The Patience to Obey

Based on 1 Samuel 13-15

Saul had many challenges as a king, and the greatest was his impatience and unwillingness to obey God by the voice of Samuel. Saul wanted God's favor, but things didn't quite work out in Saul's favor when he didn't wait on The Lord! He kept forgetting that he would not have his kingship if it wasn't for God or the obedience of Samuel!

"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." 1 Samuel 13:14

Yes, obedience takes patience. In surrendering one's will, you have to wait until God's timing to take the next step. Saul was not about waiting around, and that took him down a terrible path. This above Scripture describes the first time Saul did not wait & obey. Samuel was taking a while to come for the sacrifice, so Saul did it on his own. Saul was not after God's heart, because he did not want to do things God's way.

"And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not." 1 Samuel 14:44‭-‬45

Jonathan and his armorbearer went out on their own to fight the Philistines, and they won a great victory. When they returned, everyone was told to fast, but Jonathan didn't hear anything about it. He ate some honey, and in order to keep to his word about killing anyone who ate, Saul said Jonathan should die. But the people spoke up for him! God allowed Jonathan to win a great victory! So, Jonathan was spared. It seems as though Saul was more concerned with keeping his own word than God's Word. He wanted to do whatever made him look powerful instead of relying on God's power!

"And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly." 1 Samuel 15:8‭-‬9

Saul was told to destroy EVERYTHING of the Amalekites, but he changed some of that order to please himself and the people. They did not kill the king. They took the spoil. They did not obey God! If they would have destroyed it all in obedience, then God would have provided it, with time & patience...

"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. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 1 Samuel 15:22‭-‬23

Saul did not rely on The Lord in his God-given position as king, so God would soon make someone else king, and that someone would be after God's heart, not the pride & disobedience of the human heart. How many times do we think our way is better than God's way? We need to be careful, because our way of doing things is never as fruitful as God's plan for us!

"And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel."
1 Samuel 15:35

This was sad, but unfortunately expected. Samuel warned Israel about the king they would have. All of this was birthed out of pride, not out of obeying & waiting on The Lord. We need to submit to God's authority-He has the best plan & best outcome for our lives! Be patient and obedient, and God will come through for you!