Saul Makes a Terrible Mistake
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Him. But Saul commanded, “Bring hither a burnt offering,” and he
approached the altar and offered sacrifice.
Saul’s Presumption
“And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering
the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came.” Samuel saw at once that
Saul had gone contrary to the express directions that had been given
him. If Saul had fulfilled the conditions upon which divine help was
promised, the Lord would have wrought a marvelous deliverance for
Israel. But Saul was so well satisfied with himself that he went out
to meet the prophet as one who should be commended rather than
disapproved.
To Samuel’s inquiry, “What hast thou done?” Saul offered excuses
for his presumptuous act. “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; therefore said
I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have
not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and
offered a burnt offering.”
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“And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not
kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which He commanded
thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon
Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath
sought Him a man after His own heart, and the Lord hath commanded
him to be captain over His people ... . And Samuel arose, and gat him
up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin.”
Either Israel must cease to be the people of God, or the monarchy
and the nation must be governed by divine power. In Israel no monar-
chy could prosper that did not in all things acknowledge the supreme
authority of God.
In this time of trial, Saul’s failure proved him unfit to be the
vicegerent of God to His people. He would mislead Israel. His will,
rather than the will of God, would be the controlling power. Since
he had failed, the purpose of God must be accomplished by another.
The government of Israel must be committed to one who would rule
according to the will of Heaven.