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{{DOD-March}}
These three chapters record three sins of King Saul--sins that ultimately cost him the kingdom.
The first was that of impatience. The time had come for [[Israel]] to gather at Gilgal as [[Samuel]] and [[Saul]] had agreed months before. The vast host of the Philistines began to assemble and the longer [[Saul]] waited, the more dangerous his position became. If he were to strike immediately he could defeat the enemy, but his delay only gave them opportunity to become stronger. Saul's impatience and unbelief led him to go ahead without [[Samuel]], and while he was completing the offering the [[prophet]] arrived. [[Saul]] tried to put the blame on [[Samuel]] and the people. But the [[prophet]] knew the truth. This was the beginning of the end. If [[God]] could not trust [[Saul]] in this little matter, how could He trust him with the kingdom? Saul's disobedience cost him the kingdom.
The second of Saul's sins recorded here is that of pride. Jonathan is one of the finest characters in sacred history, a picture of genuine victorious [[faith]]--a glowing contrast to his father. King [[Saul]] was surrounded by a company, among whom were relatives of Eli, but who manifested unbelief. The [[Lord]] miraculously worked through an earthquake, sending confusion and destruction among the Philistines.
The third [[sin]] of [[Saul]] was that of disobedience. [[God]] would give [[Saul]] one more chance to prove himself, this time in utterly destroying [[Israel]]'s old enemies, the Amalekites. But [[Saul]] did not obey the [[Lord]]. He lied to [[Samuel]], saying he had obeyed. As a result, [[Saul]] lost his earthly humility and became proud and disobedient. He had rebelled against the [[Word]] of [[God]] and had tried to make up for his disobedience by sacrifices.
[[Saul]] wanted a good reputation; he lost the [[Lord]]'s blessing; and he lost the kingdom. From then on it would be a dark, winding road to becoming a castaway, and being slain by the very Amalekites he refused to kill.
