Nougat 15

Thanks to Jennifer, who’s asked for a deeper dive into patience, we start a new season of reflection. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.

‭1 Samuel 13:8-9 AMP‬

[8] Now Saul waited seven days, according to the appointed time which Samuel had set, but Samuel had not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering away from Saul. [9] So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do].

Worry Born of Impatience

The Philistines were the bane of Israel’s existence in those formative years. They were a challenge before the establishment of the kingdom and continued to harass Israel during the reigns of Saul and David. In fact, it is argued that there were 8 battles between the Philistines and Israel. In some of those battles, God’s favour upon Israel was very evident, as Israel could not defeat the Philistines in their own strength and weaponry.

The attack of the Philistine army was, therefore, not new, but it was another round of a continued battle when Saul became king. As usual, Saul sought direction from the Man of God, as this was a battle outside human capacity. The Philistines had a mighty army! Their size was intimidating, causing the Israelite troops to waver, and some deserted immediately.

Saul needed to boost the spirits of those who remained, and also, he desperately needed a word from God for the way forward. He sought the prophet Samuel’s aid and was instructed to meet at Gilgal, the place for offering and sacrifices. The problem was that while he waited for Samuel, the troops continued to dwindle, and Samuel was late. Many of the remaining men who had been waiting for words of encouragement from the Man of God also grew weary and became deserters.

Saul was in a tough place. He needed a word from God desperately to keep the few soldiers who remained, as well as to boost his own spirits. The Man of God was a no-show. What was a king to do?

Siblings, I can’t help but recall the story of Gideon in Judges 6-8. Like Saul, Gideon’s army was no natural match for the Midianites, who had the Israelites resorting to cave-dwelling lifestyles in an effort to stay alive. But when Gideon heeded God’s call to lead the people in battle, God insisted that Gideon trim his army. The Midianites were defeated by an Israelite army of 300. Could it be that God was trimming Saul’s army?

Saul’s decision to make the sacrifice by himself was rooted in worry, born of impatience. He needed answers right away, and he feared the battle’s outcome on morale and his reign. It was a vicious cycle at play within Saul. He was impatient due to fear and fearful due to the passing of time.

Have you been in that space before? I have. Those looming deadlines that trigger worry about completing assigned tasks, the sense of hopelessness, even helplessness, when our support has dispersed, and we know that we can’t manage alone.

Our recently concluded study and reflection reminded us of Paul’s exhortation: be care-full for nothing, but pray about everything. For when worry takes over (as it always tries to do), we are less open to the Spirit of God. When worry sets in, patience – a part of the Fruit of God’s Spirit – has been excluded from our default response.

Saul’s response seems right until we notice the parenthetical comment … ‘which he was forbidden to do.’ He was acting outside of God’s will. What about us: do we find that impatience leads us to act outside of God’s instructions? Is it time for an obedience check? Siblings, let us strive to become prayer Warriors, not Worriers. It goes against all we confess God to be.

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May all we seek be found in Christ