Scatter-Brained.

"But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers" (First Samuel 12:15).

"Saul 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" (First Samuel 13:8-9).

In the presence of all Israel, the prophet Samuel warned King Saul and the people of the consequences of disobeying the command of the LORD. And they heard, but did not heed.

"When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid..." (First Samuel 13:6). There was a scattering of the men Saul had chosen for his army, and in a move to bolster confidence Saul decided to offer up burnt offerings in place of Samuel. When confronted by Samuel, Saul made another offering: he offered multiple excuses for his disobedience.

Saul violated the command and protocol of God by engaging in ministry responsibilities that were assigned to Samuel. We've talked about this before, so I'd recommend a revisiting of "The Open Show: Nahab and Abihu" which posted on January 2nd of this year. To summarize, though, God takes particular offense when the prophetic ministry is usurped by men who were never called to the position of prophet. It's a risky behavior that holds dire consequences.

Some of you are saying, "but Saul did not die immediately". You're right- but he did have an immediate rebuke and consequence: the loss of his role as king (First Samuel 13:14). God had already lined up Saul's replacement.

You know, God hasn't changed.