And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. ISamuel 13:11,12
The characters in this Biblical account are Samuel, the prophet that God had been using for many years to help guide the nation of Israel in God’s ways, and Saul, the first king of Israel who had been reigning for around two years. The Philistines were gathered together to fight against Saul and his army with a huge number of horsemen and chariots. (Vs 5) The men of Israel were very distressed (vs 6) and began leaving or hiding, and those who remained following Saul did so trembling. (Vs 7)
Saul himself was at Gilgal trying to hold everything together while he waited for Samuel to come and offer sacrifices for forgiveness and blessing of the people. Saul waited and waited, but Samuel did not come when Saul thought he was supposed to.(vs 8) The people were scattering, fear was spreading, and the Philistines were coming – Saul had to do something or so he thought. Up to this point Saul had not done anything wrong, and then he did. Saul decided that since Samuel was “late” that he would make the offerings himself though Saul was not a priest of God and by God’s command was not allowed to perform the duties of a priest. (Vs 9)
Soon after offering the sacrifice, Samuel came and confronted Saul. “What hast thou done?” He said. (Vs 11) Saul answered by giving Samuel all of the reasons that he had used to give himself permission to sin. First, he was loosing favor with the people: the people were scattered from me. Next, he didn’t want to wait any longer and blamed Samuel: thou camest not in the days appointed. Third, he was afraid of the attack of the Philistines. (Vs 11, 12) Finally, Saul spiritualized his decision: I have not made supplication unto the LORD. Using that reasoning, Saul then said: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. Samuel responded by condemning Saul’s foolish actions as sin and informing him of God’s punishment. (Vs 13, 14)
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of giving ourselves permission to sin.
- I will loose my friends if I don’t do certain things, act a certain way, or go to these places… then how will I be a witness to them?
- God is late; my parents are taking too long to give permission; my spouse isn’t in agreement, but I need to act now.
- I’m afraid. I’m afraid to do the right thing, I’m afraid to trust God. I’m afraid of the consequences.
- I want this wrong thing, person, or relationship; and of course God would want me to be happy.
- I know “in my heart” that this is the right thing to do even though God says it’s wrong, even though my parents are against it, even though my pastor’s counsel is contradictory.
When faced with the temptation to take the easy way out and give ourselves permission to sin, we should do three things. First, recognize that it’s natural for our flesh or our heart to choose what it wants instead of what is right.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17: 9
Next, we should ask God to search out the wrong in our thoughts and inclinations about the matter and show us what is right, instead.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139: 23,24
Last, we should pray and ask God for help to do the right thing, no matter what.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. Psalm 119: 10-12
It’s actually reassuring to remember that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5) So when confused about whether something is right or wrong ask yourself if God would consider it right or wrong. When tempted to do something that you know is wrong or to not do something that you know you should, ask yourself what the holy God would want you to do, and by faith do it.
