Saul was anointed king and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he was “changed into a different person” (1 Samuel 10:1-6, 9). He knew his need for the Lord’s help in battle. He also knew the Lord’s instructions for seeking Him: Samuel must lead in offering the sacrifices (1 Samuel 10:8). Samuel, however, was delayed. Israel’s enemies, the Philistines, were massing for war. So Saul went ahead with the offerings to God. When Samuel arrived, Saul explained it this way:
I said, “Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.” So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering (1 Samuel 13:12).
When Saul “sought the favor of the Lord,” wasn’t that acceptable faith? Samuel gave God’s answer: “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which He commanded you…. now your kingdom shall not continue” (1 Samuel 13:13-14). Like many today, Saul had enough faith to seek God’s help, but not enough to do it God’s way.
Saul had faith to seek God’s help, but not to obey.
A second time, Saul chose worship over obedience, despite God’s specific instructions for war. Again, he claimed to mean well: “The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God” (1 Samuel 15:21). Did Saul have any faith? He acknowledged Yahweh. He sought Yahweh’s help. He enjoyed victories in Yahweh’s name. He wanted to sacrifice to Yahweh. But Yahweh wanted more than good intentions. Above all, Yahweh wanted obedience.
And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king” (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
This was another case of the human “I” becoming god. Human preference overturned the divine will. Claims to faith only make insubordination all the more deceptive and acceptable to men. But the Lord is not fooled. “Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD” (1 Chronicles 10:13).