1 Samuel 13 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 1 Sam 13:1-15

1 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel for forty- two years.

2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.

3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, ‘Let the Hebrews hear!’ 4 So all Israel heard the news: ‘Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious to the Philistines.’ And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.

Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited for seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, ‘Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.’ And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.

11 ‘What have you done?’ asked Samuel.

Saul replied, ‘When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12 I thought, “Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favour.” So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.’

13 ‘You have done a foolish thing,’ Samuel said. ‘You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.’

15 Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.

A. Find Out:

1. Who initiated attacks against the enemy? v.3
2. How did Israel react when they saw they were outnumbered? v.6
3. What did Saul do when Samuel didn’t come? v.8,9
4. Why did he do it? v.11,12
5. What did Samuel say he had done? v.13
6. What did he say would be the result? v.14

B. Think:

1. What actually was Saul’s problem here?
2. What was his way of dealing with it?
3. What should his response have been?

C. Comment:

     This is one of the classic illustrations in the Bible of a man who takes things into his own hands when the going gets tough. The enemy was building up and the army of God was getting scared. Instead of declaring strong faith statements Saul just let it happen. Samuel had told Saul that he would turn up, but the situation is getting worse by the hour. We can’t wait for Samuel, we must do SOMETHING! Samuel had been the religious focus in the land and the sense of God with them had often held Israel together. A religious ceremony, that might stabilize the men!  Ah, but there aren’t any priests here.  Never mind, I’ll do it myself, it’ll be all right.

     And then Samuel arrives, just on time, but it’s too late, Saul has made his offerings. Saul makes his excuses, Samuel makes a strong declaration. You don’t sin to get out of a difficult situation, you call on God with heartfelt cries, not religious ritual!

     Samuel then prophesies Saul’s end and the raising up of a man after God’s own heart to lead God’s people. God’s blessing cannot be on a man who despises Him. Saul will continue but not with God’s blessing, for he has revealed to all, his heart is not right for the job!

D. Application?

1. The means does NOT justify the end!
2. In difficult circumstances we are to call on the Lord for help not “do-it- ourselves”.