60 – The Rest Of The Story – Part 2

FULL MEETING WITH MIDRASH HERE

NOTE: THE TRANSCRIPT IS NOT EXACTLY LIKE THE RECORDING.

Recap from last time. There is confusion in the chronology of 1 Samuel chapters 10 through 13 which describe what happened to Saul in the 7 days of his anointing week because these chapters are out of order. Last week, we read Samuel’s speech that began in 1 Samuel 10:17 and then jumped to chapter 12 to continue hearing what he had to say. For some reason, Samuel inserted chapter 11 between what YHVH said (chapter 10) and what Samuel himself had to say (chapter 12). Then, with chapter 10 and 12 out of the way, we studied chapter 11 which describes the Ammonite threat at Jabesh Gilead.

Saul handled that situation on day 5 of his anointing week. But he didn’t stop there. He engaged the Philistines in 3 different locations on day 6. He should not have done this because it set the stage for his misbehavior and subsequent loss of having his Kingdom fully established at Gilgal on day 7.

1 Samuel 13:1  Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years. 

Before we get to the battles with the Philistines on day 6, we must address this scripture with its translation error. The WEB version is a Masoretic text version like the KJV but not all Masoretic text versions say Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign.

The Septuagint simply says:

1 Samuel 13:1  And Saul chooses for himself three thousand men of the men of Israel: and there were with Saul two thousand who were in Machmas, and in mount Baethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gabaa of Benjamin: and he sent the rest of the people every man to his tent. 

But the KJV says:

1 Samuel 13:1  Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 

…And the WEB version says, “ Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.”

What a conflict between versions! The WEB, KJV and other Masoretic text versions all get it wrong. The Septuagint got it right. Many people believe the age of King Saul was simply a Masoretic text insertion, just another of the changes the Jews made when assembling the Masoretic text.

Any reader can understand right away that verse 1 is incorrect. How? Because Jonathan was old enough to be a warrior, according to the Torah (Numbers 1:3). Warrior age starts at 20. Thus, using the Masoretic text, Saul was 10 years old when he fathered Jonathan who was already a seasoned warrior which means he was past 20 years of age when Saul became King.

Thus, we will use the Septuagint’s account rather than the Masoretic text for 1 Samuel 13:1.

1 Samuel 13:1  And Saul chooses for himself three thousand men of the men of Israel: and there were with Saul two thousand who were in Machmas, and in mount Baethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gabaa of Benjamin: and he sent the rest of the people every man to his tent. -Septuagint.

The Septuagint’s verse 1 corresponds to the KVJ’s version’s verse 2.

1 Samuel 13:2  Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people to their own tents. 

Immediately after the war with the Ammonites, Saul had military command authority under him. The people would follow him now and, under his command (note not YHVH’s), Saul split his army of 3,000 into 3 1,000-man units. One unit was given to Jonathan to lead the strike against the Philistine garrison at Gibeah.

1 Samuel 13:3  Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Gibeah, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 

It was not for Saul to yet engage the Philistines. He was to wait at Gilgal to receive further instructions from Samuel. He had not been told to engage the Philistines. He supposed to engage the Ammonites only.

1 Samuel 13:4  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.
1 Samuel 13:5  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. 

Day 7. Already, Saul’s 3,000-man army was outnumbered and he had, as yet, not finished his ordination and the office of King had not yet been fully implemented. Saul was now acting on his own.

1 Samuel 13:6  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.
1 Samuel 13:7  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. 

By battling the Philistines immediately on day 6, after winning against the Ammonites, Saul set up his own downfall on day 7 because he caused the people’s hearts to fail. Once the Philistines were stirred up against them, fear was all around, and Samuel did not appear when everyone thought he should. This is reminiscent of the time that Moses didn’t come down from Mount Sinai when the Israelites thought he should. The people didn’t build a golden calf this time. They simply began to leave Saul.

The people would not have been afraid and would not have begun to leave Gilgal when Samuel didn’t show up on time had the Philistines not been threatening them. The Philistines would not have been threatening them if Saul would have waited on instructions from YHVH before engaging them. This has prophetic implications that we are now seeing on the world stage. It also shows that Saul’s ego would be what led him in his reign. It would not be the Spirit of YHVH.

