Lessons From King Saul: Being Impatient (1 Samuel 13:1-14)

 This lesson will deal with the impatient of Saul and how it led him to commit a terrible sin that eventually cost him the kingdom. Patience is a very hard thing for us to have, especially in the world that we live in today. Nevertheless it is essential if we are going to serve God and follow his commands.

In the passage for the lesson Saul has been reigning for two years. He has his army divided between him and his son Jonathan. Jonathan and his men smote a garrison of the Philistines in Geba. When the rest of the Philistines heard of it they brought an army up to defeat Israel. The army they brought was a very large and powerful army (verse 5). It consisted of 30,000 chariots, 6000 horsemen, and people that were as the sand of the sea.

As a result of the approaching Philistine army the people of Israel panicked and many deserted Saul. Saul tarried 7 days because Samuel was supposed to come but when he did not show Saul got impatient and offered the sacrifice himself. Then as soon as he had made the offering Samuel showed up.

Saul’s impatience led him to make a terrible mistake. If we are not careful we will make the same mistakes that Saul made and let impatience get us into trouble.

Some verses on Patience:

Luke 8:15 (Fruit is brought forth with patience)

Romans 5:3 (Tribulation worketh patience)

1 Timothy 6:11 (Follow after patience)

James 1:3-4 (Trying of your faith worketh patience)

Saul’s Failure (verses 11-13): 

Let us examine Saul’s failure and see the danger of impatience.

1)  He feared man instead of God (verses 11)

• The fear of man bringeth a snare (Proverbs 29:25)

2)  He served himself (verse12)

• Saul took on the role of the man on God himself out of haste and it was a sin (Proverbs 19:2).

3)  Saul sinned in breaking the commandment of God.

The result of Saul’s impatience (verse 14):

The result of Saul’s failure was that his kingdom would not continue and God would search out another to take his place. We never know what our consequences will be but most of the time impatience will always lead to a mistake.

Lesson From King Saul: Being Impatient (1 Samuel 13:1-14)

Handout

1)  What is happening in the passage that leads to the impatience of Saul?

2)  How big is the army that the Philistines bring against Saul and Israel?

3)  Give a chain reference for verses that show us we need patience.

4)  What were the steps of Saul’s failure?

5)  What was the result of Saul’s impatience?