Consequence of an Unlawful Sacrifice

1 Samuel 13:1-23 

    1 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4 Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal.
    5 Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.  As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
    9 So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.  11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?”  Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”
    13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
    15 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men.  16 Saul, Jonathan his son, and the people present with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin. But the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned onto the road to Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18 another company turned to the road to Beth Horon, and another company turned to the road of the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
    19 Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.” 20 But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man's plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle; 21 and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads. 22 So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son.   23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Two years into Saul’s reign as king over Israel, he built an army of three thousand in the midst of their enemy the Philistines.  One third was under his son Jonathan’s command, which he used to attack the enemy and stir up a war.  Saul called attention to this to all his people and they all feared retribution from their enemy who outnumbered them and was far better equipped with weaponry.  The people followed their king they wanted so much, but did so in fear of what now lay ahead.  Saul wanted the LORD’s blessing through Samuel, but got impatient and made a burnt offering sacrifice which only a priest could do.  Just as he was finished, Samuel appeared and condemned the sacrifice made unlawfully, against God’s strict command for only the priest who was called and made worthy to offer sacrifices.  Saul sidestepped the issue with a justification that he felt “compelled” to do this, but he really just was impatient with God as Israel had been in demanding a king.  The result was a proclamation that the kingdom would be taken from Saul and given to one after His own heart, one who would take His words seriously and with a mind to willingly follow; that would be David later (Acts 13:22) whose kingdom would be forever established in the line and type foreshadowed in the Messiah.  Disobedience has dire consequences.  Because of the occupation and rule of the Philistines over Israel, they had few weapons, but the battle was brewing; only the king and his son had good weapons as the enemy approached.  What we learn from this example so far is that we must follow God’s word and revealed will in it to be victorious in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57) and honor Him.  The consequences of disobedience can be overwhelmingly high, so we need to count the cost of going our own way and attempting to justify our desires above His will.  Grace abounds, yet He still calls us to follow His word (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Cheap grace seeks only to justify self service.  Therefore, we wait on God’s timing and do all things lawfully and for His glory, honor, and praise.  Amen.