Chapter 241 of 1163

1 SAMUEL 13

Saul’s second crisis came after he started to build a standing army, and he failed in four ways in this crisis.

He failed to act decisively (vv. 1–4). It was Jonathan, not Saul, who declared war by attacking one of the Philistine garrisons. Saul took the credit and blew the trumpet to rally the people.

He failed to inspire the people (vv. 5–7). Some ran away, some hid, and some left the country! (People still dodge military service in the same ways.) Those who were faithful were fearful and the future looked bleak.

He failed to wait (vv. 8–9; see also 1 Sam. 10:8). This was the first step in his rupture with Samuel and his rebellion against the Lord. Patience is a mark of character, and Saul’s character was weak (James 1:1–8).

He failed to tell the truth (vv. 10–15). When David sinned, he came with confessions; when Saul sinned, he had only excuses. He lied to his best friend, and it cost him his crown. And Saul would do it again (1 Sam. 15:15). From that point, his course was downhill.

Excuses

Evangelist Billy Sunday defined an excuse as “the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.” Benjamin Franklin said, “I never knew a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else.” Adam made the first excuse for sin (Gen. 3:12), and many have followed his bad example. Excuses only make matters worse.

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