The Ripple Effect: The Cost of Disobedience | 1 Samuel 13:1-15

INTRODUCTION

Imagine dropping a small pebble into a calm pond. The impact creates ripples that expand outward, touching every part of the surface. Similarly, a single act of disobedience can create far-reaching consequences, affecting lives beyond the initial act.

Today, we are going to look into a critical moment in Israel’s history—a moment that highlights the consequences of disobedience to God’s commands. We often think that small acts of disobedience can be easily overlooked, but as we will see today in 1 Samuel 13, the cost of disobedience can have a bigger ripple effect than we imagine.

1 Samuel 13:1-15

Saul, after being anointed as the first king of Israel, led Israel to a military victory against the Ammonites in 1 Samuel 11 and received the support of the nation. At that point Samuel renewed the kingship, a public celebration of Saul as the king of Israel. Now, all Israel is supporting Saul. In 1 Samuel 12, Samuel confronted the people, also known as his farewell speech and said that the people will experience security and blessings only if they are obedient. Having a king is not a guarantee for security and blessing, and the people and the king need to obey the Lord’s commands.

1 Samuel 12:14-15

¹⁴If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! ¹⁵But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

What will Saul do to this advice?

How will Israel do under the leadership of Saul?

What does serving the Lord with all your heart mean?

Who or what has your heart? What rules your heart?

Does the Lord indeed rule your heart so that you want to serve him?

Do does fear rule your heart? Fear of people, fear of disapproval, fear of failure rule your heart?

1 Samuel 13:1-15 – Saul forfeits a dynasty.

1 Samuel 13:1-2

¹Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years. ²Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Mikmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.

We see that Saul handpicks men from Israel and camping at Mikmash, Bethel; while his son, Jonathan camps with a second force at Gibeah. Gibeah (10:5) and Gaba (13:3) are both the same.

1 Samuel 13:3

Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, “Let the Hebrews hear!”

The Philistines, although originally settled in the coastal regions to the west of Israel, were a powerful and expansionist people. They sought to exert control over key areas within Israel, especially those of strategic importance. By placing an outpost in Geba, the Philistines could exert pressure on the Israelites and maintain a foothold in the heart of Israel. There was a Philistine outpost there that never got attacked. Jonathan attacked it.

1 Samuel 13:4

So all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious to the Philistines.” And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

Israel was told that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines which may have meant him taking credit because he’s the leader. Or Saul may have been purposely protecting his son because this was not a smart thing to do. Jonathan attacked the Philistines and it created a situation now that the Philistines wanted to retaliate, and they had way more resources. Now there is a situation of a war between Israel and the Philistines.

1 Samuel 13:5

The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, (Israel has only 3000 fighting men) six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven.

We learn from the book of Judges that iron chariots got Israel to fear. The Philistine army is like sand on the seashore. They are very intimidating and superior to Israel’s army. It looks like a very dire situation. Saul is at Gilgal and the troops with him are in fear.

APPLICATION

Do you know that we all have something that brings up fear in our lives? For some it’s a health issue. Some people fear finances. Some people fear certain people. For Israel it was chariots. Iron chariots would just tip them over the edge.

Imagine you are there in the battlefield. You are alongside the 3000, not even having a sword, and the enemy has soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. What would you do?

1 Samuel 13:6-7

⁶When the Israelites 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. ⁷Some 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. ⁸He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.

Now, in reality what is facing them right now is a battle like the Ammonites. It was just the iron chariots that got them so upset. But they were in trouble. And when you’re in trouble it’s time to seek the Lord, and that’s what Saul did. He went to seek the Lord at Gilgal.

Now, before we move on let’s go back to 1 Samuel 8. How does God lead Saul until now?

• God selected Saul through a revelation to Samuel; 1 Samuel 9:17
• Saul was searching for his father’s lost donkeys, Samuel prophesied that they have been found; 9:20
• Samuel anoints Saul; 1 Samuel 10:1
• Samuel continues to prophecy to Saul confirming that Samuel is the prophet of the Lord.