But, it wasn’t just Saul’s unauthorized battles with the Philistines that was the problem. It was also not waiting on Samuel. It was that Saul had usurped Samuel’s authority. This wasn’t about Samuel’s authority, but YHVH’s! Samuel had the full weight and authority of YHVH Himself behind him. But Saul took matters into his own hands. In the same way, Saul forced the issue so will the coming son of perdition.

Not only were there to be sacrifices at Gilgal for the renewing of the covenant and implementation of a kingly line of succession, but there was more instruction to come which included how to overthrow the Philistines. Both of these things needed to occur under the authority and watchful eye of Samuel, just as had been done under the watchful eye of Moses at Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai’s covenant did not include a human King but Gilgal did and Samuel was to Gilgal what Moses was to Mount Sinai.

1 Samuel 13:8  He stayed seven days, according to the time set by Samuel; but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 

The text does not say Saul was at Gilgal for the entire 7 days. The Hebrew word is ‘yachal’ (Strong’s H3176) which simply means “wait”. Saul waited through the 7-day period and showed up at Gilgal as instructed by the end of day 6, but now, on day 7, Samuel has not shown up when expected. Did they expect him at noon? At 3pm? At 5pm? Seven days would not be fulfilled until sunset. Samuel not showing up yet explains God’s timing. The set time was not 6.5 days or 6.75 days; it was 7 full days. Yeshua will not show up until the timing is correct no matter how hard the wicked Zionists push the issue. Only He gets to decide, to restrain and delay, until it is time.

I have been very confused ever since I heard the story of Saul in childhood why YHVH did not ordain his lineage for not waiting on Samuel. Commentaries are not much help. It is said YHVH did not forgive him but that is not quite true, either as we will see next time. Their explanation is only that Saul did not do what Samuel commanded. May be the commandment did come from God through Samuel but God is in the forgiveness business. Only the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. So exactly what was the nature of Saul’s disobedience that he lost his kingship even before it was fully established?

Saul disobeyed a commandment. And it doesn’t help that Saul did not repent (which explains some of why God did not offer forgiveness). He grudgingly admitted to his disobedience later but did not repent then, either (1 Samuel 15:30). That was enough for God to reject Saul as King.

This is sermonized as a loss of salvation for Saul, too, by those pulpit-hitting, Bible-thumping preachers who want people to constantly be afraid of a God who will give a gift, even the gift of salvation, and then take it away with so little provocation. This goes against Romans 11:29 which says “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable”. We will find that God’s promise that His gifts are irrevocable stand true because Saul continued to reign as King as 40 years even though the successorship did not become a reality. YHVH is true to His word. The understanding of Saul’s story is in the details.

So, what did Saul do that cost him the line of succession? He tried to 1) re-establish what was not to be re-established and 2) he usurped authority, YHVH’s authority, not Samuel’s! Let’s continue now with the story to see what actually happened.

1 Samuel 13:9  Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering to me here, and the peace offerings.” He offered the burnt offering. 

At what point in the day did Saul offer the burnt offering? Probably near sunset when there was still light to see. He failed the test of waiting on YHVH. This is perhaps the most difficult of all our tests. Waiting. It feels like nothing is happening. It tests our patience but, more than that, it tests our trust in YHVH. We want to stay busy, we want to “do something”, because busy-ness distracts our overactive minds, challenges our egos and provides the illusion that “something” is being accomplished. Waiting feels like death. So instead of asking the people to wait and pray, repent and call on YHVH, Saul panicked. Praying, repenting – these are the right things to do when waiting on YHVH (or Samuel) but Saul did not have that kind of personal relationship with YHVH.

