“What have you done?” asked Samuel.

Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
1 Samuel 13:11-12 (NIV)

There is a great scene in Shakespeare’s Henry V. Young King Henry of England and his army are marching on France. Early victories were costly. Poor, early winter weather sets in. The army is decimated by battle and illness. Those who are left are wet, muddy, cold, and disheartened. Meanwhile, the King of France has rallied his army and hired foreign mercenaries to help repel Henry and the rag tag remnants of his army.

At this low-point of strength and morale the French send their Herald to Henry to offer him ransom. This was a common practice among royals in those days. In the face of sure defeat, Henry could surrender himself to the French king. His army would be allowed to return to England. England would be forced to pay “ransom” for Henry’s return. Henry and England would suffer humiliation but he would save his own skin along with the lives of his army.

Henry refuses this offer and tells the French herald to return to his master saying,

“We would not seek a battle as we are,
Nor, as we are we say we will not shun it.”

As the Herald is riding away the Duke of Gloucestershire whispers his fearful doubt, saying to Henry, “I hope they will not come upon us now.”

Henry’s reply to the Duke is epic.

“We are in God’s hand, brother, not in theirs.”

This scene came to mind this morning as I meditated on today’s chapter, in which Saul is a contrasting parallel to Shakespeare’s Henry.

Much like England, the army of Israel is facing an almost impossible military situation. The neighboring Philistines have an advantage in numbers and weapons. Everyone knows it.

Samuel tells Saul to wait and do nothing for seven days.

Saul has mustered as many men as he can to face the threat, but for a week they wait and stare across the field at the overwhelming army of the enemy. Men begin to desert. They flee to hide in caves and even travel to other countries in the opposite direction. Saul’s situation is quickly descending from bad to worse.

Day seven arrives. Samuel still hasn’t arrived. Saul loses patience. He takes it upon himself to do Samuel’s job and offer sacrifices to God and seek God’s favor. As the smoke of the burnt offerings is still rising to the heavens, Samuel arrives. Timing in Scripture can be delightfully brutal sometimes. Like Jesus calming the storm after having to be woken by His disciples, God has a way of showing up exactly one minute after we panic.

This moment becomes the defining fracture point of Saul’s reign. The issue is not merely ritual violation. It is trust. Saul could not endure uncertainty long enough to obey. Saul’s core issue is not weakness. It’s self-reliance baptized in religious language.

As I meditated on the moment this morning I found Saul’s outward behavior is understandable. From a purely pragmatic leadership perspective, it almost feels reasonable. His troops are scattering. The enemy is enormous. Samuel is late. Time is running out.

But the very human moment exposes a hard spiritual truth: pragmatism can become rebellion when fear replaces trust.

In his rebuke of Saul, Samuel foreshadows that God has already decided to raise up Saul’s replacement. And this encourages me to think about what I know about David in contrast to this telling moment for Saul. Saul grasps for control. David repeatedly turns to dependence on God. And, therein lies the difference between Saul and “a man after God’s own heart.”

This chapter is ultimately about what happens in the gap between instruction and fulfillment. Saul’s true enemy was not Philistines. It was silence.

Seven days.

But heaven’s delays expose what hurried circumstances conceal. Anyone can appear faithful when answers arrive quickly. Faith is revealed in the waiting room. Many of my worst decisions on life’s road were not made in outright rebellion. They were made in anxious acceleration.

I confess. I get tired of waiting…

• for clarity,
• for healing,
• for provision,
• for reconciliation,
• for opportunity,
• for God to do something.

So, I do what so many others before me have done.

I sleep with Hagar.
I force doors open.
I grasp for control.
I offer sacrifices God never asked for.

And then Samuel walks over the hill. There’s a painful tenderness in this story because Saul was not trying to abandon God. He was trying to manage God. And, that may be the more dangerous temptation.

Yet the chapter also whispers hope. God’s purposes are never dependent on human perfection. Even while Saul is unraveling, David is already somewhere tending sheep beneath the same sky. Despite my weaknesses, God is often preparing the answer long before you can see the shepherd walking toward the battlefield.

And Shakespeare? He inspires me with a contrasting example. Henry had faith to trust God amidst the overwhelming odds against him. Shakespeare wasn’t making up a fictitious story. Henry’s victory at the Battle of Agincourt as one of the most miraculous victories in history.

In the wake of his victory, Henry is asked by one of his men whether they can share the good news.

“Yes, captain,” he replies, “but with this acknowledgment…That God fought for us.”

I spent a lot of my life journey acting like Saul when situations turn grim.

Today, and moving forward, I want to be more like Henry.

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