Actions Have Consequences

Background to passage: Saul’s first act as king was to lead the rescue attempt for the people of Jabesh. That went well, but this military campaign didn’t turn out quite as well, at least not for Saul. The decisions he made brought consequences that would altar the course of generations.

Saul gathered the army because the Philistines needed to be pushed out and were prepared for battle, but was instructed to wait seven days until Samuel’s arrival to present a sacrifice and consecrate the army.

1 Samuel 13:8–15 ESV

8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

Opening illustration: medical drama the other night where an 18 year old was convicted of double homicide because he drove the car that his friends rode in after they killed to people in a home that they thought was empty. Gonna probably get another 10 years because of a fight that he didn’t start. One decision changed it all

Main thought: One mistake can change your life forever.

1) Temptation to Disobey (v. 8-12)

1 Samuel 13:8–12 ESV

8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”

1) Temptation to Disobey (v. 8-12)

Explanation: Saul had called Israel to come to battle, but had been instructed to wait on Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice. His authority was still in its infancy and the men were becoming restless waiting to fight and they were beginning to disperse and return home. Fear overcame Saul. Impatience got the better of him. Maybe he decided it wasn’t that big a deal who offered the sacrifice.

Psalm 130:5–6 ESV

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

2 Corinthians 7:8–11 ESV

8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

Illustration: Lots of our action heroes are the ones who break the rules for “good motivations.”

Application: All kinds of “reasons.” We are really good at justifying our actions regardless of their rightness. We make excuses. We rationalize. We reframe the situation. We shift blame. We explain hidden benefit. We show why the rules really didn’t apply in this situation. We moralize or minimize. We proclaim our entitlement. We speak of the necessity. We put ourselves in the position of applying justice.

When all the while the key is to look for the way of escape that will be provided, and if you miss it, repent. The arms of the Father are always open to those who embrace responsibility. You have to own your sin. That’s how you came into the fold of Christ, repentance and belief. True repentance brings certain things:

MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary

7:11 This verse provides a look at how genuine repentance will manifest itself in one’s attitudes.

God is not a God who just winks at or ignores sin in the life of his children. His desire is that they enjoy what is best for them, joy in him, not joy in sin. So he is willing and loving enough to discipline his children for their holiness. Not pleasant, but you may thank him later.

2) Temptation to Treat Holy Things Casually (v. 13-14)

1 Samuel 13:13–14 ESV

13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

2) Temptation to Treat Holy Things Casually (v. 13-14)

Explanation: Disobedience is bad enough, but the centerpiece of this particular disobedience is the sacrifice to the Lord. Holy things. It’s not like there are no holy things in the NT, but there was a great deal of specificity and clear distinctions between clean and unclean, holy and common. Places in the temple complex, levels of the priesthood, festivals, observances, worship, even warriors had to be pure to fight.

Remember when David would not rise up and kill Saul because he was the Lord’s anointed; remember when Uzzah touched the ark; remember the priests who stepped into the water in Egypt and Jericho, remember the ground that swallowed Korah and the rebellion

Illustration: Tiger Woods

Application: I do realize that all sin is sin, and it all separates from God, and it all sin brings wrath, but different sin has consequences that sometimes relate directly to that sin and some with lasting or temporary results. Some things touch our souls at deeper levels. Some sin rises to higher accountability because of knowledge or leadership. Judgment will be greater on some things than others.

In the NT the focus shifts from external rules to the heart.

The church is holy: A holy nation, royal priesthood

The worship of God is extremely holy and set apart in the NT. I think this is one of the reasons that music has such a window to the soul. Our relationship to prayer (communion) and the Word have such a powerful influence. They are holy in a special way. We are told that food is sanctified by prayer, and Jesus prays that the believers are sanctified by the Word (truth).

Believers themselves: The body is set apart as the temple of God - holy. How you treat it, what you put in it. Our sexuality is sacred and imprints upon us deeply whether good or bad. It’s a picture of relationship and bonding that is used of God and Israel and Christ and his church. Thus, I think you could draw the family into this list.

So, from our perspective, the holy things that we may treat with contempt, carelessness, or apathy are these above. We must remember that even these can have generational effects. If you view the church casually as a place to go on Sundays to make yourself feel better or have God’s blessing, your children and grandchildren will likely magnify that attitude.

If prayer is something that you go to only when you need a rescue… If you are only in the Word of God when you have a chance. When your desire for it barely exists...

If you treat your body carelessly when you are young, you may not see old, but those habits will pass along. If you are having casual meaningless sexual relationships with others, you will reap the rewards. If you are content to live with brokenness in the family, your children will too.

God can break in and right the wrongs. God can break generational curses. Many of you know, and may be from situations where these exist and He has rescued you from it.

Closing illustration: Michael Tait

Recap