The true and living God is a God who spiritually tests us (Job 7:17,18; 1 Thess. 2:4; etc.). The Bible also says we are tested in the furnace of affliction. (Isa 48:10). 
We all get tested and sometimes very severely! The prophet Samuel was severely tested when he was just a boy and passed that spiritual test. On the other hand, when King Saul was tested, he failed. That was a decisive point in Saul’s life! His instructions were simply to wait at Gilgal for Samuel’s arrival to make sacrifice, since he was a priest:
“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.” (1 Sam 10:8)
Saul made the serious mistake of offering up the burnt offering himself. When Samuel confronted him, he said:
“What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” (1 Sam 13:11,12)
Saul Failed His Spiritual Test To Wait
Saul’s single act of disobedience was very costly:
“You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” (1 Sam 13:13,14)
King Saul’s sin was connected to pride and impatience. He actually thought he could perform a task which was exclusively set apart for the priests, which he was not! He acted foolishly, as Samuel said and failed his spiritual test. That spiritual test came when the pressure was on, just like your spiritual tests will be (and have been)! Get ready, more spiritual tests are coming your way, especially in these end times.
