1 Samuel 13:1-15
The Philistines had gathered together in Michmash to fight with Israel with thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and people “as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude” (13:5). The men of Israel there saw that they were in danger and hid themselves, and some even fled across the Jordan. Meanwhile, Saul was in Gilgal, and the people followed him trembling.
Saul had previously been given this instruction from the prophet Samuel: “You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do” (1 Samuel 10:8). The words of a prophet ought to not only be heard but obeyed because they are divinely appointed. It is evident from Saul’s later interaction with Samuel that Saul understood these instructions. But what did Saul do?
“Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, ‘Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.’ And he offered the burnt offering. Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. And Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ Saul said, ‘When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, “The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.” Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.’ And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you’” (13:8-14).
Saul had disobeyed God. He had his reasons. They were all a shift of blame from the blameworthy – himself.
Excuse number one: The people were scattered from him. According to Saul, the circumstance necessitated his disobedience. After all, the people were scattering and danger was imminent. But circumstance cannot excuse sin.
Excuse number two: He said Samuel did not come within the days appointed. Saul had become impatient and decided to take matters into his own hands. It had been clear from Samuel’s instruction that he would come to offer the sacrifices and offerings and show Saul what he should do. Saul had no right to presume what he should do. The Bible stresses that we cannot please God when we act outside His authority. Others’ actions cannot excuse us stepping outside divine authority.
Excuse number three: The Philistines were gathered together at Michmash, and if Saul didn’t act, they would come down upon him at Gilgal. Again he blames his circumstance and the perceived imminent danger for his sin.
Then he plainly offers a final excuse, “I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering” (13:12). The original language here suggests a meaning of constraining oneself to act; in other words, Saul is saying he did not want to do it, but he made or forced himself to do it. Why not take responsibility for his own sin? Have you ever heard someone say, “I had no other option”? No man can excuse sin by suggesting he felt compelled or that he did it even though he really did not want to.
David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), and he took responsibility for his own sin. “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:3-4a). Six times in the four verses he accepted responsibility for his sin with “my” and “I.”
It can be so easy to blame others for our sin. Eve did, then Adam did, and men and women continue the same today. When circumstance presses upon you, and by your own choice you sin, do you accept responsibility for your own sin, or do you try to shift blame?
What about blaming others? When someone has been unkind to us or even sinned against us, does that give us reason to return the same? No; such behavior brings one down to the level of the lowest and meanest of enemies. Jesus taught otherwise. “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). Jesus provided the perfect example, and we “should follow His steps: who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return, when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23).
What about feeling like we just had to? We may “feel compelled,” but Christians know they do have another option – don’t sin. Our behavior needs to be regulated objectively by the law of Christ.
The Bible never suggests there is a valid excuse for sin. Let’s don’t try to shift blame. Instead, let us accept responsibility for ourselves when we sin.
-Larry Jones