The Mess of Stress

Trinity Presbyterian Church

1 Samuel 13:1-15
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 Gibe-
ah 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.
5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six
thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came
up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw
that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid them-
selves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 and some He-
brews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at
Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8 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 offer-
ing here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon
as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went
out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said,
“When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come with-
in the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said,
‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the fa-
vor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 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.” 15 And
Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to
meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.