Well, his shot at greatness was short-lived. Saul failed to follow Samuel's explicit instructions to wait 7 days for his arrival so that Samuel could make the necessary sacrifices and give Saul instructions going into battle. The text says that Samuel did not arrive on time, but we don't really know what that means. Did Saul wait just until daybreak before becoming impatient or was Samuel delayed all day? Any delay at all would have been distressing, as Saul was seeing his chances for military victory slip through his hands with every passing minute. He allowed his panic to influence his decision-making and offered the sacrifices himself. This was an affront to God on two levels. First, it demonstrated that he feared man more than he feared God. Secondly, it displayed an irreverent attitude toward God in that only priests could make sacrifices and offerings. Saul was king, not a priest, and his presumption of that role was an egregious sin. The punishment for this sin may seem harsh, but since God is all-knowing, He could see that this was an accurate reflection of the state of Saul's heart. Over the course of Saul's 42 year reign, his apathy and disdain for God would become apparent. The royal line would not come through him, as God was seeking a "man after His own heart".
Tomorrow's reading: 1 Samuel 15-17:31
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