Moreover, Saul said, "The Phillistines gathered themselves together......" The situation is becoming more tense.People have started passing comments. the condition is no longer bearable. The Phillistines that gathered will dsperse at the appearance of God, the Man of war. Don't cut short your destiny; wait for God. "All things work together for good....." Romans 8:28 (KJV).
Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering, 1Sam. 13 vs 12. He was a hypocrite, and tried to cover his rebellious act by pretending great zeal for outward religion. And Samuel said, "Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." 1Samuel 15 vs 22 (KJV) What I fear came on me. The fear of man shall kill him. FEAR, False Evidence Appearing Real! The so call Philistines had not come upon him by the time Samuel arrived. So, why the stress. He shifted his attention from God to the problem. When Peter was walking on water to meet Jesus, he shifted his focus from Jesus to the boisterous wind blowing. Therefore, he became afraid and began to sink, until Jesus rescued him. Whoever focuses on the problem instead of God is bound to sink.
"I forced myself " Why? You need not hurt yourself to do what is not right in order to please man. You need to stay on course. Stay in your office. Maintain your position and fulfil the purpose of God for your life. If you are not given to prophecy don't prophesy. Maintain your role. Do not usurp authority. Follow God's protocol. Don't get engage in another person's ministry: you may die like Uzzah (2Samuel 6:7).
Consequences
1Samuel 13: 13-14.
"And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 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.
At first sight Saul's offence appears little, but no sin is little, because there is no little God to sin against. He had virtually cast off Jehovah's sovereignty, and therefore the Lord would not establish his kingdom. It should be a shock for Saul to hear that his kingdom will not continue as a result of this singular act. But this wasn't so because, he took it calmly. No sign of remorse or appeal over such pronoucement. If he had repented, perhaps God would have forgiven him in mercy. But he was obsinate, so to say. Therefore, he went on his normal business as if nothing of grave consequences had happened, to him .
And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. 1Samuel 13 : 15.
WHEN IT SEEMS GOD IS SLOW CONCERNING YOUR CASE, WHAT WILL YOU DO?
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