READING: 1 Samuel 13-14, Luke 10:1-24
“But Samuel said, “What have you done?”
1 Samuel 13:11
Excuses and deflections. They started in the Garden of Eden, and they haven’t stopped since then. Adam blamed Eve, and ultimately he blamed God. Eve blamed the serpent. All of since then have been tempted to blame someone else for our wrong. Sometimes, we follow the devil down the road to casting blame on others when we know we’ve been wrong.
That’s what King Saul did in today’s reading. He knew he was to wait in Gilgal until Samuel came to offer sacrifices (1 Sam. 10:8). When Samuel didn’t arrive by the time Saul wanted, the king chose to offer the sacrifices himself rather than wait. Samuel arrived soon thereafter and confronted Saul, who quickly moved into excuse and deflection mode. Of course, his choices weren’t Saul’s fault. No, rather it was his soldiers who were scattering with battle around the corner. It was Samuel’s fault, too, for he had not arrived on time. And, Saul feared the Philistines would attack before the king had a chance to seek God’s favor. Saul even said that he made himself offer the sacrifice, as if the situation required him to act even when he knew it was wrong: “So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering” (1 Sam. 13:12).
It was the soldiers’ fault. Then Samuel’s. Then the Philistines. Then, Saul only forced himself under the pressure of the circumstances. None of this would have happened if the warriors had remained in the battle, if Samuel had arrived on time, and the Philistines had not continued to move toward conflict. Saul seemingly said that if everyone else had not been involved, he would never have been forced to do what he did. It wasn’t his responsibility – though his excuses and deflections reveal that he knew better.
It’s so easy to follow that same pattern. “I know I didn’t seek God’s direction, but I had to do something to get these people to follow me. I thought it was right.” “The pressure was on – I just didn’t have time to wait for God to give me a clearer answer.” “He didn’t get here on time to guide us, so I stepped into his role. Somebody had to give some direction.” Or, more related to specific sins, “I can’t help the way I act, given the way my parents raised me.” “You don’t understand. My spouse wasn’t meeting my needs.” “If I didn’t fudge the numbers, I’d have lost my job.” And on and on we could go into the depths of excuse and deflections. We all go there at some point.
It’s no wonder, then, that God looks “for Himself a man after His own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). Be that kind of follower of the Lord Jesus today.
ACTION STEPS:
- Make a list of any common excuses you use to deflect responsibility for your sin. Confess those tendencies to God.
- Fight against offering any excuses today. Accept your responsibility.
PRAYER: “God, make me a man after Your own heart today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Samuel 15-16, Luke 10:25-42
