Page 18 - The Divine Quest

The Divine Quest Page 15

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, I thought, 'Now
the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought Yahweh's
favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."

Saul seems to have done the prudent thing. Certainly, he felt justified in his own
eyes. Things started out bad and they were falling apart. In very little time Saul
anticipated having no men left at all. The Philistines could come against him at any
moment. In offering up the burnt offering he was seeking Yahweh’s favor. Yet God
looks on the heart of man and He saw something different. Saul had been
commanded to wait upon Samuel to make the sacrifice. Yahweh saw that Saul’s
confidence in His character was failing. He began to doubt that Yahweh would save
Him, and deliver His people Israel. Unbelief took hold of Saul’s heart, and from this
position of unbelief Saul could not please God. Samuel told Saul,

I Samuel 13:13-14
"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command Yahweh your
God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all
time. But now your kingdom will not endure; Yahweh has sought out a man after his
own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept
Yahweh’s command."

It is interesting to note that if Samuel had shown up at the appointed time that Saul
would have appeared to be the most godly of men. He had faithfully waited seven
days under the most trying conditions when all were deserting him. How many of us
appear godly when God is on-time? How many of us look like heroes when God
meets us according to our expectation? But what if God’s answer is delayed; what
will be revealed to be in our heart? Will we also feel “compelled” to do that which we
know in our heart is wrong? Will unbelief take hold of our hearts? Will we begin to
doubt the love of God toward us?

There are a few examples among the Kings of Israel and Judah of men who had
confidence in the character of Yahweh, and these men pleased God tremendously.
By looking at the character of the man that God chose to replace Saul, we can see the
underlying foundations of this struggle for faith and what it takes to please God.
David had a different heart than Saul, and God also tested his heart. David was
anointed by Samuel to replace Saul as king, but first he spent many years being
prepared and tested by God.

David was jealously pursued by King Saul, who sought to take his life because God’s
favor was evident upon David. For years David lived as a refugee, even having to flee
from the land of Israel. Saul organized military expeditions to hunt down David and