When What ‘Seems Right’ Is Actually Very Wrong

In the life of Saul, we see a significant mistake of doing what seemed to be right instead of what was truly right that led to his downfall. 

What Is Right Goes Deeper Than Appearance

"Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else." – 1 Samuel 9:2

Many of us are familiar with King Saul. His tragic story is all about what seems to be good but eventually brings about only failure and destruction. Saul was the first King of a united Israel, a nation that had become little more than a loose confederation of the twelve tribes. When Israel failed to be united in commitment and service to God, they cried out for a human king to lead them, and the king they got was Saul. From all outward appearances, Saul was going to make a great king. Yet those appearances were deceiving.

Although Saul was tall, attractive, from a good family, and well-liked, these were not the qualities to make a good king. He would eventually be replaced by David, who from all outward appearances (in contrast to Saul) was not kingly material. David was not without his failures, but it was David’s willingness to follow God and repent of his failures that made him more successful. 

Speaking of appearances, there is not much in Scripture to describe what Jesus looked like while he was on earth. We do know that “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). The beauty that we see in Jesus comes from his life of obedience to God, and a devotion to doing the work God had for him (1 Chronicles 14:16-17). 

What Is Right Depends on God’s Timing

“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. – 1 Samuel 13:13

Most believers will tell you that the hardest thing we can do is to wait on God. As we face various trials and difficult situations, waiting on God is the opposite of what we want to do. We want to act! Why wait on God when we see a need before us RIGHT NOW!

In 1 Samuel 13, Saul is leading an army into battle. Before the fighting, Saul is given a command to wait for the prophet Samuel to arrive, at which time Samuel will present an offering to the Lord. However, the time of Samuel’s expected arrival comes and goes, and Saul starts to get nervous, and so does the rest of his army. 

1 Samuel 13:6-7 tells us, “When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear”.

In his fear, Saul did what he thought was right, what seemed to be right, and what he thought the situation called for. In doing so he made two serious mistakes - He did not wait for Samuel and he did something that was not for him to do. Saul allowed the desperation of the situation to push him into bad decisions. Worst of all, Saul took trust away from God and put trust in himself. 

What Is Right Depends on Trusting God Knows Better

“He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, ‘Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering’”. – 1 Samuel 13:8-9

There are some needs that we most certainly can and most certainly should address immediately, such as a person in need of food or shelter, or help. Yet some things we want or need are best to leave to God’s perfect timing instead of our own. 

For example, if you are praying for a relationship to heal, for a new job, or for direction on a place to live, it is best to allow God space to work before we try to work for him. If you are seeking a job, you should wait for the right one that he has for you instead of jumping at the first position with a paycheck. If you are praying for God to bring a friend or family member to salvation, you need to pray, be humble and available, and allow God to work instead of just preaching to them all the time.

Saul saw problems happening all around him. Big problems. He figured that doing what seemed good was better than simply trusting God. After all, did it really matter who made the sacrifice? Did it matter if he followed God’s direction as long as the result was the same? Did it matter how things happened, as long as they got done? 

God’s purpose is never accomplished outside of God’s means to accomplish them. If God says to wait, we are to wait, even if things look desperate. The Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 15:22, “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

Our obedience is better than any sacrifice, any action we can take, because it is through our obedience that His perfect will and plan are accomplished. 

Photo credit: Unsplash/Sven Huls

Jason Soroski is a homeschool dad and member of the worship team at matthias lot church in St. Charles, MO. He spends his free time hanging out with his family, exploring new places, and writing about the experiences. Connect on Facebook or at JasonSoroski.net.