Gilgal – What’s in a name 3

The Abuse of Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:14)

In the previous post we saw that there is a security at this place called Gilgal. It is not about the physical place but about the place in the heart that knows that this is the place of memorial and the place where we find security, even if there is a cost. We will see that it is possible to abuse that memorial place and lose all that has been secured by the grace of God. 

Samuel encourages the people of Israel in 1 Samuel 11:14 to return to Gilgal and to renew the kingdom there. This is the  place of new beginnings, the place of commitment and the place of security. We know when we read this passage that there was repentance in the form of sacrifices and there was great rejoicing, something that can only come at the place of security. 

It wasn’t long  after the people had repented that this place of safety and security was abused. We can read the story in 1 Samuel 13. 

Essentially power goes to Saul’s head, whether it was of his own doing or out of fear or just because he thought he was doing the right thing is not really important. What is important though is that Saul rushed on and into something that he should not have done. He commands that a sacrifice be offered before the right time and he assumes that he, as king, has authority to offer it, when in fact it was reserved for the “man of God”, for someone appointed by God to the priesthood. Saul abused his position as king because he saw everything around him falling apart. Within two short years as king of Israel Saul had managed to alienate his people. He went from 3000 fighting men to just 600. His subjects were so scared and fearful of the enemy that they resorted to hiding in caves, in bushes, in rocks, in holes and in pits. 1 Samuel 13:6. From this moment on Saul was on his mission and not on God’s mission, it all became about Saul and not about God.

How many times have we done that?, rushed in to try to rescue a situation when really what we should do is reconvene, pray and wait for God’s time. It was in that reckless moment that all that Saul had been entrusted with was lost. God needs people who will seek Him for who He is, seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. When we do that, God’s blessing will follow. Let us remember the security, the cost and the freedom of Gilgal and seek to walk in God’s way and not our own so that we do not fall foul of the possible abuse of Gilgal.

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