LIFE IS A TEST (1 SAMUEL 13:5-15)
There are many tests in life: death of loved ones, getting the pink slip and struggles in the family, to name the most stressful. One of the most stressful periods of my life was when I returned to full-time continuing theological education. My savings dried up after six months in school. Two of my courses were actually paid by a relative and a friend because I barely had enough to make the $700 monthly mortgage payment on my house. In fact, a few months after I had closed my bank account, an account’s clerk from the seminary told me that they could not cash the $3,000 check I sent them three months ago that they finally got around to process. I did not know the bill was outstanding. Someone else again paid for me. But the worse was yet to come.
I was using my sister’s old car when I crashed into a lady’s car. At that time I had sold my car. The car I was driving suffered irreparable damage, but the lady’s bumper had only scratches and was not dented. Besides receiving a ticket for the crash when the police showed up, I also received a warning letter from DMV saying that they were close to suspending my license due to my record of two tickets in less than eighteen months. However, my biggest worry was the lady’s claim for damages could end up canceling the car insurance of my sister, whose driving record was no better than mine. The lady’s husband demanded $2,500 from me, claiming that her wife was pregnant. I was a sitting duck. Again, someone had to pay for me. By God’s grace, for the next six years I did not receive a ticket, had any crash or suffered a similar incident.
How would you respond when you are tested? Would you be bitter or better? Would you stay down or get up when you fall down?
Allow Crises to Fashion Your Resolve, Not Force Your Hand
5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. (1 Sam 13:5-7)
In 1987, a middle age George Foreman decided to return to boxing after a ten year’s absence. He vowed to challenge for the heavyweight championship. For seven years, he fought and defeated younger boxing opponents and his success earned him a fight with Michael Moorer, the heavyweight champion at that time.
Twenty years after he last held the heavyweight championship of the world in his hands, the 45-year old George Foreman, however, found himself the butt of jokes. Boxing fans, radio commentators and sports columnists chided and teased him for being overweight, out of shape and long past his prime. They urged him to save his own neck, to give way to the young and not to tarnish the image of boxing.
Not only did Foreman win the fight, he knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round and became not only the heavyweight champion of the world, but also the oldest heavyweight champion in history. Foreman later said what motivated him; “I got back into boxing, and it was rough going. People were making jokes, ‘How is George Foreman ever going to become the prodigal son of boxing if he still looks like the fatted calf? He can’t be heavyweight champ of the world as long as his training camp is Baskin Robbins.’”
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/09/national/main557570.shtml
In another interview, George Foreman told what motivated him. He said, “I never would have been able to do that without the criticism I’d gotten for coming back at a later age.” (Los Angeles Times 11/14/95)
As Blake Edwards, the writer and director of the “Pink Panther” movies and husband of the Sound of Music’s Julie Andrews, said as he accepted an honorary Oscar in 2004 for his lifetime of work: “I thanked everyone who has contributed to this moment, friend and foes alike; I couldn’t have done it without the foes.” (New York Times 3/1/04 “‘Lord of the Rings’ Dominates the Oscars”)
The Israelites were facing a major crisis, but the crisis was the loss of resolve and the will to fight. For decades (v 1), under Saul’s leadership, they had not lost a battle. Saul skillfully kept the mighty Philistines enemies at bay and fought them to a standstill (1 Sam 14:52). The Israelites army was more than a match for other nations. Many enemies surrounded them, but they gave punishment more than they took it (1 Sam 14:47-48, 15:5). At most, the Israelites retreated, but they never surrendered. Their biggest triumph was mustering 330,000 troops to defeat the Ammonites (1 Sam 11:8), but now the sight of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen and a Philistine army as numerous as sand on the seashore made the people go into shock and hiding. When the Israelites saw that Saul’s 3,000 men (v 2) were outnumbered by at least 3 to 1, they were distressed. For the first time in their lives they felt such pressure and felt so stressed. The people were overwhelmed, squeezed and desperate to the point that they “hid” themselves; ironically, the same word for how Saul previously hid himself among the baggage (1 Sam 10:22).
