Faith and Patience

1 Samuel 13:1–4 (ESV) Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

Saul's character slowly unfolds in the narrative of 1 Samuel. We are not told upfront that Saul is really not the king of the Lord's choosing. We are to discover this over the course of the narrative, seeing Saul's faults and taking note of the values God prioritizes and Saul lacks. 

For one, there is the reluctant desire for Saul to do anything about the Philistine problem. They, after all, have been Israel's thorn for some time (since Samson). But here Saul sends most of the army home and waits. Only when Jonathan attacks a garrison and wins does Saul declare war. And note that even though it was Jonathan's victory, Saul is quick to credit himself in the morning headlines. 

Later in the story, when the people come to him to fight the Philistines, they are overwhelmed by the numbers and military advancements of their enemies. Instead of showing the strength of character, patience, and nobility, Saul usurps Samuel's role, gives in to the fear of his army and offers the sacrifice required before the war.

1 Samuel 13:6 (ESV) When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns,

1 Samuel 13:8–9 (ESV) He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.

This act is a profound breach of Saul's responsibilities. Only the priests are to offer the sacrifice. Israel was to be a model to the nations that their king was submitted first to the Word of the Lord and held limited powers checked by the prophets. Saul's offering here is an affront to the Lord and rebellion against His divine prerogatives. This is the reason Samuel's judgment for Saul's actions is so harsh.
1 Samuel 13:13–14 (ESV) And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

Saul's main problem is that he failed to trust the Word of the Lord and patiently wait for Samuel to come as he said he would. The Bible teaches us that faith and patience inherit the promises of God.
Hebrews 6:12 (ESV) so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

If you sum up this narrative into a cohesive picture we see how Saul first seeks the praise of the people for Jonathan's victory and then impetuously caves to the people's fears by assuming authority he did not have. The real issue in Saul is one we all struggle with. To meet expectations of those around us rather than to wait upon the Lord's good and perfect timing in our lives. How many times we are tempted to compromise our values for the opinions of others? This is not faith, it is the fear of man. And the Christian cannot operate faithfully while he fears man. To stand on the Word of God is becoming a sort of lost art in American Christianity. We want the world to like us when their opinion is truly meaningless.

If we seek God's Word and patiently trust His timing, we will see the good rewards He offers. If we cave into the cultural mantras, we forfeit the legacy that faith produces.