1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13

Morgan - Thou hast done foolishly.—1 Sam. 13.13. What had this man done? A reference to a previous statement (ro. 8) will show that in the day of his anointing Saul had been implicitly instructed by Samuel as to what would take place at Gilgal, and as to what line of action he was to follow. Many years had passed, but undoubtedly that command had been the revelation of a rule of conduct for the king, viz. that he was to undertake no enterprise, apart from the making known of the Divine Will through the prophet, in connection with the offering of burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. The circumstances in which Saul found himself were particularly trying. The people were filled with fear in the presence of the Philistines and were scattering. Saul waited seven days, according to instructions, and then, in order to stop the rout, he arrogated to himself the function which was that of the prophet only. This was his foolishness. It is an arresting story. The action seems plausible; judged by ordinary political standards, it was justifiable. As a matter of fact, it was an action which denied the root principle of theocratic monarchy. It was an act of insubordination to the one King, Jehovah. It cost this man his kingship. We may learn from it that plausibility is no justification for disobedience. However dark the day, or difficult the circumstances, we are never justified in following our own reasonings, when they bring us into conflict with the Divine order. That order is always that of the utmost wisdom, and anything which controverts it is foolishness, however much it may seem to be in harmony with reason. (Borrow Life applications from every chapter of the Bible) Walter Kaiser - Hard Sayings of the Bible - scroll to page 176 - 1Sa 13:13–14 Would God Have Established Saul’s Kingdom? How was it possible for Samuel to say that Saul’s house could have had perpetuity over Israel when Genesis 49:10 had promised it to the tribe of Judah (not Benjamin, from which Saul hailed) long before Saul’s reign or downfall? Of course, the Lord had planned to place a king over Israel, as Deuteronomy 17:14 had clearly taught. But if the family that was to wield the scepter was from Judah, how could God—in retrospect, to Saul’s disappointment—say that Saul could indeed have been that king? The solution to this problem is not to be found in Samuel’s vacillating attitudes toward Saul, for it is clear that Saul was also God’s choice from the very beginning (1 Sam 9:16; 10:1, 24; 12:13). The Lord had allowed the choice of the people to fall on one whose external attributes made an immediate positive impression on people. Saul’s was strictly an earthly kingdom, with all the pageantry and showmanship that impress mortals. Unfortunately, Saul was not disposed to rule in humble submission to the laws, ordinances and commandments that came from above. As one final evidence of his attitude, he had refused to wait for the appointment he had made with Samuel. As he went ahead and took over the duties of a priest, in violation of his kingly position, God decided that he would not keep his appointment with him as king. The type of kingship Samuel had instituted under the direction of God was distinctive. It was a theocracy; the Israelite monarchy was to function under the authority and sovereignty of Yahweh himself. When this covenantal context was violated, the whole “manner of the kingdom” (1 Sam 10:25) was undermined. While this explanation may suffice for what happened in the “short haul,” how shall we address the issue of God’s having promised the kingship to the family of Judah, rather than to the Benjamite family of Kish? Would God have actually given Saul’s family a portion or all of the nation, had Saul listened and kept the commandments of God? Or did the writer, and hence God also, regard the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin as one? In that case, perhaps what had been promised to Judah could have gone to Saul just as easily as to David. There is evidence from Scripture itself that the tribes of Benjamin and Judah were regarded as one tribe: 1 Kings 11:36 says, “I will give one tribe to [Solomon’s] son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem.” If these two could later be regarded as “one,” no objection can be made to doing so earlier. Ultimately, this is one of those questions that are impossible to resolve fully, since we are asking for information that belongs to the mind of God. However, it seems important that we be able to offer several possible solutions. Another possible solution is that it may well have been that God fully intended that Judah, and eventually the house of David, would rule over Israel and Judah. But it is also possible that Saul’s family would have been given the northern ten tribes of Israel after the division of the kingdom, which God in his omniscience of course could anticipate. That would resolve the question just as easily. The best suggestion, however, is that God had agreed to appoint Saul king in deference to the people’s deep wishes. Though the Lord had consented, this was not his directive will; he merely permitted it to happen. Eventually, what the Lord knew all along was proved true: Saul had a character flaw that precipitated his demise. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe Saul in terms of what he could have been, barring that flaw, in the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the Israelites. A combination of these last two views is possible—that in his permissive will God would have given Saul the northern ten tribes in perpetuity without denying to the house of Judah the two southern tribes, according to his promise in Genesis 49:10. An interesting confirmation of this possibility can be seen in 1 Kings 11:38, where King Jeroboam is promised an enduring dynasty, in a parallel to the promise God had made to King David. Since the promise to Jeroboam in no way replaced the long-standing promise to the tribe of Judah and the house of David, it is similar to God’s “might-have-been” to Saul. God offered the ten northern tribes to Jeroboam just as he had offered them to Saul. One final possibility is that Saul was given a genuine, though hypothetical, promise of a perpetual dynasty over (northern) Israel. However, the Lord surely knew that Saul would not measure up to the challenge set before him. God had chosen Saul