READING: 1 Chronicles 9:35-39, 1 Samuel 13:1-23, 1 Samuel 14:1-52
It’s always interesting to see how quickly we blame circumstances and people for our own failures. We make the choice to do wrong but then deflect responsibility for our actions. That’s what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3), and that’s what we tend to do in our own lives. King Saul did that, too, when he was to wait until Samuel arrived in Gilgal to assist with sacrifices. When fear of the Philistines and the delay of Samuel stressed out Saul, he took it upon himself to do the sacrifice—to Samuel’s great displeasure when he arrived. “’How foolish!’ Samuel exclaimed. ‘You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you’” (1 Sam 13:13).
Here’s what Saul did when Samuel confronted him: he blamed the warriors who were deserting him (“I saw my men scattering from me” – 1 Sam 13:11), the enemies preparing to attack him (“the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle”), and Samuel who delayed coming to him (“you didn’t arrive when you said you would”). Saul may have felt compelled to offer the sacrifice, but everybody else—not he—was responsible for what the king did. Casting blame was his way of avoiding responsibility.
Too often, we do the same thing when we excuse ourselves for our wrong because of someone or something else.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are there any places in your life where you’re casting blame for your choices?
TODAY’S PRAYER: “God, help me to be completely honest about my sin and willing to take responsibility for my actions.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Samuel 15:1-17:31
