What could be worse?

1 Samuel 12 - 16

It's not only important to understand that God has our back, but we must also learn to wait on Him.  To trust that he'll deliver in HIS time.


...and God's timetable doesn't always make sense, either.  It can be unbearable, waiting.  But today as I read, I learned that there is something far worse than waiting for God.


...and that's wishing you had.


Saul's king now.  His kingdom, the Israelites, forget, for the gazillionth (is that a word?) time, who they are and Who is going to battle for them.  They lose their courage when they see the enemy and begin hiding in holes and caves.  They even find tombs to take refuge!  I don't know, but, when the only options are to face my enemy or hide in an old tomb...I gotta tell ya, the enemy is looking pretty good!

Needless to say, the Philistines are moving in....and Israel is quickly moving out. 

As Saul watches his men scatter he starts getting really nervous.  Samuel had not arrived on the scene, like he said he would, and seven days had gone by.  Finally, when he can stand it no more, when he's reached the point that he can no longer sit by watching his men tremble with fear - he sacrifices burnt offerings to God.  

He just goes ahead and does it himself.


...and it costs him his kingdom.


You see, only priests could burn offerings to God and Saul knew that.  He was instructed by Samuel to wait, he knew he was coming back.  "But how long must I wait? Fear is growing among my men, surely Samuel isn't aware of that!  Things have changed since he left a week ago."  

Saul took over the role of the priest and in the process, he disregarded one of God's commands.

I believe one of Saul's biggest downfalls was his pride.  At one time, the bible teaches, the spirit of the Lord was upon him - giving him great power! 

But with great power came pride, and at one point, he decided that God didn't necessarily know best or that His timing was a little messed up.


Instead of obeying God, he decided what God wanted.

He did seem to have good intentions, though, asking God for help through sacrifices and offerings. 


Another time, God told him to completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation.  However, Saul saved the best livestock, to offer to God.  Again, his intention seemed to be to please the Lord, but all he was really doing was disobeying Him.


God told Samuel He was sorry He ever appointed Saul as king, which seems kind of funny to me because God knew what Saul was going to do even before He made him king...but anyway.  A replacement king had to be found.  A man after God's own heart.   

Saul admitted he sinned, however he placed blame on everyone else but himself.  (I've aways told my children that an apology doesn't count if it comes along with a "but")


Samuel told him, in not so many words, that it was too late, for "He who is the glory of Isreal will not lie, nor will he change his mind." (15:29)


The bible says the spirit of the Lord had left Saul and sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. 

I honestly can't imagine anything worse.  Losing his kingdom was one thing.  Being filled with depression and fear, quite another.  Far worse than any of that though, would be to lose the spirit of the Lord.   

Indeed some things are far worse than waiting on God.

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him."  (Ps 62:5)