The Israelites had made hideouts out of mountains, caves and strongholds during Gideon’s time to escape the Midianites (Judg 6:2), but this time in bushes, rocks and pits as well (v 6). Some went as far away as possible to save their necks. They traveled eastward and crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead (v 7).
The people that remained shook and quivered in their boots. The word in verse 7 is not the old-fashioned word for afraid or fear, but the word for shuddering with terror, the same word used previously to describe Esau’s violent trembling at the loss of his birthright (Gen 27:33), the guilt-ridden brothers’ sinking hearts when they discovered the silver Joseph falsely planted in their sacks (Gen 42:28), the Israelites’ response in the wildernesses when they heard thunder and lightning from the mountain of God (ex 19:16, 18) and Boaz’s startled response when he awoke in the middle of the night to find Ruth lying at his feet (Ruth 3:8). They were in a fear and in a frenzy.
Crises are oncoming and ongoing. The Chinese have a saying “Trouble never comes once.” No one go through life without a major crisis or a crisis looming. However, the biggest crisis in life is the absence of faith, hope and courage. Major Ian Thomas reminds believers: “He does not give you strength - He is your strength. He does not give you victory- He is your victory.” (The Saving Life of Christ 182, Zondervan).
Allow Circumstances to Form Your Character, Not Fool Your Judgment
8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering. (1 Sam 13:8-12)
Renowned Bible expositor G. Campbell Morgan said he did not forget a lesson he learned as a young boy. Once, when the young student failed to complete his homework, he smartly obtained a note from his mother for the schoolmaster. The note said, “Will you please excuse George’s lessons today. Signed, Elizabeth Fawn Morgan.”
Young Morgan was pleased with the note, and gave it to Mr. Butler, the schoolmaster, who was gracious in accepting it, saying to him, “Certainly, Morgan, all right.”
Morgan went to classes and thought nothing about the matter until school was over. As he was preparing to leave for home, Mr. Butler asked, “Where are you going, Morgan?’ Morgan replied promptly, “Home, sir.” Mr. Butler exclaimed, “Your homework before you go, if you please.” The startled student protested, “But I brought a note, sir.” Mr. Butler explained, “I know you brought a note; that was an excuse, not a reason; you will stay and do your work.” (G. Campbell Morgan, Gospel of Luke 173-74)
For many years, patience was Saul’s biggest ally, but now it was wearing thin. He waited seven days, as Samuel had instructed him (1 Sam 10:8). The prophet had promised to offer sacrifices and to tell Saul what to do upon his arrival, but he was nowhere to be found. Day by day the people came to Saul, minute by minute it got to him and inch by inch their hearts sank. Mornings came, nights fell and days passed – and still Samuel was missing. Will Samuel ever show up? Saul’s anxiety level was sky high. The people were dispersing and scattering (v 11), the word for the scattering of the nations (Gen 11:8-9). So Saul, in a moment of haste, did the unthinkable. He could not wait for the out-of-sight and slow-in-coming prophet, so he dismissed Samuel’s words, usurped Samuel’s authority and did Samuel’s job. As it often is in life, Samuel did not come early or late; he came right after!
Saul committed a willful act of disobedience, but he pretended that it was not a big deal before Samuel. Like politicians of today, he did not admit to anything until he was confronted (v 11), and even then it was not a full apology, an admission of guilt or a confession of sin. In his admission, he did not even consider his act a mistake. He did not claim he was innocent, but he considered himself not guilty. Saul acknowledged his inexperience, but God saw his insubordination.
When Samuel arrived on the scene, Saul went out to greet him as if nothing had happened. He did not tell Samuel what he had done. Saul was overjoyed that Samuel was here. Let the fight begin! However, Samuel was not there to fight; he was there to worship. The word for greeting (v 10) Samuel is the common word for “bless” in Hebrew. Saul came out to bless Samuel, but Samuel was not impressed with his antics. This is the first of three calculated instances Saul used a blessing for his own gain or to gain an upper hand (1 Sam 15:13, 23:21). He was using God’s name in vain. Samuel stood there dumbfounded, while Saul moved forward. The prophet had no hugs or handshakes, but a point-blank question for the king, “What did you do?”
