But Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ And Saul said, ‘Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash…” (1 Sam 13:11)
If you want to understand Saul’s demise – all you have to do is watch the nouns. “The people were scattering”, “you did not come”, “the Philistines were assembling”.
Perhaps the people were scattering, and for some reason Samuel was late, and the Philistines were armed to the teeth… but all of those are things happening to Saul. He is the melodramatic center of a universe where everyone else’s choices forced his hand. He never talks about his power and authority to choose (he’s the king for crying out loud!).
Some people really are victims that are dealt an undeserved blow that they could never have prepared for, but many times we cry “victim” simply because we find it easier to focus on everyone else’s problems.
God held Saul accountable for his choices at Michmash because Saul wasn’t a victim. Some people really are victims, but let’s save the term for those who really are weak, vulnerable, and oppressed. Saul was none of those things. He was just a man that didn’t want to take responsibility for himself.
Matt. 4:4 #Biblebites