13:1-2 Saul creates an army. In the previous chapter, the children of Israel gathered as one, united under God. Saul's assemblage of an army was another step in the direction of conforming to the way of the rest of the world.
13:3-4 Samuel recently explained the ways of mortal-kings: the would appoint their sons in positions of power. In this verse we see that Jonathan, Saul's son is leading an army against the Philistines.
13:5-7 The Philistines rise up against Jonathan's attack and their army is strong. They are so powerful and numerous that the members of Saul's army seek refuge anywhere they can find it. We begin to see that the children of Israel have grown further from God; they shrink in fear at the sight of their enemies. With God, they had power over them.
13:8-9 The people bring their distress to Saul. Before Saul's first ever battle as king, Samuel told him to wait seven days before attacking. The reason was to allot time for prayer and communication with God. In that time, he would exhibit trust in God as well as receive strategy and ability from him.
However Samuel does not arrive on the seventh day, perhaps as a test of Saul's' faith. Just how firmly did Saul grip onto God? A faithful child of God would never proceed without Him, understanding that haste would not reward them. But Saul followed Samuel's instructions as custom, rather than faith. Saul offers the sacrifice himself, leaving God's prophet (and His will) out of the equation.
13:10-12 Samuel arrives as soon as Saul makes the offering. Saul had panicked. But in doing so, he taught us something. When we are under stress and our defenses seem to have dissipated, our best restoration is in God. Our faith delivers us from desperate situations. But if we only have false or brittle faith, we hinder our ability to be rescued.
13:13 Samuel explains that his behavior was foolish; God had promised to remain with Saul in all of his endeavors - private and personal. But God explained that He could only do so if Saul was fully committed to the relationship. Saul evidenced that he was not indeed willingly dependent on God. God explained that He would not work through an unfaithful king.
Here on earth, we are potential instruments, vessels, through which God's word and will come into the world. Faithful children express and deliver the blessings He puts together for His children here. Through friendship and charity, teaching and patience and especially when in positions of leadership, His will can be delivered. Saul is in a position of leadership, but the first moment of distress causes him to sever his connection with God's will. Saul renders himself an incapable vessel.
13:14 God looks for children who will allow Him to pour His will through them and into the earth. God chooses children who are after His own heart. Samuel prophesies here of David, the next soul God will choose as king of the children.
God chooses to co-work with souls who are inspired by His righteousness, propelled by His wisdom, and in love with His nature. For God understands that those children have the humble and compassionate components that truly make an impact on humanity.
13:15 After informing Saul that his kingdom will not continue beyond him (Saul will remain king but his sons will not be his successors), Samuel departs. Saul take inventory of the men remaining with him, undoubtedly feeling entirely alone in the midst of six-hundred.
Remember that God knows the heart of each individual, Jeremiah 17:10. God would not cut ties with Saul if Saul were faithful and full of good intentions. God does not delight in a broken relationship with one of His children; He would much rather Saul choose to trust him. But if he won't, God will not force the relationship.
13:16-23 The Philistines ensure that the Israelites are unable to build or sharpen their weapons - rendering them useless in battle. We know that a group committed to God do not even require weapons (Battle of Jericho). But the absence of weapons in these verses is symbolic in that Saul gave away their defense - God. The Israelites never won a battle on their own merit, they always won because God stood up for them, the weaker and smaller group. Without Him, weapons or no, they have no defense.
God wants us to realize that we are unarmed without Him. He is our defense. He protects the meek, especially, those who appear to be defenseless. And we are vulnerable creatures: mortal, fallible, breakable. But with Him, our souls are none of those things. God will continue to look for a king who will evidence that the way His prophets, like Samuel, have. If only the children of Israel had trusted Him when He warned that a king would only be capable of fallible rule.
