PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: 1 Samuel 13-14
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. (1 Samuel 13:13)
Saul seems to have let his power go to his head.
He takes the sacrifice into his own hands, when Samuel is late.
He puts anyone who eats during the battle under a curse.
He vows to kill even Jonathan, but does not follow through with it.
Saul uses his power to manage others; Jonathan uses his power to serve others.
Saul is motivated by himself, not by what is best for others.
Jonathan seems to be a better leader than his dad, even willing to die.
Saul is a reminder to us how reckless we can be as God’s leaders.
We assume we have special permission or protection, so we act foolishly.
(I think of pastors and churches defying social distancing and mask mandates).
As Jesus followers, we should not be arrogant or presumptuous.
We are not to impose on others, but offer ourselves to others.
We should not be known as a people who insist on our own rights.
May we as Jesus followers not be known for the foolish things we do!
PRAYER
Lord, show me where like Saul I am acting too full of myself, and not more full of You. Help me to stay humble, not cocky.
I an’t have God on my terms – I must be on HIS terms. Saul was tested in the face of a challenging circumstances – with a huge well equipped army facing him without any fighting equipment. Saul tried to force the Lord’s hand by offering the sacrifice himself instead of waiting for a delayed Samuel, and he had the ‘Ark” brought in – again trying to force God’s hand. Yet God was working already – without Saul’s leadership – through the bold faith of Jonathan his own son and through God’s instilling the fear of God into the Philistine army – by shaking them up. Saul tried to do things on his own and made foolish decisions- yet he still has moments of doing things right – he knows what is right but doesn’t implement things on God’s terms.
Who is in charge?
Sometimes we insist upon our own way, going it alone. Making our own rules. Yet it is the Lord who rules and He must also rule in our hearts. I need always place my hand in His as He leads and guides me in the way I should go. He is my Pilot and I am an instrument of His peace doing His will. Prayerfully I go forward also on this day doing His will.
Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Thou art the Potter,
I am the clay.
Mould me and make me
After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still.