Stupid Is As Stupid Does November 18. 2015
Saul and the Perils of Doing It My Way
1 Samuel 13:1 – 14:23 Page 1
Saul is King
He has assumed power through the Lord and the actions of the Lord in dealing with the Ammonites at Jabesh-Gilead
The Lord has defeated the serpent (Nahash) and sent the Ammonites packing
By the way, Ammon is a type of the______
Genesis 19:36–38
Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. As for the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.
Now we begin to get some additional detail about Saul and his consolidation of power within the land
Saul’s home was located______in the land
For the Philistines to be able to control all of Israel, they would need to control the road Gibeah is on as well as Gibeah itself
If you want to remove the Philistine threat from the land, the area around Gibeah is a great place to start
1 Samuel 13:1–2
Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty two years over Israel. Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.
Not all versions will reflect the age of Saul
The Masoretic text says he was one year old, this is probably due to the way he came to power which is very different than the way most kings are born into power
Some manuscripts of the Septuagint version do not have verse one at all
1 Kingdoms 13:2
And Saul chose for himself three thousand men from the men of Israel. There were also two thousand with Saul at Michmash. And in the mountainous region of Bethel, there were one thousand with Jonathan at Geba of Benjamin. And as for the rest of the people, Saul sent them away, each to his own tent. (LES)
30 is supplied in the first place by some MSS. of the Sept., and is a plausible conjecture.
A. F. Kirkpatrick, The First Book of Samuel, with Map, Notes and Introduction, The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1896), 123.
The bottom line, Saul has been King for ______years and he now has a standing army and his son is also coming into focus as well
We find out that of the 300,000 who showed up to battle Ammon, only 3,000 were chosen for the standing army
Saul took 2,000 with him and he left 1,000 with his son Jonathan
So the two armies are about 15 miles apart
This will capture the attention of the Philistines who do not want Israel to have any power at all
Page 2
1 Samuel 13:3–4
Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” All Israel heard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal.
Halfway between Michmash and Gibeah is the garrison at Geba
It was______who took the initiative and attacked, not the King
We begin to see a bit of the true character of Saul
Two years into his reign,______takes the initiative and obtains the victory over the Philistine garrison, declaring war on Philistia
Who takes the credit though?
What is the reaction to this declaration?
1 Samuel 13:5–7
Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits. Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Between Saul and Jonathan – 3,000 troops
Philistines
30,000 chariots (armor)
6,000 cavalry
Huge army (sand of the seashore)
Net result –
Saul ______all the way to the Jordan River at Gilgal, just east of Jericho
Some of the Nation keeps moving east and crosses______
Others______
Some of Saul’s army as well as the people are hiding in caves
They did this before when Midian attacked in Judges 6
This will also be done yet in the future in Revelation 6:15
So, as we look at the situation.
Saul and his army is on the Jordan River
The Philistines are amassed around Michmash
Israel is badly outnumbered
Saul has been told to wait on Samuel
Remember, Saul had some instructions which he had not yet acted on.
1 Samuel 10:7
“It shall be when these signs come to you, do for yourself what the occasion requires, for God is with you.”
Remember that Saul was to take out the garrison when the Holy Spirit first came upon him, he______do that
His son took care of that for him
Page 3
The second instruction involved him going to Gilgal once that took place and to wait on Samuel who would be there in seven days
This is now why Saul has gone to Gilgal, he is following instructions, and it is______that forced the issue
The people are in fear
Some tactical information:
Gilgal – 800 feet below sea level
Michmash – About 3000 feet above sea level
While waiting, the 3,000 dwindled down to only 600.
Saul was______and would not wait on Samuel nor would he follow the instructions he was given
He decided to take the matter into his own hands and decided to doworship ______rather than God’s way
1 Samuel 13:8–10
Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.
In Israel – who is authorized to perform work of a priest?
What tribe is Saul from?
Is Saul authorized?
Saul did not ______about it or seek the ______, he made an executive decision that would have serious consequences as he had decided to do it his way, not God’s way
We have the same challenge, and the Lord has made provision for us.
James 1:2–5
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Notice just when Samuel shows up, at the very moment Saul is done
When does God show up? Many times right after we decided that our decision is much better than whatever He would want
Genesis 3:6–8
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
We will find out that once again, someone caught in the act of sin, has an______
1 Samuel 13:11–12
But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”
Page 4
Saul did______, although he was given the opportunity
He decides to go the route of most, explain why even though there is no explanation that will work
His reasoning:
My army was shrinking and I have to have them to win
You didn’t______when I expected you to
The______and overwhelming
The enemy knows where I am and will engage me personally
I forced myself to do this
At no point did he say he prayed over this
He______sought the Lord
He had put this action off for______
He forgot how the Lord resolved the situation involving Ammon
He forgot______his God really is
When do we feel defeated?
We forget______over the situation
We make decisions______to the Lord about them
We assume we can______when we have left God out of
all of the plans
The enemy is large and overwhelming
The enemy appears to be attacking me personally
______how big my God really is and focus on my situation rather than on Him
Proverbs 3:5–7
Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Matthew 6:25–34
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor dothey spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these thingswill be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
So now that we have heard from Saul and found out that he lacks integrity among other things, what is the Prophet Samuel going to say?
1 Samuel 13:13–15
Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted 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 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.” Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people whowere present with him, about six hundred men.
Page 5
Saul’s punishment may appear excessively severe at first. However the king of Israel was the Lord’s lieutenant. Any disobedience to his Commander-in-Chief was an act of insubordination that threatened the whole administrative organization of God’s kingdom on earth. Saul failed to perceive his place and responsibility under God. He assumed more authority than was his. For this reason God would not establish a dynasty for him.
Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 1 Sa 13:1.
Saul tried to do it his way, and not only did he lose a ______, he also lost much in the present to include his troops, who now number only 600
Revelation 21:3–4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
Why tears?
Could it be over the______we may have had yet stopped due to our own stubbornness?
Could it be seeing what we could have done for the Lord if we had only listened to Him and not done things our own way?
Could it be because much of what we thought was true service to Him was simply wood hay and stubble?
1 Corinthians 3:12–15
Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
1 Samuel 13:16–18
Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin while the Philistines camped at Michmash. And the raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual, and another company turned toward Beth-horon, and another company turned toward the border which overlooks the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
Meanwhile, back at the war, we find out that the Philistines have divided into three raiding parties and are basically______throughout the nation.
Basically, because of the______of Saul, we have the makings of a military disaster going on in just the second year of his reign as King
Now we also find out another reason why the Philistines were so powerful, they ensured that they had the weapons and Israel did not
1 Samuel 13:19–23
Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears.” So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his hoe. The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the hoes. So it came about on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul andhis son Jonathan. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.
Page 6
The only ones with weapons in Israel, were Saul and his son Jonathan. No one else was armed.
What was left of the army Saul had was with him and camped in Geba
The Philistines were a few miles away in Michmash
And we find that they are working to control the roads in and out by moving to the pass and to cut off Saul and his small force
As you can see, Saul and his forces could______all of the movements of the Philistines, and do nothing about it
So we now have the scene set for Chapter 14
1 Samuel 14:1–3
Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron. And the people who were with him were about six hundred men, and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the LORD at Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.