Plot Twist: Saul and the Idols of Self
1 Samuel 13 – 14
July 2, 2023
Jay Haugh

The nation has rejected Samuel and God.

God won’t abandon you when you come to Him.

Samuel fights against the idol of self-pity.

Saul succumbs to the idol of self-sufficiency.

Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. —1 Samuel 13:2 ESV

And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal. —1 Samuel 13:4 ESV
And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. —1 Samuel 13:5 ESV

So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. —1 Samuel 13:22 ESV

Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.” —1 Samuel 13:19 ESV

When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. —1 Samuel 13:6-7 ESV

God is testing Saul’s faith.

He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. —1 Samuel 13:8 ESV

Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” —1 Samuel 10:8 ESV

The sacrifice is a confession that God is their deliverer.

God will make Himself great by making Saul weak.

God exposes the idol of self-sufficiency.

So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. —1 Samuel 13:9 ESV
As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel came. Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” —1 Samuel 13:10-12 ESV

Saul succumbs to the idol of self-justification.

Saul justifies his disobedience.

1. The people were leaving.
2. Samuel’s late.
3. There’s danger around us.
4. Saul is pessimistic.
5. I had to do what I did.

And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. —1 Samuel 13:13 ESV

Saul is fired from his position.

But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart…because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” —1 Samuel 13:14 ESV

The first job for any leader is to fear God.

One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. —1 Samuel 14:1 ESV
Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. —1 Samuel 14:4 ESV
Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” —1 Samuel 14:6 ESV

And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us. —1 Samuel 14:7-10 ESV

And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. —1 Samuel 14:12-13 ESV

And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic. —1 Samuel 14:15 ESV

Jonathan’s action (his faith) releases the power of God.

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there. Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel. —1 Samuel 14:16-18 ESV

Jonathan doesn’t look to his numbers; he looks to the power of God.

Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” —1 Samuel 14:19 ESV

Don’t consult God now, there’s no time!

Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. —1 Samuel 14:20-21 ESV
Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. —1 Samuel 14:22 ESV

When God shows up, people are emboldened.

So the Lord saved Israel that day. —1 Samuel 14:23 ESV

And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. —1 Samuel 14:24 ESV

The oath means, “Win or Die!”

Saul leads by fear, intimidation, and abuse of power.

But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. —1 Samuel 14:27 ESV
Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.” They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. —1 Samuel 14:29-31 ESV

Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. —1 Samuel 14:45-46 ESV

BIG IDEA:

For true victory turn from the idols of self and turn with confidence to the power of God.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Memory Verse: 1 Peter 5:5b-6 NIV
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Read 1 Samuel 13
Saul’s fear of the enemy caused him to act impulsively and offer sacrifices without waiting for Samuel. What are some common fears that often tempt us to compromise our values or act against what we know is right? How can we overcome those fears and stand firm in the Lord and do what He has commanded?

When Samuel confronts Saul about his actions, Saul blames Samuel for not being more timely. “If you would have come earlier, I would not have done this.” Have you ever rationalized your sin or blamed others for your wrong doing? As you reflect on your behavior, what do you believe is the heart issue behind it? Do you find that it is something you do consistently with certain sins? Do you regularly blame the same people?

With the massing Philistine army, Saul felt acting sooner rather than later was to his benefit. However, Saul was letting his emotions dictate truth and not his faith. God is able to overcome what we perceive to be insurmountable odds. When do circumstances feel too big for you to overcome? Do you ever feel rushed to act before a situation escalates? How do we let faith lead and not our emotions?

Saul was caught in a tough spot: feeling compelled to act as the king of the nation but instructed to wait. Do you struggle to know if you should wait for the Lord’s timing or act quickly? How can we find the balance between trusting God’s power and timing and actively participating in the work He has called us to do?

Read 1 Samuel 14
Share about a time in your life when you made a decision that required faith in God. How did that experience shape you and impact your relationship with God? Did this experience change your perspective on stepping out in faith in the future? What are some areas in your life where you need to take courageous steps forward, trusting in God’s guidance?

Jonathan and his armor-bearer are unified and have a special bond. Discuss the importance of unity and companionship in a person’s spiritual journey. Do you currently have this kind of relationship with anyone? How can we as a Small Group encourage and support one another to step out in faith and obedience to God?

Jonathan says “nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” Many in Israel probably believed this to be true, but few acted in such a way to affirm it as true. Where do you feel the most tension in what you know to be true compared to the way you live? Is there always alignment?

When Saul inquires of the Lord whether he should enter into battle with the Philistines, the Lord is silent. Do you ever feel you receive the same response when you pray? What does it look like for you to “hear from the Lord”? Is it appropriate to expect an answer from Him in every situation? What did silence from the Lord mean in this instance? Is confession always vital before we hear from God?