The Result of Disobedience

Devotion | 1 Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭13‬ ‭AMP‬‬

”Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for [if you had obeyed] the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.“

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Have you ever stopped to consider what it means to “act foolishly”? These were the very words spoken by Samuel to King Saul... The word foolishly means in an unwise manner; stupidly.

For a brief moment apply that understanding to what Samuel is saying to King Saul after he offered the burnt and peace offerings which he was forbidden to do.

Before this Jonathan, King Saul’s son had defeated the Philistine garrison to which King Saul blew the trumpet declaring Israel’s victory and then FEAR crept in.

What we see next is the Philistines assemble an army that seemed visibly greater than who King Saul had alongside him prompting him to foolishly offer forbidden sacrifices to the Lord in hopes that circumstances would change.

How often do we “think” we know the totality of a situation and act foolishly or unwise; stupidly?

In this verse of scripture, we’ve obtained another SPIRITUAL KEY.

Samuel reveals that King Saul only had to keep and obey the commandment the Lord had commanded him and his kingdom would have been established over Israel forever.

For many of us, this very lesson is and can be applied to areas of our lives where we knew what God had commanded us yet we acted foolishly out of FEAR, doubt, and uncertainty.

Had King Saul, and if we minimize our situations and circumstances beneath the Great God that we serve and keep and obey all that He has commanded us we will therefore be established, forever!

This one foolish act cost King Saul not only his established kingdom but also the Spirit of the Lord, grace, and favor soon departed from him. Furthermore, what should have been his has now been passed on before it’s time.

Let’s look at another pitfall that King Saul experienced in this story, not only was FEAR a factor, but he was desiring the validation and pleasure of those with him.

”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.“

While I can’t imagine what was going through Saul’s mind at that moment, whatever it was, it was enough for him to risk all that God had for him and he certainly lost!

This too is another application that can be directly paralleled to our lives, we are often movable because of the scattering effects of those around us.

Certainly, we can attribute this grave offense to an act of pride on Saul’s part. Think about that for a moment… pride is often the greatest entrapment today. Imagine if Saul had laid his pride aside and allowed those who desired to leave to do just that. He would not have turned away from wisdom!

Disobedience is essentially turning away from wisdom! The book of Philippians chapter 2 tells us that we were created for God’s good pleasure, if we truly understand that principle truth following God’s leading would be binding.

God’s spiritual covenants are tied to His Word and are backed by the rhema revelation of Holy Spirit which produces a fullness of the law and the Spirit!

Circumstance and situation come to test your ability to remain steadfast. Your ability to remain steadfast is directly tied to your fidelity to God.

For many, as it was with Saul, circumstance and situation are the vehicles that drive wavering hearts and minds to operate within their own limited understanding.

Before I conclude, let’s make a mental note that King Saul had just blown the trumpet telling of victory and within a week he had quickly forgotten all that the Lord had just done… does that sound familiar to you? That’s how easily it is to step in and be in agreement with disobedience.

What do you do when circumstance and situation sounds louder than God? Do you bring yourself into remembrance of what God has done or are you blinded by what you cannot see?

I charge you this week to silence circumstance and situation and be in utter obedience to God in ALL things!

Until next read

Waiting well,

Apostle Natasha 💜