1 Samuel 15

1 Samuel 15:21

But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal."

Two things that are interesting in Saul's statement here.  First, he blames the people for keeping spoil, as if he were powerless to stop them.  He's the king, and he was to have issued a command.  In an entire army, it shouldn't be that difficult to notice a big herd of livestock.  If he had wanted to follow God's command, he should have been able to easily, without some excuse.

The second thing that hit me was that he doesn't talk about "the Lord our God," or even "the Lord their God," he says "the Lord your God."  In other words, assuming this is translated accurately, he doesn't really believe all this claptrap about God's power or the need to follow His commands, and he doesn't think the people really do, either.  He only thinks Samuel believes it, and that the people are just kinda following along to humor him, or at least have divided loyalties.  If it ever came down to it, Saul certainly doesn't believe that God is supreme, he just puts on the airs.

1 Samuel 14

1 Samuel 14:21

Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

I wonder who these Hebrews were.  It's interesting they're referred to as Hebrews, not Israelites.  Is this just to signify that they were on opposite sides at the time, collaborating with the enemy?  Or did this signify some greater division among the people, where those called Hebrews were longer-term allies, attendants, or slaves to the Philistines?

If this was a temporary alliance, why did they go to the Philistines?  Was it simply to save their own necks, seeing the odds were hundreds to one and not wanting to die?  Was it because they didn't believe that Saul could win?  Was it they didn't believe in God or His ability to triumph?  Or did they actually favor the Philistines and their point of view?  Did they want the Philistines to win?  If so, was it to some gain of their own besides survival, or because they had abandoned God and shared the Philistines belief system?

1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13:12

therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord.'  So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering."

This  passage is well known as Saul's downfall, so I'm not going to focus on that so much.  However, this verse caught my attention for two points.  First, Saul knows that he needs God's blessing before any attack.  He knows he won't win on his own strength, for he is vastly outnumbered and underarmed.  So he recognizes that his only hope lies in God, and has apparently made arrangements with Samuel to come and give offerings to God for their victory.  This is a hopeful sign, which we all know he messes up.

Also, Saul says that he forced himself.  What does that mean?  He forced himself not to wait any longer before making the offering, because the battle is at hand (though it's not)?  He forced himself to take Saumel's place?  He forced himself to do something that he knew was wrong?  He forced himself to take action before the last of the people abandoned him?  In what is he forcing himself, and why?

1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel 12:23

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.

Prayer is something I've never been good at.  I don't know if it's my ADD, or just natural laziness or wariness, but I have never been able to pray for any length of time.  I find myself drifting off down mental blind alleys, and feel terribly guilty about it.  So I generally don't pray much, because I feel I can't do it "properly."

I also am not very consistent about praying for people; most of my prayers are self-centered.  Then I read a verse like this, where Samuel is saying that it is a sin not to pray for people.  Again, I realize I'm not doing it right, and that I need to change. Instructing I can do, and am halfway good at.  But I now realize that I need to begin focusing more once again on praying for others, however I am able and whatever small chunks I need to break it into.