Do you cut corners? Do you tell yourself, ‘it will be okay, just this once’?
King Saul did. Before one battle, Israel was greatly outnumbered. The Philistine army had “troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore” 1 Samuel 13:5. The men of Israel were terrified and “hid in caves, thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns” v.6. Everyone was waiting on Samuel. The prophet was supposed to make sacrifices to seek God’s favor. As the nation’s prophet and priest, sacrifices were Samuel’s duty—not King Saul’s.
But after seven days, Samuel remained a no-show. The frightened troops had no idea where he was, but they desperately wanted the sacrifices to be made—they believed God would not help them until they made sacrifices.
Saul was afraid too, so he took action: “‘Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offering.’ Then he offered the burnt offering” v.9.
Guess what happened next? Samuel showed up. Saul explained what he had done and Samuel rebuked him:
“You have been foolish. You have not obeyed the Lord’s command. It was at this time that God would have permanently established your reign over Israel, but now your reign will not endure. The Lord has found a man LOYAL TO HIM, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded” 1 Samuel 13:13-14.
Offering sacrifices may not seem like a big deal. Why would God care? But the rules were in place because of holiness. God chose Samuel to offer sacrifices.
Holiness is about BOUNDARIES.
Saul’s weak slide into disobedience reminds me of pre-marital sex. Everyone seems to think GOD WILL UNDERSTAND.
But there are rules in place because of HOLINESS and BOUNDARIES. Following God’s rules leads to God’s blessings; breaking rules cuts off blessings, just as Saul lost his entire kingdom.
God, help us see temptations as you see them. Teach us holiness, boundaries, and obedience.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 