Peter Barnes | 1 Samuel 13:1-22
SERMON NOTES
THE KING WHO WOULD BE PRIEST
1 Samuel 13:1-22; Hebrews 3:7-19
– Saul is a disappointment, and gets worse
1. Israel under threat.
– 13:1 – uncertainty about the numbers
– 13:2-7 – only a partial victory, like killing a few hornets, and disturbing the whole nest
2. We can always try to justify our sin.
– 13:8-9; Dale Ralph Davis thinks the king could act as priest, and points to 2 Sam.24:25 and 1 Kings 3:4. But here the king commands the sacrifices rather than performs them – it is like Pilate’s flogging of Jesus in Matt.27:26.
– 2 Chron.26:16-21 for Uzziah’s sin
– Saul gives four plausible but ungodly reasons (13:10-11): the troops were departing; Samuel had not arrived; the Philistines were threatening; and the sacrifice had to be made.
– our task is obedience, not self-justification (1 John 2:3)
3. Israel under greater threat.
– God withdraws His approval (13:13-15); Israel has few weapons (13:16-22); only obedience makes us strong.