558
Patriarchs and Prophets
The Philistines had gathered an immense force at Michmash—
“thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as
the sand which is on the seashore in multitude.” When the tidings
reached Saul and his army at Gilgal, the people were appalled at
thought of the mighty forces they would have to encounter in battle.
They were not prepared to meet the enemy, and many were so terrified
that they dared not come to the test of an encounter. Some crossed
the Jordan, while others hid themselves in caves and pits and amid the
rocks that abounded in that region. As the time for the encounter drew
near, the number of desertions rapidly increased, and those who did
not withdraw from the ranks were filled with foreboding and terror.
When Saul was first anointed king of Israel, he had received from
Samuel explicit directions concerning the course to be pursued at this
time. “Thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal,” said the prophet;
“and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and
to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry,
till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.”
1 Samuel 10:8
.
Day after day Saul tarried, but without making decided efforts to-
ward encouraging the people and inspiring confidence in God. Before
the time appointed by the prophet had fully expired, he became impa-
tient at the delay and allowed himself to be discouraged by the trying
circumstances that surrounded him. Instead of faithfully seeking to
prepare the people for the service that Samuel was coming to perform,
he indulged in unbelief and foreboding. The work of seeking God by
sacrifice was a most solemn and important work; and God required
that His people should search their hearts and repent of their sins, that
the offering might be made with acceptance before Him, and that His
blessing might attend their efforts to conquer the enemy. But Saul had
grown restless; and the people, instead of trusting in God for help,
were looking to the king whom they had chosen, to lead and direct
them.
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Yet the Lord still cared for them and did not give them up to the
disasters that would have come upon them if the frail arm of flesh had
become their only support. He brought them into close places, that
they might be convicted of the folly of depending on man, and that
they might turn to Him as their only help. The time for the proving of
Saul had come. He was now to show whether or not he would depend
on God and patiently wait according to His command, thus revealing