A bit of background: For the 400 years, after Moses led the Israelites out of slavery, their government was a theocracy. God chose the leader, a Judge, who partnered with Him and ruled according to the Laws of Moses. Samuel was the last one. Not because God decided it was time for a change, but the people did.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. (1 Sam. 8:4-7)
They wanted a king like all the nations. They had an ideal in mind.
What is the “standard” of every fairy tale prince?
q Tall, dark and handsome
q Good stock – family line
q Strong military leader
q Charming
q and of course, humble
Their first king, Saul, checked off all the boxes. Well, almost. At first he came across as a man of humility, but it didn’t take long to reveal that he in fact struggled with self-consciousness, was self-consumed and had a driving fear to provide and protect himself. What defines true humility? Real humility is a heart in balance. It knows its strength, but does not impose it on others for self-serving reasons. Genuine humility flows out of partnering with God, believing He is absolutely trustworthy, and has our best interests covered, so our focus can be fully on God and others. It does not care who gets the attention and is content as long as the Lord is glorified and pleased.
There is one thing that truly test genuine humility – test of our willingness to partner with God: WAITING. Who likes to wait? How good are you at waiting? How often is waiting a part of your life?
Samuel told Saul that he would become Israel’s first king. A lot was going to happen to him. (1 Sam. 10:7,8) “It shall be when these signs come to you, do for yourself what the occasion requires, for God is with you.” However, there was one more thing: before he did anything, he was to partner with Samuel and God. “And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you should do.” Interesting verb tense: it is NOT optional. You WILL do it. “You shall go!”
Fast forward through several chapters of 1 Samuel. In chapter 13, Saul is king (and has been for awhile). He had selected an elite force of 3000, since Israel had enjoyed peace throughout Samuel’s leadership, Saul thought that was all he would need. Until the Philistines showed up on the horizon with 30,000 chariots, 6,000 on horseback and a marching army too big to count. “When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.” (1 Sam. 13:6,7)
Obediently, Saul had headed to Gilgal to wait for Samuel. It is hard enough to wait, but how about when things get worse while waiting? He waited and waited and waited. How long did Samuel tell Saul to wait? It wasn’t because it took seven days for word to get to Samuel and for him to get to Gilgal. God knew what was going on. He could tell Samuel to be there waiting for Saul. So, why the God-ordained waiting? There IS purpose in waiting. Waiting reminds us that we are not in control. Waiting also gives us time for personal preparation, to rest and be ready for action. We have it backward: we rest from working, rather than work from resting. What did Adam and Eve do their first day of life? They rested. They waited. God never wastes obedient waiting!
There are nine different Hebrew words translated “wait” in the Old Testament.
1. Shamar – an active waiting that knows what to do and is waiting for the appropriate opportunity to do it.
2. Yachal – to wait with patience and hope, willing to bear the burden and/or inconvenience for as long as it takes.
3. Damam – to wait quietly setting aside justifications, complaining or the right to express opinion.
4. Duwmam – to wait without saying anything to begin with = a quiet trusting characterized by serenity despite not knowing when or how or why.
5. Shobar or Sabar – to wait with an overwhelming sense of anticipation
6. Chakah - “stick with it” waiting that does not give up.
7. Duwmiyah – waiting characterized by contentment
8. Qavah – Literally to bind together by twisting. Taking the need and the character and promises of God and braid them together to make an unbreakable cord. Waiting while wrapped up in the sovereignty and faithfulness of God.
9. Chuwl or chiyl – to do nothing but wait. Literally to twirl, so if you need to be doing something then twiddle your thumbs.
Not every situation requires the same way of waiting.
Can you pretend to wait while waiting? Watching the watch waiting! I have a feeling that is exactly what Saul was doing: right place, right amount of time, wrong heart.
Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” 1 Samuel 13:8-12
I think my favorite line is “So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” When was the last time you “forced” yourself to be disobedient? Forced to obey, I understand, but to disobey? I do not know if Saul scrunched the time or if Samuel pushed him beyond 7 days = 164 hours = 10,080 minutes. There was no wiggle room. Samuel shows up “as soon as he finished.” Saul lined up his justifications, and decided the heck with partnering and waiting. He didn’t wait any longer than he had to because he wanted God’s favor, not God’s will.
Like Saul, we minimize the significance of waiting. We don’t know what we don’t know. God always has a purpose in waiting. It may simply be His testing our commitment to partnership. Paul says in Ephesians 4:1, “I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. ”We are called to partnership with God. Waiting proves our trustworthiness, our faithfulness, our willingness. He has purpose and blessings in the waiting that we might be totally unaware of.
“Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” (1 Sam. 13:13,14)
If Saul had made partnering and waiting a part of his life and kingship, his reign would have become a linage instead of end limited to just him. If your life is going to be all it could be, partnering and waiting are required.
Waiting is demanded of each of us. Are you partnering with God in the waiting?
