1 Samuel 13:7-9 Wrong worship. Saul was not supposed to offer the sacrifices. Samuel was. Samuel was late. Time was going on. The battle was on them. The spectre of the Philistines hovered all around. There was fear in the air. They needed to make a move. Saul took it on himself to perform the ritual. That was what it had become. A ritual. The reality of the living God in that circumstance and His ways were shadows. The program eclipsed the programmer. Sauls worship went awry. This set the stage for his subsequent rebellion in Chapter 15. How careful leaders have to be about wrong worship. About the pre eminence of God above all. With him enthroned, all other fears can be viewed in perspective. Without him, we can be propelled into terribly wrong decisions and reactions. Sauls place of waiting is a secure one for all leaders. God forbid we stretch out our hands to perform what we are not given to do. For indeed, with our authority and position, such acts can become second nature, without anyone to even question it or think it inappropriate.