because he wanted him to serve as a negative example in contrast to David, whose behavior was so different. This, then, set the stage for the introduction of the legitimate kingship as God had always intended it. See also comment on 1 SAMUEL 8–12 - scroll to page 174 Toxic Living Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord.” — 1 Samuel 13:13 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:7-14 Picher, Oklahoma, is no more. In mid-2009, this once-bustling town of 20,000 went out of business. In the first quarter of the 1900s, Picher was a boomtown because of its abundant lead and zinc. Workers extracted the ore, which was used to help arm the US during both World Wars. The town faded as the ore began to run out—but the biggest problem was that while the lead and zinc brought wealth, they also brought pollution. Because nothing was done to deal with the pollution, Picher became a toxic wasteland, and the government condemned the land. What happened to Picher can happen to people. Prosperity can look so good that it’s hard to think about possible downsides. Actions that are detrimental to long-term spiritual health are accepted, and unless the problem is corrected, destruction follows. It happened to King Saul. He began as a good king, but in seeking success he failed to see the damage he was doing. Turning his back on God’s commands, he acted “foolishly” (1 Sam. 13:13) and lost his kingdom (v.14). The Lord has given us commands And told us to obey; Our own designs are sure to fail If we neglect His way! —Bosch No one can be a real success without God. 1 Samuel 13:14 "But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you." BGT 1 Samuel 13:14 καὶ νῦν ἡ βασιλεία σου οὐ στήσεται καὶ ζητήσει κύριος ἑαυτῷ ἄνθρωπον κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐντελεῖται κύριος αὐτῷ εἰς ἄρχοντα ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὐκ ἐφύλαξας ὅσα ἐνετείλατό σοι κύριος LXE 1 Samuel 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not stand to thee, and the Lord shall seek for himself a man after his own heart; and the Lord shall appoint him to be a ruler over his people, because thou hast not kept all that the Lord commanded thee. KJV 1 Samuel 13:14 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. NET 1 Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom will not continue! The LORD has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him and the LORD has appointed him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the LORD commanded you." CSB 1 Samuel 13:14 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." ESV 1 Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you." NIV 1 Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command." NLT 1 Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command." NRS 1 Samuel 13:14 but now your kingdom will not continue; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart; and the LORD has appointed him to be ruler over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you." NJB 1 Samuel 13:14 But now your sovereignty will not last; Yahweh has discovered a man after his own heart and designated him as leader of his people, since you have not carried out what Yahweh ordered you.' NAB 1 Samuel 13:14 but as things are, your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and has appointed him commander of his people, because you broke the LORD'S command." YLT 1 Samuel 13:14 and, now, thy kingdom doth not stand, Jehovah hath sought for Himself a man according to His own heart, and Jehovah chargeth him for leader over His people, for thou hast not kept that which Jehovah commanded thee.' But now: 1Sa 2:30 15:28 the Lord: 1Sa 16:1,12 2Sa 7:15,16 Ps 78:70 89:19,20-37 Ac 13:22 ruler over: 1Sa 9:16 2Sa 5:2 2Ki 20:5 Heb 2:10 1 Samuel 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAMUEL'S OMINOUS PROPHECY TO SAUL But now your kingdom shall not endure - Ponder this statement beloved. One sin resulted in loss of an enduring kingdom for Saul! THOUGHT - The questions we must all ask ourselves are "Do I truly grasp the gravity and cost of my sin against a Holy God? Do I too often presume upon God's great mercy and forgiveness? God, let this lesson sink deep into my heart, so that the next time I am tempted to commit some presumptive sin against You, Your Spirit might check and overwhelm my sinful flesh and kill the temptation before it births sin that kills me. (cf Ro 8:13+, Gal 5:17+). In the victorious, sin-conquering Name of Jesus. Amen The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you - Saul was a man after his (little h) own heart, a man after man's heart. God declares the keynote of the entire book (and really the entire Bible) in declaring He would seek for Himself a man after His own heart, which would turn about to be David. David an imperfect man did have a heart sensitive to the will of God and from his line, would come the greater David Who would be the perfect Man after His own Heart, the Man Christ Jesus, Who would reign forever as King of kings. Amen! THOUGHT - O, that every one of us, as His beloved children, would cry out "Lord, Reign in Me," and that by His Spirit and His Word, this cry would prove to be the reality of our lives from this day forth and unto eternity in Christ Jesus. Amen. Sing it as your prayer as if you sincerely mean it... LORD REIGN IN ME Over all the earth You reign on high Every mountain stream Every sunset sky But my one request Lord, my only aim Is that you reign in me again Lord, reign in me Reign in your power Over all my dreams In my darkest hour You are the Lord of all I am So won't you reign in me again? Over every thought Over every word May my life reflect The beauty of my Lord 'Cause you mean more to me Than any earthly thing So won't you reign in me again? Lord, reign in me Reign in your power Over all my dreams In my darkest hour You are the Lord of all I am So won't you reign in me again? Over all the earth You reign on high Every mountain stream Every sunset sky But my one request Lord, my only aim Is that you reign in me again Lord, reign in me Reign in your power Over all my dreams In my darkest hour You are the Lord of all I am So won't you reign in me again? Lord, reign in me Reign in your power Over all my dreams In my darkest hour You are the Lord of all I am So won't you reign in me again? Won't you reign? Won't you reign in me again? Come and praise the Lord Won't you reign in me again?