Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice

SAUL WAS a flawed man—indecisive, rash, and lacking in faith.Although Saul led Israel to victory over its enemies, mainly the Philistines and the trans-Jordanian kingdoms of Edom, Moab, and Ammon, his insecurity and poor judgment led to God’s decree that the kingship would be stripped from his family and given to another.We discuss Saul’s foolish decision to offer sacrifices rather than waiting for the prophet Samuel, placing himself above God’s priest and showing that he was unfit to lead God’s people.Then we discuss a key battle in which Saul’s son Jonathan led a covert raid that God used to instill panic in the Philistines. Saul foolishly laid an oath on his soldiers: “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” Fighting is hard work, and because of his vow the Israelite forces were too weak to press their victory over the Philistines. This is another example that the characteristics we humans too often use to choose our leaders—he was tall and handsome!—are not the ones God values.