1 Samuel 13:15-18 Allowed this Test!

 ”Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men. Saul, Jonathan his son, and the people present with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin. But the Philistines encamped in Michmash. Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned onto the road to Ophrah, to the land of Shual, another company turned to the road to Beth Horon, and another company turned to the road of the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Then Samuel arose: Samuel left probably knowing that the announcement of judgment was an invitation to repentance, and probably also knowing that Saul would not repent.

b. About six hundred men: Earlier, Saul had about 3,000 in his regular army (1 Samuel 13:2). Now he is down to 600 because many soldiers scattered while Saul waited for Samuel (1 Samuel 13:8). The loss of so many men was probably the reason why Saul offered the sacrifice without Samuel, and it displayed a heart of distrust and disobedience to God.

i. According to 1 Samuel 13:5 the Philistines already had a huge army, easily outmatching Saul’s 3,000 men. Saul saw his already mismatched force shrink to one-fifth of its previous size (from 3,000 to 600). God allowed this to test Saul’s faith, to see if he believed God was great enough to deliver from so many with so few.

c. Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines: With so many troops the Philistines could raid at will. They were a fearless and fearsome army against Saul and Israel. (Guzik)

Allowed this Test!

Brethren, in life we will experience many trials and when we do we need to seek the Lord through it because He may have allowed it to test our faith, to strengthen us so He could use us elsewhere.

I once prayed for patience and after that prayer I experienced a trial that took me to the edge of a precipice and nearly to a breaking point. The Lord allowed it, to test my faith and to build up my strength, to meet me where I was at and to move me where God wanted me to be.

Next time you experience a trial, lift it up to the Lord and ask Him for strength to help you through it. Rely on your faith that you are His child and that He loves you.

Blessings