REMINDER: Don't Blame Others For Your Foolishness Under Pressure

“So I thought, ‘Now, the Philistines will come against me at Gilgal, but I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor.’ I felt pressured into sacrificing the burnt offering.” -1 Samuel 13:12

Sometimes I am in total shock by what I hear or read. This is one of those times. It actually serves to scare me half to death of how foolish we are when we don’t listen and obey. Doing things our own way never ends well. Let’s take a deeper look into this action of King Saul.

The Prophet Samuel, who also served as a priest had given specific instructions to King Saul. The instructions were to go ahead of him and wait seven days before going to war. Samuel was going to perform the sacrifice. That was a direct command from the Prophet who was God’s spokesperson. Right here I start to have a major problem with Saul.

Saul knew Samuel was the Prophet and the Priest. Samuel had given him specific instructions to follow. It was simply instructions. Wait seven days! Saul also knew the only people who could make the burnt sacrifices were priests. Most importantly, only priests and Levites could perform the burnt offerings. Saul was neither. He was not a priest nor a Levite. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was unfit to make the sacrifice.

Saul waited seven days, and when Samuel wasn’t there he decided to go ahead and perform a sacred ritual and totally disregard the laws and regulations of God. The offense was against God. How foolish to put it mildly was that? Samuel was barely late. Saul had just finished the burnt offering as Samuel arrived.

What gets me in this story is his brazen in-your-face response to Samuel. “I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor.” I wonder how Samuel could keep his composure. I would have thrown a fit. What do you mean you didn’t seek the Lord’s will? You know what I think? He didn’t ask the Lord’s favor because he already knew the rules and regulations. He knew he was unfit to perform it, and he admits it by stating he didn’t ask it. In other words, “Hey Samuel, I did it, but I didn’t ask God’s permission.” Seriously? Really?

Next he goes on to blaming others for his actions. “I felt pressured to do so!” Ah this always gets me. He was the King, and he controlled and ruled. Yet, he does the unthinkable. He sinned before God. Let me tell you something as clearly as possible. The men knew Saul was unfit to perform the burnt offering. They, too, new the laws and regulations. Shame on him. He publicly dishonored, dismissed, disrespected and disobeyed God, all in one single act.

Patience, waiting, inquiring of God, and obedience are critical and crucial to victories in our lives. Saul showcases non of them. He committed a sin because he disregarded God’s command of who is allowed to perform the burnt offerings. That was a major mistake in Saul’s life, and it cost him his kingship. God removed him from being King. Watch very carefully what you do. There are something’s that cost us dearly. God removed His hand from Saul, and removed him from office. Sad!

I wonder if Samuel’s delay in arriving was allowed so that what was in Saul's heart would come out. What is in the heart eventually comes out in actions. Did you catch that? Samuel loved Saul so much so that when God removed Saul from office, Samuel mourned for Saul. He grieved that God had to step in and tell Samuel very clearly, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul? Get up and go, I have rejected him.” When God rejects you, you're done.

You see, being a leader is no joke. A leader can lead people into victory or destruction. Unfortunately, leaders can cause a lot of damage. God needed a leader who would obey Him, a leader who would uphold the law and who would lead by example -a good, confident, and godly leader. Saul had none of these qualifications. He was a coward under pressure. He was impatient, disregarded the law, and was not a good team player. Samuel was on his team. They were doing this together. He totally disrespected Samuel’s office of a Prophet and Priest. Samuel was to first offer the burned sacrifice, and then Saul was to go into war. Saul took things into his own hands and destroyed himself in the process.

There’s so much we can learn from Saul’s life. First, God wants and expects our total obedience. Second, patience is absolutely, required to follow and obey God’s Word. Third, theres a price to pay for disobedience. It’s a heavy price. 4. Theres negative consequences to pay when we choose to do things our own way.

Sometimes it might be hard to obey. Actually, it can be excruciating doing things God’s way. We must learn to obey. Patience in the waiting is so important. Panicking is never of God. Self-control is everything. Please understand, when we obey we win. When we win so do those people whom we are leading.

Rev. Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are Omnipotent, and You are the One Who can destroy both body and soul. You alone are worthy of all praise, to be adored, and to be obeyed. There is none like You. You alone are the One Whom I seek and what You have to say is the only thing that truly matters to me. Help me to always remember obedience always brings about blessing. Give me the strength to remain steadfast as I seek You and Your righteousness and as I walk in accordance to Your will and Your ways. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

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