Instead, Saul decided to re-establish the line of Melchizedek, to be a King-Priest, at the head of a Kingdom he made for himself just like the son of perdition will. Israel having a Melchizedek was removed from them by Jacob in Genesis 49 when he split the Kingship and Priesthood between Judah and Levi. Saul, as a national citizen of Israel, could offer offerings anywhere in Israel because YHVH had no gates anymore. He could do that anywhere, anytime… except for now. This occasion had special and specific instructions. YHVH would rather have obedience than sacrifices. That doesn’t mean YHVH doesn’t want our sacrifices. It means that he primarily wants our obedience and then our sacrifices.

Did Saul understand what he was doing? Did he understand that, in YHVH’s eyes, his disobedience was tantamount to usurping God’s authority in Israel? He seems to have been a spiritual dullard and one with no personal relationship with YHVH.

Why did YHVH give Israel a King without a personal relationship with Himself? He gave Israel what they wanted: a King who was just like them! Nationally, Israel had no loyal and patriotic relationship with YHVH because the majority of people did not have personal relationships with Him. Their loyalty and patriotism was with all the other gods of the nations around them.

This is why we should always pray for YHVH’s will to be done instead of doing our own will. It has always been about personal relationships, folks. Personal relationship with YHVH Elohim was not a new thing that came up when Yeshua arrived. That was how it should have been from the time of Mount Sinai. All of the patriarchs before Sinai – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all 12 tribal patriarchs – had personal relationships with YHVH! Thus, all of the descendants were to also have that.

There was a specific time when Saul was to be part of the ritual sacrifice but he missed the point entirely. His sacrifices meant he had ordained himself, instituting the office of King over himself without YHVH’s special ambassador present to complete the 7-day long ritual, the ceremony of which would have been this special sacrifice. That was the sacrifice which would have installed his line of succession. The sacrifices he offered were theft, usurpation!

I finally understood! It wasn’t that it was OK for Samuel to offer sacrifices and not OK for Saul. YHVH doesn’t make special rules for one person over all others. It was that Saul’s sin had unseen and misunderstood consequences behind his act of offering sacrifices. Saul didn’t understand the history of Israel! He didn’t know why YHVH killed Korah or why Nadav and Abihu lost their lives! He didn’t understand that YHVH despises, hates, usurpation! And he didn’t know how to wait on God!

Saul had usurped Jacob’s authority by re-establishing himself as a Melchizedek – a King-Priest, and by taking authority over the implementation of his own line of succession, in effect crowning himself King! Even among men, King’s do not crown themselves! They don’t do this even if they have conquered the throne of another! They are always crowned by someone else.

Saul needed Samuel for his final crowning. He had been revealed but not crowned! Samuel was YHVH’s authorized messenger. You don’t mess with YHVH’s authorized messengers. Like Moses who had instituted the Levitical priesthood but not given Israel a King, Samuel was to institute the office of King without the corrupt priesthood present, but Saul usurped that. In effect, he took the Kingship by force showing himself to be God!

This is the same attitude of the one who will be faced in the end of days, the one who will force the Jewish Messianic era and show himself as if he is god. It is so dangerous for those who usurp authority, the authority YHVH vested in Moses, in Aaron and, now, the authority YHVH vested in Samuel.

1 Samuel 13:10  It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
1 Samuel 13:11  Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn’t come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash; 

That was lie – “you didn’t come within the days appointed” – to cover up what he had done which he might not have understood how grave it was until Samuel appeared on the horizon but Samuel had appeared on the 7th day. He was right on time, as promised.

1 Samuel 13:12  therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.” 

Saul usurping the final act of the week-long ritual by doing his own sacrifices accomplished 2 things: 1) it made him the Melchizedek, the King-Priest, and 2) it left YHVH completely out of it because that last ritual would have completed his crowning but only under the authority of Samuel! This is exactly what Satan wanted!

I know I said this before, but let me reiterate in a slightly different way because this is so important and underlies the character of the coming son of perdition. It was like Saul was conquering YHVH and taking His Kingdom away from Him. And that is exactly what the son of perdition will seek to do! He wants what his father wants:

Isa 14:12  How you have fallen from heaven, shining one, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low!
Isa 14:13  You said in your heart, “I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north!
Isa 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!” 

