To read more about this I would recommend Charles Swindoll's book "Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives" W.Publishing Group, 2005. He addresses Samuel in chapter 6 and Saul in chapter 7
There is a story in 1 Samuel 13 that has been on my mind lately. Samuel has anointed Saul to be king over Israel. Samuel had told Saul to go down to Gilgal and to wait seven days for him (1Samuel 10:8). And when they came together after seven days they would offer Burnt Offering and fellowship offering. Samuel said it was then that he would tell Saul what to do. But, then later Saul grows restless and doesn't wait the 7 days. Anyone else here grow tired of waiting sometimes? The story in 1 Samuel 13:8-10 says
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8 Now he waited for seven days, until the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 But as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to [a]greet him.
Saul was facing an overwhelming number of enemy soliders in the historic enemy of Israel the people of the Philistines. Everyday that he waited more and more of Saul's soliders were deserting him out of fear. Saul then takes on a priestly role that he was not authorized to take and Samuel later calls him out on it. Samuel is very direct and tells him he has acted foolishly. Hee first received the kingdom and was anointed with humility. All of that humility was lost and Saul acted out of fear and worry instead of obedience. This story is placed here in the Bible to teach us. Saul is not the only one who sometimes acts out of fear. It appeared that Samuel was late, so he acted. Then later in this chapter he makes excuses for his behavior, but it is too late.
Later on in 1 Samuel 15, Saul will do something very similar. Samuel tells him to go to war against the Amalekites and to destroy everything. This was an opportunity for Saul to act in obedience to the word of God and to destroy everything But, Saul decides on his own to keep some of the best things and to keep the money and the animals for offerings. When Samuel confronts him about that, Samuel says
Samuel said,
“Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice,
And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry. . ."
Saul had difficulty waiting on God sometimes and rushed ahead of God. But, sometimes we may do the same things and rush ahead with our plans and not wait on God and pray and ask him what he wants us to do. Have you ever rushed ahead of God and done something important without praying about it or seeking guidance? Just like with Samuel who appeared to be late, sometimes it seems like God is late or his answer is delayed. But, this is when we are called to be obedient and to wait until we have clear direction from him. I am guilty of sometimes rushing ahead of God or not praying like I should and asking him for guidance. Allowing fear of the future or any fear to control us is not something that a child of God should do. You are not called to walk by fear but by faith (2 Timothy 1:7). He wants your obedience more than your sacrifice. Saul refused to wait on God and act in obedience and he lost the kingdom as a result.
Resources:
https://www.gci.org/articles/samuel-and-saul/
https://bibleproject.com/blog/saul-tale-self-deception/
https://www.raystedman.org/bible-overview/highlights/the-flesh-and-the-spirit-1st-samuel
