King Saul faced a formidable foe. The Philistine army had 30,000 chariots, 6,000 men and multitudes of people. Israel had 3,000 men divided between Saul (2,000) and Johnathan (1,000). Jonathan attacked the garrison at Gibeah, which ignited fear of the Philistines within the Israelites. Saul summoned them to Gilgal. The Philistines were ready for a fight and camped around Michmash. The people of Israel hid in caves, thickets, rocks, holes and pits! Some crossed over the Jordan to Gad and Gilead. Saul stayed in Gilgal and those that stayed with him trembled. Under these circumstances, Saul disobeyed, received Samuel’s rebuke, and faced the consequences.
Saul Disobeyed
Previously, Samuel instructed to Saul to wait for seven days. However, Saul disobeyed. After the seven days elapsed without Samuel’s arrival, Saul lost control. He had to do something. “Bring the burnt offering and peace offering to me.” Then, acting as priest, he offered the sacrifice.
Samuel’s Rebuke
As soon as he had offered the sacrifice, Samuel arrived. When Saul went out to meet him, he was met with a rebuke. “What have you done?” he asked. Saul had lots of excuses. The people were out of control, you didn’t come when you promised, the Philistines terrorized us, and we had not consulted the Lord. I felt compelled.
Consequences
Samuel didn’t sugarcoat it. There were consequences. “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. 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.” It was a dark day.
When Saul left Gilgal for Gibeah, he numbered his people. There were 600.
Saul disobeyed, faced Samuel’s rebuke and faced the consequences.