Today we will see how King Saul, while in a hurry, disobeyed God and paid the consequences. Is­rael lacked the technology of the Philistines (iron weapons and chariots). This resulted in Philistine dominance, and contributed to the Israelites’ demand for a king (1 Samuel 8). They attributed their position of weakness to a lack of proper leadership, ignoring the need for all those in the nation to follow God’s leadership. They seemed to forget that when they followed the Lord, He fought for them. They wanted to be like other nations—nations who did not have a covenant relationship with God. Saul, who stood head and shoulders above the others, became king. The choice proved tragic in many ways, although God redeemed numerous elements of it. Today we will see that Israel’s choice brought neither prosperity nor security under Saul.

1. Both Obedience and Disobedience Have a Ripple Effect in Our Lives (1 Samuel 13:1-7, 13-14)
♦ Based on verses 2-4, how would you describe Saul’s leadership?
• Where ultimately does the strength and success of a leader lie? Is this just as true for political leaders as it is for pastors?
♦ According to verses 5-7, how were the people responding under Saul’s leadership?
• How might our bad choices affect others?
♦ Using your own words, how did Samuel describe Saul’s decisions (verses 13-14)?
• How have you seen people’s choices have a ripple effect in their lives?
• Why is consistency in moral behavior so important?

2. Impatience Can Undermine Obedience (1 Samuel 13:8-12)
♦ In your own words describe what Saul did wrong.
• What are some ways we might run ahead of God?
♦ In verse 11, what were the specific reasons Saul gave for disobedience?
• How might we be tempted to cave to social pressure and the opinions of others?
♦ According to verse 12, did Saul know he was doing something wrong? Why is this important?
• What are some things God has told us to do that are difficult to obey?
• How can we avoid making rash, hasty decisions?

3. Disobedience Leads to Oppression (1 Samuel 13:15-23)
♦ In verses 15-18, how had the size of Saul’s forces changed from that in verse 2? How do you think he must have felt after Samuel’s rebuke and the loss of troops?
• What range of emotions might we have when we disobey God?
♦ According to verses 19-22, what was the state of Israel’s weaponry? How did God use this to force them to trust Him?
• What are some weaknesses God might allow into our lives that end up making us better?
• What do you think might have been going through Saul’s mind as he considered his ill-equipped army?
• What should we do when we realize we have settled into a pattern of disobedience to God?
• How could we avoid such continued disobedience in the first place?