1 Samuel 13:1-23 CSB
Saul’s Failure
13 Saul was thirty years[a] old when he became king, and he reigned forty-two years[b] over Israel.[c]
Common introduction of a king
2 He [Saul] chose three thousand men from Israel for himself: two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel’s hill country, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.
First time Jonathan is mentioned.
CHARACTER STUDY:
Saul’s words & deeds vs. Jonathan’s words & deeds
3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison [governor] in Gibeah,[e] and the Philistines heard about it.
Jonathan takes the initiative.
Jonathan does this again in chapter 14.
By attacking the Philistine garrison in Gibeah, Jonathan has now done what Saul should have done in chapter 10 after he was first anointed king by Samuel.
1 Samuel 10:7-8 CSB
7 When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require [Lit do for yourself whatever your hand finds] because God is with you. 8 Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”
“...do whatever your circumstances require…”
“...do what your hand finds to do…”
So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” [f] 4 And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
What is the announcement?
What is the news?
Saul has attacked the Philistines.
Philistines are upset with the Israelites.
Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
Gilgal was where they made Saul king back in chapter 11.
Gilgal was where Samuel performed the sacrifices in the LORD’s presence.
Gilgal was where Samuel just delivered his speech in Chapter 12.
1 Samuel 12:25 CSB
25 However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
Where else have we heard about Gilgal?
1 Samuel 10:7-8 CSB
7 When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require[d] because God is with you. 8 Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”
Saul & all the troops meet at Gilgal to wait for Samuel.
But how long are they supposed to wait?
5 The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: three thousand [MT reads 30,000] chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
Philistine response is overwhelming.
6 The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.
Every soldier was gripped with fear.
Not much confidence in Saul’s kingly, military, leadership ability.
8 He [Saul] waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.
What is this ‘appointed’ time?
1 Samuel 10:8 CSB
8 Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”
8 He [Saul] waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.
Samuel is a no-show.
What do you do when the pressure is on?
PRAYER
BIBLE (The Psalms)
COMMUNITY – brothers & sisters to encourage us & share wisdom
What does Saul decide to do?
9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the burnt offering.
Saul did it himself.
Saul looked to himself.
Saul took it upon himself to solve the problem by himself.
Saul was wrong here because he didn’t follow Samuel’s instructions.
Saul was wrong here bc only priests were allowed to offer sacrifices to the LORD.
Saul was wrong here bc this was not the LORD’s command as given by Samuel.
10 Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him, 11 and Samuel asked, “What have you done?”
Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, 12 I thought, ‘The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I forced myself [felt compelled] to offer the burnt offering.”
[Blues Brothers Youtube clip here???]
This is the 1st time that the name, Yahweh, is used in this chapter.
Saul speaks the name of Yahweh as he gives his reasons & excuses.
NOW Samuel will use the name of Yahweh 5 times in this next section.
5 mentions of Yahweh
5 statements made by Samuel
13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. It was at this time that the LORD would have permanently established your reign over Israel, 14 but now your reign will not endure. The LORD has found a man after his own heart [according to His heart], and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what the LORD commanded.”
You haven’t kept Yahweh’s command
Yahweh would have established your kingship
But now Yahweh will not allow your kingship to continue
Yahweh found another man to replace you as king
Because you didn’t do what Yahweh commanded
13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. It was at this time that the LORD would have permanently established your reign over Israel, 14 but now your reign will not endure.
Saul’s kingdom will not endure.
The LORD has found a man after his own heart, [according to His heart] and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what the LORD commanded.”
Saul’s kingship & dynasty is done.
There will be another king.
It’s going to be David.
It’s going to be a king according to the heart of God.
But even David will fall short.
But God promised that another king would come from David’s descendants.
Luke 1:32-33 CSB
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Acts 5:31 CSB
31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Daniel 4:3 ESV
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Daniel 4:34 ESV
…and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
Daniel 6:26 ESV
…he is the living God,
enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be to the end.
Daniel 7:27 ESV
27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Daniel 7:14 ESV
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Who is your king?
15 Then Samuel went [LXX reads Samuel left Gilgal and went on his way, and the rest of the people followed Saul to join the people in his army. They went] from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.
Saul counts only 600 men remaining
They started with 3,000.
They are very outnumbered.
16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash. 17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah road leading to the land of Shual. 18 The next division headed toward the Beth-horon road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Zeboim Valley toward the wilderness.
19 No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.” 20 So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles [plowshares]. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel [Lit of a pim; about one-fourth ounce of silver] for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on a cattle prod.
The Philistines are price gouging.
Israelite troops have no weapons.
22 So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.
Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines
23 Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.
Only Saul & his son, Jonathan, have weapons.
Situation doesn’t look good.
What’s next?
[CLOSING]
Do you feel surrounded?
Do you have any weapons?
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 CSB
3 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.
We take our thoughts captive.
We submit ourselves to the kingship & rule of Jesus.
Daniel 4:34 ESV
…and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
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