Details of the Prophecy:

• Saul will meet 2 men; 10:2.
• Then Saul will meet 3 men at the tree of Tabor; 10:3
• Then Saul will meet a procession of prophets; 10:5
• The Spirt of the Lord will come upon Saul; Saul will prophesy; 10:6
• Saul will be changed into a different person; 10:6
• Do whatever you’re your hand finds to do; 10:7
• Go to Gilgal and I will come down in 7 days to do the priestly offering and sacrifice; 10:8

1 Samuel 10:8

“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”

See how God guides us. Sometimes God guides us very clearly and precisely. Samuel instructs Saul back in chapter 10 that he had to wait in Gilgal for 7 days and Samuel would come and offer the sacrifices; 10:8.

Coming back to 1 Samuel 13:

1 Samuel 13:8

He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.

Now, in all empathy to Saul in this moment, seven days is a long time to keep a sturdy heart.

APPLICATION

If you’ve had to wait for your medical results for seven days you know how hard it is to just keep a sturdy heart about that, so we can empathize with him. He waited for 7 days but did not wait the full 24-hour period of the 7^th day.

1 Samuel 13:9-11

⁹So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. ¹⁰Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. ¹¹“What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, (notice how he puts the 1^st blame on the scattering of the fighting men of Israel) and that you did not come at the set time, (notice how he puts the ^2nd blame on Samuel) and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, (He puts the 3^rd blame on the Philistines) ¹²I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

Saul, immediately began to offer excuses. He knew it was wrong

Saul’s excuses:

• I’m afraid of losing the people I have. They are scattering.
• Samuel, you did not come at the appointed time.
• The Philistines were assembling at Mikmash. They were very close.
• I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.

We see Saul’s obsession with ritual and religion rather than obedience.

It’s a very sad passage. Saul knew full well that the offering was not king work. It was priest work. In fear, he believed he could not wait a moment longer, and in pride he believed he could just go ahead and do what needed to be done. So through the lens of a military man, this sacrifice seems to have been nothing more than, “Let’s just do this ritual and get it done so we can move on and I can do the next thing.” But through the lens of a prophet/priest this meant not submitting to the Lord, not waiting on the Lord, and not obeying the Lord’s command.

Saul’s viewpoint is flawed in at least 3 important ways:

1. Lack for Faith. His concern about his dwindling forces. What does that indicate? I think that indicate that human armies not the Lord decide battles. It does not matter how many soldiers you have if the Lord is on your side? The Lord has demonstrated in the past his ability to win with very small numbers. Sometimes he prefers it that way as Gideon found out. This shows that Saul’s trust is on what he can see rather than the Lord. Saul is a kind of guy who walks by sight rather than faith.
2. Wrong focus on rituals. Saul’s concern with offering sacrifice reveals a faulty understanding that elevates ritual above obedience. He tends to think that he is only going to get the Lord’s favour if he gives the Lord some kind of sacrifice. He needs to appease the Lord. He needs to seek the Lord’s favour. It was the pagan view that you can manipulate God into granting you favour. If you give him the right thing, in return he will give you what you want. So I think Saul’s thinking is flawed there.
3. Lack of obedience to God. He did not obey the command of the Lord through Samuel who represents the Lord. He is the intercessor for the nation. In his instructions to Saul back in chapter 10, Samuel made it clear, he would offer the sacrifices; 10:8. There is no implication that a delay in Samuel’s arrival would suddenly give Saul the permission, the right to do this.

Now, I think we are meant to consider here the intentions of the heart, because Samuel is about to talk about the intentions of the heart. Let’s see what Samuel says.

1 Samuel 13:13-14

¹³“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. ¹⁴But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

Two references there to the command of the Lord, to obeying the Lord. The king must have a heart for God so that he can lead people to obey God and to serve God. Saul could have been that king.

1 Samuel 13:14

But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.

“Your dynasty will not continue. Your son will not be King. God has found a man after his own heart.” That is King David who comes later.

Now what does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart?

A clue is in 1 Samuel 14. Jonathan is strategizing now and he wants to attack the Philistines. It is just him and his armour bearer. The Philistines have a garrison. The armour bearer says:

1 Samuel 14:7

NIV “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

NASB …here I am with you, as your heart desires.

It is someone who is in tune with God’s will. This is the same usage of the “the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart.” What you will, I will. My will is in line with yours and I march to the beat of your drums. ‘A man after God’s own heart’ means: God is going to choose someone who is in tune with his heart.

Acts 13:22

After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

Here we get an explanation of what is meant by ‘a man after my own heart.’

