“扫罗说：‘把燔祭和平安祭带到我这里来。’扫罗就献上燔祭。” - 撒上 13:9

“扫罗登基年四十岁，”那时他的体能和才智大概正值颠峰状态，他的世界充满机会和潜力；这年青、高大、俊美的男士，正是以色列民心仪的君王 － 他是他们那个年代的标准领袖。

除此之外，在战场获胜是促进国家团结的最佳途径。为了国家安全和拓展国土，这位年青的君王知道胜利能够带来个人的荣誉和名声。还有，在良善战胜邪恶的斗争中，他们昔日的敌人非利士人正好最适合扮演恶人。在高涨的爱国情怀中，这位年青的以色列领袖拣选了数以千计的人准备上战场。

然而，非利士人也带着大量的兵马和战车前来，“百姓都战战兢兢地跟随[扫罗]。”扫罗于是便开始自作主张了。撒母耳曾说过，他会来献祭和求问神他们应该怎样做，但他看到士兵开始离开他而去，扫罗便不想再等了，他决定自己亲自献祭，他要自己来作主，不想要遵照神的规矩做事。可是，等撒母耳抵达时，他对扫罗说：“你做了糊涂事了！ … 现在你的王位必不长久。… 因为你没有遵守耶和华所吩咐你的。”

祷告

亲爱的主，当面对不明朗的处境时，我也曾经自作主张行事。求你帮助我，在任何时候都信靠你，又遵守你的法则，不要固执己见。奉耶稣祈求，阿们。

撒母耳记上 13:1-15

1扫罗登基年四十岁。做以色列王二年的时候，
2就从以色列中拣选了三千人，二千跟随扫罗在密抹和伯特利山，一千跟随约拿单在便雅悯的基比亚；其余的人，扫罗都打发各回各家去了。
3约拿单攻击迦巴非利士人的防营，非利士人听见了。扫罗就在遍地吹角，意思说要使希伯来人听见。
4以色列众人听见扫罗攻击非利士人的防营，又听见以色列人为非利士人所憎恶，就跟随扫罗聚集在吉甲。
5非利士人聚集，要与以色列人争战，有车三万辆，马兵六千，步兵像海边的沙那样多，就上来在伯亚文东边的密抹安营。
6以色列百姓见自己危急窘迫，就藏在山洞、丛林、石穴、隐密处和坑中。
7有些希伯来人过了约旦河，逃到迦得和基列地。扫罗还是在吉甲，百姓都战战兢兢地跟随他。
8扫罗照着撒母耳所定的日期等了七日。撒母耳还没有来到吉甲，百姓也离开扫罗散去了。
9扫罗说：“把燔祭和平安祭带到我这里来。”扫罗就献上燔祭。
10刚献完燔祭，撒母耳就到了。扫罗出去迎接他，要问他好。
11撒母耳说：“你做的是什么事呢？”扫罗说：“因为我见百姓离开我散去，你也不照所定的日期来到，而且非利士人聚集在密抹，
12所以我心里说，恐怕我没有祷告耶和华。非利士人下到吉甲攻击我，我就勉强献上燔祭。”
13撒母耳对扫罗说：“你做了糊涂事了！没有遵守耶和华你神所吩咐你的命令。若遵守，耶和华必在以色列中坚立你的王位，直到永远。
14现在你的王位必不长久。耶和华已经寻着一个合他心意的人，立他做百姓的君，因为你没有遵守耶和华所吩咐你的。”
15撒母耳就起来，从吉甲上到便雅悯的基比亚。扫罗数点跟随他的，约有六百人。

My Way

"[Saul] said, 'Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.' And Saul offered up the burnt offering." - 1 Samuel 13:9

“Saul was thirty years old when he became king,” and he was probably at the peak of his physical and mental abilities. Saul’s world was filled with possibilities and potential. The young, tall, handsome man was just what Israel wanted as their king—a model leader for their times.

Along with that, nothing promoted national unity like a good war. In the interests of security and possible kingdom expansion, the young king knew that victory could bring glory and fame. Besides, their old enemy, the Philistines, would serve as the perfect villain in the fight for good over evil. Patriotism grew, and the young men of Israel signed up for battle by the thousands.

But the Philistines came with a vast army and chariots, and “all the troops with Saul were quaking with fear.” So Saul took matters into his own hands. Samuel had said he would be there to make an offering and to ask God what they should do, but Saul did not want to wait any longer. His troops were beginning to run away. So Saul decided to make the offering himself. He decided that he was in charge and that they didn’t need to do things God’s way. But when Samuel arrived, he told Saul, “You have done a foolish thing. . . . Now your kingdom will not endure . . . because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

Prayer

Dear Lord, in times of uncertainty, I too have taken matters into my own hands. Help me to trust in you at all times, and to follow your way rather than insisting on my way. In Jesus, Amen.