The way Saul shifted responsibility was classic. First, he blamed the people: the people were scattering. Next, he blamed Samuel: “You did not come at the set time.” Note that verse 8 says seven days but Saul conveniently dropped the word seven in his argument, making the argument that time was up. Finally, he blamed the Philistines, but they were not advancing; they were camped.
Saul said he could not restrain himself, the same word for how Joseph could not restrain his tears before his brothers Gen 43:31, 45:1) or Haman his pride before his wife (Est 5:10). He said he could not help himself; he had to force his hand to do it. In the eyes of Saul, sacrifices were more important than supplication (v 12). Saul was a mighty warrior, but not a prayer warrior. He finally admitted he did not seek the Lord (v 12) when the battle was near. He did not pray for Samuel to come quickly, for his troops to be calm or for himself to have command of the situation. The next chapter, when he prayed in battle, was a revelation of what could have been if Saul had depended on God (1 Sam 14:37, 41).
Allow Choices to Forge Your Destiny, Not Frustrate Your Plans
13 “You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 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.” 15 Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred. (1 Sam 13:13-15)
A sickly widow had two sons on whom she relied for financial support. One son sold umbrellas. The first thing the mother did every morning was to look out to see if the sun was shining or as if it looked like it was going to rain. If it was cloudy, her spirits were good because there was a chance that it might rain and her son would sold some umbrellas. But if the sun was shining, she was miserable all day because no umbrellas would be sold.
The widow’s other son sold fans. Every morning that it looked like rain, she would get depressed because without the sun’s heat, no one was likely to buy fans. No matter what the weather was, the widow had something to fret about. While commiserating with a friend one day, the friend remarked. “Perk up. You’ve got it made. If the sun is shining, people will buy fans; if it rains, they’ll buy umbrellas. All you have to do is change your attitude. You can’t lose.”
When that simple thought sank in, the widow lived happily ever after (Adapted from, Sower of seeds Father Brian Cavanaugh, Paulist Press Bits and Pieces 6/22/95)
Samuel was not sympathetic to Saul’s arguments. He chided Saul for blaming others and not listening to God’s word. Twice Samuel repeated that Saul did not keep the Lord’s command (vv 13-14). The test Saul faced seemed unfair at first glance. Why did God put him to the test by having him wait seven days? Samuel revealed the answer: “If you had, He would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.” Samuel dropped the bomb on Saul: The Lord had great blessings awaiting Saul and the dynasty was Saul’s to claim and cement, but now it would unravel and end.
Saul missed the opportunity of his life to secure the throne for the ages and to bequeath the dynasty to his family. The presence of the Philistines was not an excuse to seal his doom, but to establish his dynasty. It was supposed to be the occasion of his biggest triumph, but it turned out to be his biggest setback. He could have been not only Israel’s first king, but her greatest and only king; he was groomed not only to be the founder of Israel’s first dynasty, but the nation’s only dynasty. God’s will for Saul was not to be the first of kings, but the father of kings. The future was his to gain and grab, and not to lose or fret.
Saul made the biggest gamble in his life and lost. The greatest moment of Saul was within his means and his to receive, but he fumbled it away. It was the biggest catch that got away. In the next chapter, readers discover that the daring attack of Jonathan, Saul’s son, Jonathan’s armor-bearer plus an earthquake sent by God were enough to bring down and drive away the Philistines (1 Sam 14:13-15). The Hebrew text recorded three trembles: Jonathan sent the army into a “tremble” that made the outposts and raiders “trembled” before an earthquake “tremble” finished them (1 Sam 14:15). The truth revealed in the next chapter was that the Philistines feared the Israelites more than the Israelites feared them. The worst that could happen to Saul was to lose a fight and win a dynasty, but now he would win a fight but lose a dynasty. Saul’s biggest sacrifice was not the offerings he made but the kingdom he forfeited.
Conclusion: It’s been said, “In the University of Life, one is forced to take a test and then learn the lesson later.” Sometimes, the enemy is not around us, but in us. The Chinese say, “A wrong step made results in a lifetime of bitterness.” Just because you see no way out does not mean there is no way out. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Are you good at accepting responsibility or blaming others? Do you seek God or play God? Do you consciously rely on Him or unconsciously resist His involvement?
Victor Yap
Other sermons in the series and other sermon series:
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