Saul could have confirmed himself as a man after God’s own heart, but he didn’t.

He could have repented in this moment and been restored by the Lord, but he didn’t.

Saul could have had a dynasty that would last, but you have forfeited that because of your sin.

Saul’s heart was unwilling to respond, unwilling to repent. We can fall into the same trap.

1 Samuel 13:15

Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.

This was just a threat and they were not going to attack. To summarise the end of this chapter, this threat of war with all the iron chariots that had gotten them so worked up, fizzled out to relatively nothing. A few raiding parties that went to outlying villages which for those people is a problem for sure, but this is not a war. It did not end up being a war.

APPLICATION

Many times, we face situations that seem overwhelming, like impending disasters. We allow fear to take hold, imagining the worst. Yet, in reality, these threats often fizzle out, never becoming the crises we feared. Trust in God’s sovereignty, and don’t let fear dictate your responses to uncertain circumstances.

1 Samuel 13:22-23

So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them ²³Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Mikmash.

Which is around 3.5 km from Gibeah.

Life Lessons

1. Disobedience can Result in Loss of Privilege and Blessing.

Saul forfeits his dynasty. That can happen. God can have great plans for people but it is not just a one-sided decree on God’s part. People can forfeit their blessing and privilege by foolishly disobeying the Lord’s word. That happened with Eli earlier, now it is happening with Saul. Saul did not obey a direct command about which there could be no doubt. You have to wait for Samuel in order to get God’s word. This was a matter of the Philistine army versus 3000 Israelite men, which went down to 600 men because of fear. It does not matter even if it is one soldier left. This is a situation that God needed to intervene on. Saul needed to hear Samuel’s word as to how this impossible battle could be fought because it would require miraculous intervention.

Application: God expects his chosen ruler to obey his prophetic command. For NT believers, the Lord’s prophetic command is scripture, it is the NT scriptures.

2. The Intentions of Our Heart will be Challenged by Every Day Life.

All of us have good intentions to love the Lord, to serve the Lord, and to obey His commands. The intentions of our heart are all in place in the beginning. But then you know what happens, we start walking through life and something comes along that’s stronger than the intentions of your heart and meddles with your intentions.

Our intentions to follow God will be challenged by everyday life

Now a mistaken lesson from this chapter would be to read this and say: See I knew it, God is just waiting for me to do one wrong thing, and he is going to cut me off and cut off all of my blessings, that is not what we are to learn from this.

Sure enough, there will be times when we fail as well. But the biggest lesson is: When we do fail, there is a remedy called repentance. We can just admit it, and it stems from a humble heart.

Saul never repents. Saul even after being severely chastened by Samuel, Saul did not repent. He gives his excuses. Saul makes the same mistake in 1 Samuel 15 and repeats is again to the end of 1 Samuel. He never repents.

ILLUSTRATION

A story is told about King James after whom the King James Bible is named because he authorized it. James was actually James the VI as he was ruling in Scotland and he became James the 1^st when he began his rule in Wales, England. James had a good relationship with Robert Bruce who was a great preacher and the moderator of the Church of Scotland. This did not go well between King James and Robert Bruce. So the story is told when King James shows up at church and Robert Bruce was preaching. James was sitting back in the royal gallery with his colleagues. When Bruce begins preaching, James start talking loudly up there. He was making a point that he was not interested in hearing Robert Bruce. Robert Bruce stops preaching and with the embarrassment of the silence, James quiets down. The pastor preaches again and King James starts talking again and distract the congregation. Robert Bruce stops preaching. This happened for the third time and Robert Bruce pointed to the gallery and spoke directly to King James, “When the lion roars, all the beasts of the field are quiet. The Lion of the tribe of Judah is roaring in the voice of his gospel and it becomes the petty kings of the earth to be silent.” James was called a petty king and that shut his mouth.

In the case of Saul, Samuel’s rebuke does not shut his mouth. He does not respond as he should.

We are now familiar with this phrase a man after God’s own heart. We know that the next coming king David was a man after God’s own heart. What happened to the intentions of his heart? He sinned with Bathsheba. David could have blamed Bathsheba. Well, if she had not been bathing over there. He went through the same things, but here is the difference between Saul and David. When confronted with the information, what did the next king do, he repented. He was broken. He said you are right and so God established him and maintained his kingdom.

