Today I read Judges 13, in which Samuel rebukes Saul for not keeping God’s commandments and Saul’s reduced army prepares to fight. Today I considered that we cannot jump to take action because of fear, we need to still follow God’s Word.
Saul Loses the Kingdom But Has A Small Army
Saul loses the kingdom by sinning because of his fear but still has an army of 600 men to prepare (Judges 13:1-23). Saul was king over Israel for two years when he had 2,000 men mount Bethel and his son had 1,000 men Gibeah. Jonathan attacked and won against a Philistine military base. Saul told everyone about the victory. The Philistines gathered a multitude to fight them. Israelites were so afraid they started hiding in the land and some crossed the Jordan river. Saul had men with him that started deserting him after seven days without seeing Samuel, so Saul made a burnt offering to God. Samuel came and said Saul’s line would not inherit the kingdom because of his sin; God would get a man after God’s heart. Saul had only 600 men left. Saul and Jonathan had swords and spears, but their men sharpened farming tools in preparation for fighting. The Philistines made sure there were no blacksmiths around to make them regular weapons for their men.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
God wants us to wait and trust him instead of running to sin because of fear. Saul had waited seven days for Samuel and Samuel was almost there. Saul in his fear of losing all his fighting men, offered the burnt offering even though he was not a Levite or priest. If he had just waited one more day, Samuel would have been there. We cannot give up at the end of our wait.
When have you almost let your fear overtake you so that you sinned?