And he, Heylel (Satan) almost got it through his son, Saul! In the end of days, he will be willing to take it by force through his son, the son of perdition!

It is only for YHVH to be the Most High God and for Him to declare who will be the Melchizedek. The term “Most High” or “Most High God” relates to the Order Of Melchizedek! The last Melchizedek was Shem and the next one is now Yeshua. If Satan can grab that, then he’s got it! The Kingdom! And Saul almost gave it to him! This is why YHVH rejected Saul and did not establish his successor lineage.

The son of perdition will try to be King-Priest which is why he will seat himself in YHVH’s temple! The son of perdition wants to turn YHVH’s Kingdom over to Heylel, Satan, just like Saul tried to. So when he seats himself in the temple, it will be a declaration that Heylel has replaced YHVH to successfully become the “Most High God”.

I doubt Saul even understood what he was doing, so far removed was he from any kind of personal relationship or understanding of God’s Kingdom at all! He should have been on his face before YHVH while waiting on Samuel at Gilgal! Being Israel’s first King should have scared him to death for its responsibility! He had been given the opportunity to know YHVH’s own Spirit on him. He should have wanted that to be with him permanently. He should have been asking for YHVH’s indwelling. He should have been scared to death to make decisions on his own but he was a ‘shual’, a jackal who ran on ego as a jackal ran on instinct. Jackals are not smart enough to be afraid! They just charge ahead to their victory or doom without understanding.

Saul is a perfect example of one who can be used by Satan to undermine YHVH’s Kingdom on earth without even knowing he is being used! However, this will not be so with the son of perdition. He will be a Satan-worshiping Jew who understands everything he is doing which is why he will never be forgiven for his blasphemy!

This is why Samuel declared:

1 Samuel 13:13  Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God [given to him from YHVH through Samuel to wait!], which he commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on Israel forever.
1 Samuel 13:14  But now your kingdom will not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.” 

YHVH did not take away Saul’s Kingdom. He simply did not establish it as a line of succession.

Furthermore, YHVH is always looking for people who seek HIS heart! Samuel has now announced that there is someone else who YHVH has already appointed to be ‘nagid’, prince, over Israel – David. This is not just a statement about Saul; it is a statement about all of us. Saul, though, was so far away from the heart of YHVH that he thought he could just implement his own Kingdom! He had no clue what good things YHVH had for him because he didn’t wait to find out!

Herein lies the problem for those who, in the end of days, are impatient like Saul and are pushing the Revelation narrative for their false doctrine, the rapture! Impatience is the opposite of endurance. Saul could not endure. Today’s Zionist Judeo-Christian elites are not enduring; they are forcing because they are impatient. This is their “golden calf”. Moses did not show up on time so they built something with their own hands and worshiped it. Samuel didn’t show up on time so Saul performed his own sacrifice. Not enduring patiently will put us in the son of perdition’s camp! We must admit that we don’t know all of YHVH’s plan and just wait, endure.

1 Samuel 13:15  Samuel arose, and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul counted the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 

Why did Samuel go to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown? It was on his judge circuit.

But also, this means 2400 men had abandoned Saul at Gilgal because he did not call them to repentance before Samuel arrived.

1 Samuel 13:16  Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
1 Samuel 13:17  The raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual; 

Remember, ‘Shual’ gave us a clue about Saul’s character in chapter 9 when he was out looking for his father’s asses. ‘Shual’ means “jackal”. Our enemies always meet us where we are even if we are on the move, for where are, there we are. That ‘Shual’ shows up again in the story of Saul reiterates what kind of character he was and the kind of character which the son of perdition will be.

1 Samuel 13:18  another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 

The Philistines intended to close in on Gibeah.

I will end this teaching here. But even after all that, Saul’s story, his chance, is not over yet because YHVH is merciful. We will find that Saul is given a chance to recover, to prove his worthiness as a servant of YHVH, not one who unwittingly almost single-handedly gave YHVH’s earthly Kingdom over to the cosmic archenemy, Heylel (Satan).

Saul’s saga will continue in the following teachings, God willing.