“There is no disguising the fact that the sins committed by Saul are actually microscopic sins. How utterly different in its grossness and flagrancy is the later sin of David?” – Karl Barth

So, this is not a matter of living a perfect life. This is a matter of a soft heart that hears the Lord speak to you and you respond, “Lord, you are right, I am wrong. I am going to turn the other way.” That is what our next king will do, but that is not what Saul did.

Isaiah 30:15

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

Since Saul refused to listen to God, God stopped talking to him.

3. Disobedience Can lead to Spiritual Deafness or Hardened Heart.

If you refuse to listen to God, he will refuse to speak to you.

Amos 8:11-12

¹²“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,

“when I will send a famine through the land—

not a famine of food or a thirst for water,

but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

¹²People will stagger from sea to sea

and wander from north to east,

searching for the word of the Lord,

but they will not find it.

If you refuse to listen to God, he will refuse to speak to you. No longer will the scriptures come alive, it will become opaque. You will not get it, you will not heart.

In the case of Saul in 1 Samuel 14, he is engaged in a battle with the Philistines and he asks God:

1 Samuel 14:37

So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day.

It is the beginning of this theme of God’s silence to Saul. Saul refuses to listen, God will not speak.

Remember Jesus. He is David’s greater son, the King of the Jews, the Messiah, King of kings and Lord of lords. If Jesus had to listen to God the Father, surely you and I have to listen to the word of God. Look at what Jesus said in his temptation in the wilderness in responding to the enemy.

Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jesus is quoting the Bible to describe his own response to Satan. Most of the words of Jesus are actually direct quotes or meanings from the OT. If the Son of God needs to have the Word of God so much part of his life, surely you and I cannot do life without the word of God.

John 17:17

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Jesus is banking on the work of the Spirit, operating on the word to transform us and sanctify us.

Matthew 5:17-19

¹⁷“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

We as followers of Jesus are intensely interested in the Bible, the word of God as basis and foundation of our lives. We look at the Word of God as a guide to God’s will.

What are the benefits of obeying God? Listening to God?

Obedience leads to a Highway of Holiness.

1 Thessalonians 4:3

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.

Isaiah 35:8

And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness;

it will be for those who walk on that Way.

The unclean will not journey on it;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

The way of the Lord is a Highway of Holiness.

Obedience Leads to Freedom.

Psalm 119:44-45

⁴⁴I will always obey your law,

for ever and ever.

⁴⁵I will walk about in freedom,

for I have sought out your precepts.

In following God and his word, we have the freedom. We are to do whatever our hands find to do which will glorify him. Samuel said to Saul, “Do what your hands find to do.” It is what is within your capacity. Help someone, take a Sunday School class. If it is in your hands, do it because God is with you. But if it is not in your hands, wait for the Lord’s direction. In this situation, he needed something bigger than himself, he needed to hear from God. When we do not know what to do, we are to wait for the Lord.

CONCLUSION

As we come to the close of today’s message, I want to invite each of you to take a moment of quiet reflection. We’ve explored the life of Saul and the ripple effects of his disobedience—a story that challenges us to examine our own hearts and the decisions we make in moments of fear, uncertainty, and pressure.

Reflection:

• Where is your heart today? Are there areas in your life where fear, impatience, or pride have led you to act impulsively, instead of waiting on the Lord?
• Are you listening to God’s voice? Or have you allowed the noise of life to drown out His commands, leading to spiritual deafness or a hardened heart?
• What steps can you take today to align your heart with God’s will? Whether it’s repenting of a past mistake, renewing your commitment to obey His Word, or simply taking time to listen to His voice in the stillness.

Call to Action: Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes as we come before the Lord in prayer. If you feel the Lord speaking to your heart today—perhaps convicting you of an area where you’ve been disobedient or where you’ve allowed fear to rule—now is the time to respond.

Prayer:

• If you need to repent, ask God for forgiveness and for a heart that is soft and willing to obey Him.
• If you’re struggling with fear or uncertainty, ask God for the strength to trust in His timing and to follow His commands, even when it’s difficult.
• If you’ve been distant from God’s Word, ask Him to renew your desire to hear His voice and to follow His leading.

As we pray together, let’s also commit to making God’s Word the foundation of our lives. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify us through His truth and to lead us on the Highway of Holiness, where we can walk in freedom and obedience to His will. Amen!