, to cast away all of our impatience, all of our weakness of faith, and all of our trust in ourselves or things of this world. All of those things are cast away from us only by the grace and might of God.
What is the final thing that happens in this order of events? Jehovah is sacrificed to and glorified. This should be what we seek to do daily: to glorify him with every breath we take. We continue in this until we can fully enjoy the ultimate sacrifice that was shed for us on Calvary, which bought for us the right to heaven, and to praise God forever and ever.
“Uplifted on a rock, above my foes around, amid the battle shock, my song shall still resound: then joyful offerings I will bring, Jehovah’s praise my heart shall sing!”
Sam Baker
Young Calvinists 