IT IS NOT TOO LATE – IT IS STILL POSSIBLE
IT IS NOT TOO LATE IT IS STILL POSSIBLE
1Sa 13:1-14 KJV 1 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. 4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. 5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
This was not the first time that Samuel would book an appointment with Saul. When Saul was selected to be king, Samuel made an appointment:
1Sa 10:8 KJV And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
And he kept it at the inauguration of Saul.
1Sa 11:15 KJV And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
The account we read in our text took place some few years after. Again Samuel booked an appointment with Saul and told him to wait seven days. Saul actually waited but Samuel delayed a little bit.
When expectation is delayed, the heart becomes sick.
Pro 13:12 KJV Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
The yoke of delay is broken in someone’s life in Jesus name. Whatever has been delayed shall be speedily granted in Jesus name.
Saul waited
1Sa 13:8 KJV And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
Samuel had at this time promised to come to him within seven days, and he kept his word, for we find him there before the day was ended; but as Saul found he did not come at the beginning of the seventh day, he became impatient, took the whole business into his own hand, and acted the parts of prophet, priest, and king; and thus he attempted a most essential change in the Israelitish constitution. In it the king, the prophet, and the priest, are in their nature perfectly distinct.
Saul in his rash decision decided to do the work of a priest. He was a king but not a priest. He was not according to the law permitted to offer sacrifice. It was the duty of the priest. But Saul in his rash did it. He had waited, morning time, afternoon time, he became impatient and took matters in his own hand.
Now something happened.
1Sa 13:9-10 KJV 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
The Bible says as soon as he made an end of the offering, Samuel showed up. Samuel was punctual to his appointment; one hour longer of delay would have prevented every evil, and by it no good would have been lost. How often are the effects of precipitation fatal! Samuel had proved to be a man of his words in the time past. He didn’t disappoint so there was a precedent of integrity.
When Samuel accosted him and queried him on what he had done. This is what Saul said:
1Sa 13:11-12 KJV 11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
If he had just waited for a few minutes, just a few more minutes, he would not have incurred the wrath of Samuel and God. That was the beginning of his rejection as king.
He said he forced himself. How many Christians today are forcing themselves to do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, go to the wrong places, seek help from wrong temples because they feel God is too slow or late and time is running out on them.
The year is about to come to an end and many of us might have been thinking, it’s getting late already. I have not achieved my desire. Will the year end without me acquiring this or that? We are tempted to act based on our emotion and like Saul force ourselves.
In the time of our Lord Jesus, when His close friend was sick and he was sent for, He promised to come but for the best reason known to him, He delayed a little bit and by the time He came to where they were waiting for Him, the deed and the unexpected had been done. Lazarus was dead. Then Lazarus sisters began to accuse Jesus. First it was Martha
Joh 11:21 KJV Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Then Mary
Joh 11:32 KJV Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Unknowingly to the ladies, the delay was a predetermined action on the Lord which He had told the His disciples few day back
Joh 11:4 KJV When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
God knows what He is doing. Did Lazarus come back to life? Yes and Jesus was glorified.
Joh 11:45 KJV Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
As I study the scripture, I began to think what might have made Saul to act that way? Actually he was under pressure. Saul had come from Michmash to Gilgal, expecting to gather the force of the whole nation around him. Instead of that, the people fled, leaving him in the exposed plain with only 600 men 1Sa 13:15. The Philistines occupied Michmash, and might at any moment pour down the valley upon Gilgal. Saul’s situation was obviously one of extreme peril. A few hours’ delay might prove fatal to him and his little army.
He offers three excuses for his conduct:
1. The people were fast leaving his standard.
2. Samuel did not come at the time, למועד lemoed; at the very commencement of the time he did not come, but within that time he did come.
3. The Philistines were coming fast upon him
Many of us are under intense pressure like Saul. We are under intense pressure from our wives, husbands, family members, children, friends, relatives. They are pushing us
But he forgot that his spiritual father Samuel was there, God was there, he could just wait just a little while.
That is why the writer of Habakkuk admonished us:
Hab 2:3 KJV For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Though it tarry] Though it appears to be long, do not be impatient; it will surely come; it will not tarry longer than the prescribed time, and this time is not far distant. Wait for it
The writer of Hebrew also reiterated this:
Heb 10:37 KJV For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
The Hebrews were to wait with patience and perseverance, that they might receive the promise of an eternal inheritance. They were to hold out for some time, be it more or less; and he that is to come, will come, and will not delay his coming beyond the time appointed
Psa 27:14 KJV Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Lastly, let us be patient with God because He is working behind the scene.
Heb 6:12 KJV That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Heb 10:36 KJV For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
In conclusion, the few days we have left in the year is enough for a miracle to happen. Between now and the end of the year, your miracle is still possible, breakthrough is still possible, answer to long awaited questions is still possible. Keep hope alive. Without hope faith is uselessness.
God is never late. He is always on time.
Gal 4:4 KJV But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Anything can happen within the remaining few days and hours. It is not over until it is over.
Case study of 24 hours miracles
Overnight abundance:
2Ki 7:1 KJV Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
2Ki 7:18 KJV And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
Abundant fishes caught
Luk 5:5-7 KJV 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.