Samuel wanted to let the Israelites know that God made them a king because they asked for it, not because that's what He wanted for them.
I Sameul 12:13-15- Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Samuel told them that God made Saul the king because that is who the people would have chosen. He took the desire of their heart and gave it to them. Do you think their desire was good?
God warned them that bad things would happen if they didn't follow His commands. And He was going to show them a sign so they understood He meant business.
I Samuel 12:16-19- Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
The sign scared the people and they asked Samuel to pray for them. Why didn't they pray to God themselves? Would they ever learn that they could go to God if they needed Him? Did Saul know He could go to God whenever he needed Him?
I Samuel 13:1, 3-5- Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.
After 2 years as king, Saul decided it was time to go against the Philistines. So, he gathered the people together and they prepared for battle.
I Samuel 13:6-7- When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
The Bible doesn't tell us whether God told Saul to start this war. The children of Israel were really scared to go up against the Philistines.
Saul was with his army in Gilgal waiting for Samuel to show up and sacrifice to the Lord before the battle. Saul should know what God's ways were. The priests were suppose to offer the sacrifice. But, Saul didn't want to lose any of his army, and they were so scared they were leaving.
I Samuel 13:8-9- And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
Saul decided to offer the sacrifice without Samuel. Saul knew what God's law was in this matter and he decided to do what he thought best instead of God's way. Saul desperately needed to learn patience!
I Samuel 13:10-12- And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
If only Saul had waited a little longer. Samuel asked him why he didn't have patience, but instead of owning up to his mistake and admitting he was wrong he made excuses to justify his actions.
God doesn't want you to justify your sin. He wants you to repent and ask for His forgiveness. This was Saul's first big mistake- he thought that because he was king he could do whatever he thought was right, and when he did wrong he didn't humble himself and ask for forgiveness. Instead, he made excuses to show why what he did should be okay.
God was not pleased with Saul.
I Samuel 13:13-14- And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
God was going to find a king that He thought would be worthy to reign over His people. It was going to be someone who loved God and wanted to please Him more than anything else! It may even be someone that the children of Israel wouldn't accept at first.
God wasn't through with Saul. Saul still had the opportunity to serve the Lord and get a blessing. The question is "would he?".
I Samuel 13:15, 19-23- And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
Saul has 600 men left to battle with, and only 2 swords! Would he realize that God is capable of helping him win the battle? I don't know. But, God was going to use his son, Jonathan, to get him to fight.
I Samuel 14:1-2- Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
So, Jonathan and his armor bearer went over to see what was going on in the Philistine camp. Jonathan was ready to fight if that was what God wanted.
I Samuel 14:6-7- And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
Jonathan had his own personal relationship with God. He had purposed to listen to God and to follow His lead even if the odds weren't in his favor.
Would you go to battle if it were just you and one other person? Would you be brave enough to trust God with those odds?
I Samuel 14:8-10- Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
Jonathan decided to ask God for a sign. If the Philistines answered a certain way that meant that God was going to help him fight them.
I Samuel 14:11-14- And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
Jonathan had started the war. God helped him go against some haughty Philistines, and with God's help he and his armor bearer killed 20 enemies.
But, Jonathan's father didn't know that any of this was happening. He was back with his 600 soldiers sitting under a tree.
I Samuel 14:15-17- And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling. And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another. Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
God sent an earthquake and the Philistines started to battle each other. Saul knew that something was going on and he decided to see who was missing from his band of men. It was Jonathan, his son, and his armor bearer.
I Samuel 14:18-23- And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.
Saul asked a priest to find out what was going on by using the ark of the covenant. As the priest did so, God started to move against the Philistines. God made the Philistines battle each other. He also made the Israelites that were in the Philistines army revolt and start battling against their former comrades.
Saul heard the uproar and decided he had better take his army to the battle. When he got here and saw all that was going on, they started to fight also.
God saved the Israelites from their enemies again. Their enemies fled and the Israelites chased them.
But, Saul had done something foolish. He told his band of men that they were not allowed to eat anything. Don't you know that would make fighting harder?
Have you ever played outside so long and done so much that you felt like you were starving? How did you feel when you came inside and couldn't find anything to eat? What would you do if your mom said she would punish you if you ate something?
Jonathan wasn't with the army when Saul said this. As they pursued the Philistines, the army started to get tired and dizzy- they were at the point of passing out.
I Samuel 14:24-27- And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
Because Jonathan wasn't there when his father told the people not to eat that day, he ate some of the honey that was on the ground.
I Samuel 14:28-30- Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
Even though the people were very hungry they kept on fighting. The Lord helped them to win the battle.
But, once the war was over, the people were so hungry that they just started to eat anything in sight!
I Samuel 14:31-34- And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
Saul knew that God didn't want the people to eat their meat raw. So, he used his sword to kill the animals so they could be cooked.
I Samuel 14:35-37- And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
After his army had fed, Saul wanted to go after the Philistines that had gotten away. He was going to up and follow them without asking God. But, the priest that was there thought it would be wise to ask God what His will was and he suggested it to Saul.
Saul thought he should ask God, but when God didn't answer Saul knew something was wrong. Do you think Saul thought he had sinned? I think Saul had become so proud that he automatically thought it was someone else's fault.
I Samuel 14:38-40- And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
Since God wasn't answering Saul, he decided to cast lots.
I Samuel 14:41-42- Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
Do you ever wonder if Saul realized that God wasn't talking to him because he had sinned? He asked God to use his gambling of casting lots to show him who was at fault, but he never thought the outcome could be wrong because he didn't realize God wasn't speaking to him at all.
The lots came out to place the blame on Jonathan. Was it really Jonathan's fault? The Bible doesn't say. But, Saul thought it was Jonathan's fault.
I Samuel 14:43-44- Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die. And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
When Saul asked Jonathan what he had done the only thing Jonathan could think of was the fact that he had eaten honey. That was enough for Saul to place the blame on his own son.
I Samuel 14:45- And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
Saul never questioned if this was God trying to get his attention. He never thought that he was the one in the wrong. He would have killed his own son to keep from accepting the blame.
The Israelites who were in the battle realized that God had used Jonathan, and so they spoke up and saved his life. With that, Saul went on to do what he thought was right for the kingdom.
I Samuel 14:46-48- Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place. So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them. And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
I don't ever read where Saul asked God if He thought there should be war. I don't see where Saul consulted Samuel about going to battle with Israel's enemies.
I Samuel 14:52- And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
Saul was building his army. He didn't think about how many lives had to die while he did what he thought was right.
Would he ever learn to ask God's counsel or follow God's way of doing things?
