Saul’s mistake at Gilgal may not, at first, seem so serious as to merit the harsh punishment it receives. After all, he waited and waited for Samuel to arrive and, all that time, his men were becoming anxious, some were deserting in fear, and battle was imminent.

So, Saul took matters into his own hands. He knew that burnt offerings needed to be made, so he made the arrangements himself. Of course, just as he finished, Samuel arrived and caught him in the act.

What was Saul’s sin here? It was simply that he took on a responsibility that was not his. He assumed more authority than he had. Although Saul was king, Samuel was still the prophet. Saul had been given clear instructions, and he had chosen to ignore them.

This was always going to be the problem when Israel demanded a human king. However worthy a king was, he was always going to be subordinate to God, always expected to honour God and obey God. No human king could ever assume he knew better than God himself, yet this is what Saul had done. Saul’s sin might seem like an honest mistake in understandable circumstances, but, by choosing to ignore God’s instructions, conveyed through Samuel, Saul gave the impression to the people that he thought he was above God – completely inappropriate as an example to the people!

The consequences must have been hard to bear, but it is a reminder to us all that nobody, however powerful, however wealthy, however well meaning, is above God.

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NEWBOLD BAPTIST CHURCH