Do you know what was KIng Saul’s greatest sin that caused him to forfeit the throne? Was it uncontrollable sexual passions? Abuse of power? Insatiable greed for gold?
Give up? Dust off that bible and turn with me to I Sam 13.
Jonathan's surprise attack on the enemy outpost had incited the Philistines. They quickly assembled their armies to fight Israel. On seeing the strength of their military line-up, the hearts of Saul's men melted in fear.
Just days earlier, at Saul's coronation, the prophet Samuel had given Saul strict instructions to wait 7 days for him at Gilgal after which he would come and offer the burnt offering. Only after that would Samuel tell him what to do next. You can read this in I Sam 10:8 ff.
With a battle brewing, Saul had to uncover God's plans pronto! So Saul waited in Gilgal for Samuel to offer the burnt offering but when he still didn't appear after the stipulated time, Saul decided to do it himself. But just as he finished, Samuel arrived and chided Saul for acting presumptuously.
Read I Sam 13: 11-13.
Saul blamed everyone else for forcing his hand. His men for their lack of focus. Samuel for his tardiness and the Philistines for their imposing presence. But God did not let him off the hook! As a result of Saul’s failure to keep God's command, his kingdom would not endure and another would take his place as leader of God's people.
Few pastors will readily admit personal responsibility when they know they have failed God ; preferring to pin the blame on members' lack of commitment, leaders' inefficiencies and 'spiritual' attacks from Satan himself!
In this second incident, (Read I Sam 15) Samuel told Saul that God wanted him to utterly destroy the Amalekites sparing nothing and noone. Saul fought and won the battle but told his men to save the best of the livestock and destroy the rest. He also spared Agag, king of the Amalekites. .
Read on.
10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11 "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions."
Meanwhile, Saul traipsed off to Carmel to build a monument to himself before he caught up with Samuel at Gilgal (v12).
When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions." 14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"
Now what was so wrong in destroying the blemished and preserving the best of the sheep and cattle? After all, these were only spared to be sacrificed to God.
When Samuel confronted him, Saul defended his actions.
20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
Well, 2 out of 3 isn't bad. Or is it? After all Saul was only thinking of what was best for everyone. Right?
Wrong.
Check out how Samuel sums up Saul's actions.
OBEDIENCE to God’s voice is better than sacrifice.
REBELLION is equal to the sin of witchcraft.
ARROGANCE is no different from committing idolatry &
Since you REJECTED GOD'S WORD, God also has rejected you as King.
Strong words. What we may consider petty and inconsequential, God regards with extreme gravity. With God, partial obedience is no obedience and delayed obedience is still disobedience.
God's Word is NOT a suggestion or an option to be ignored.
His back against the wall, Saul concedes that he did violate God's command for fear of his men. He begs Samuel to forgive him and accompany him one last time to worship God so he doesn't lose face before the elders. (Yes, It IS possible to resist God and still participate in an act of worship!) Finally, it's Samuel who fully executes God's word. He slays Agag before returning home to grieve Saul until his death.
It's true Saul was anointed king on God's instructions (I Sam 9:16 - 17), but God only gave Israel the kind of king they wanted. They wanted to be on par with the other nations - a worthy king who would lead them and fight their battles just like the kings of the nations around them. They rejected the headship of God for the leadership of man. So God agreed to their demands and gave them Saul.
Saul embodied every proud aspiration of man. A man we're more than happy to have take charge and lead us to glory. Society constantly worships at the altar of good looks, talents and charisma and Saul fit neatly into the mold of this idol. What's more, Saul was anointed of God, empowered by His Spirit and even flowed in the gift of prophecy! Saul was an accomplished leader; an important protagonist in the annals of Israel’s kings. But failure to carry out God's clear instructions, exposed how spiritually bankrupt he really was.
Some pastors are convinced that God chose them for their extraordinary leadership skills. Can you really imagine God saying, “Tom is a true visionary, Dick is a keen strategist and Harry can get people to where he needs them to be (whether they like it or not!) - I gotta have them on my team”?
If this is what God is looking for, then Saul would have been the man after God's own heart. But he was nowhere on that list.
There could be a question at the back of your mind.
Didn't God see this coming? Surely God could have warned His people about Saul?
More to follow....
Give up? Dust off that bible and turn with me to I Sam 13.
Jonathan's surprise attack on the enemy outpost had incited the Philistines. They quickly assembled their armies to fight Israel. On seeing the strength of their military line-up, the hearts of Saul's men melted in fear.
Just days earlier, at Saul's coronation, the prophet Samuel had given Saul strict instructions to wait 7 days for him at Gilgal after which he would come and offer the burnt offering. Only after that would Samuel tell him what to do next. You can read this in I Sam 10:8 ff.
With a battle brewing, Saul had to uncover God's plans pronto! So Saul waited in Gilgal for Samuel to offer the burnt offering but when he still didn't appear after the stipulated time, Saul decided to do it himself. But just as he finished, Samuel arrived and chided Saul for acting presumptuously.
Read I Sam 13: 11-13.
Saul blamed everyone else for forcing his hand. His men for their lack of focus. Samuel for his tardiness and the Philistines for their imposing presence. But God did not let him off the hook! As a result of Saul’s failure to keep God's command, his kingdom would not endure and another would take his place as leader of God's people.
Few pastors will readily admit personal responsibility when they know they have failed God ; preferring to pin the blame on members' lack of commitment, leaders' inefficiencies and 'spiritual' attacks from Satan himself!
In this second incident, (Read I Sam 15) Samuel told Saul that God wanted him to utterly destroy the Amalekites sparing nothing and noone. Saul fought and won the battle but told his men to save the best of the livestock and destroy the rest. He also spared Agag, king of the Amalekites. .
Read on.
10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11 "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions."
Meanwhile, Saul traipsed off to Carmel to build a monument to himself before he caught up with Samuel at Gilgal (v12).
When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions." 14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"
Now what was so wrong in destroying the blemished and preserving the best of the sheep and cattle? After all, these were only spared to be sacrificed to God.
When Samuel confronted him, Saul defended his actions.
20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
Well, 2 out of 3 isn't bad. Or is it? After all Saul was only thinking of what was best for everyone. Right?
Wrong.
Check out how Samuel sums up Saul's actions.
OBEDIENCE to God’s voice is better than sacrifice.
REBELLION is equal to the sin of witchcraft.
ARROGANCE is no different from committing idolatry &
Since you REJECTED GOD'S WORD, God also has rejected you as King.
Strong words. What we may consider petty and inconsequential, God regards with extreme gravity. With God, partial obedience is no obedience and delayed obedience is still disobedience.
God's Word is NOT a suggestion or an option to be ignored.
His back against the wall, Saul concedes that he did violate God's command for fear of his men. He begs Samuel to forgive him and accompany him one last time to worship God so he doesn't lose face before the elders. (Yes, It IS possible to resist God and still participate in an act of worship!) Finally, it's Samuel who fully executes God's word. He slays Agag before returning home to grieve Saul until his death.
It's true Saul was anointed king on God's instructions (I Sam 9:16 - 17), but God only gave Israel the kind of king they wanted. They wanted to be on par with the other nations - a worthy king who would lead them and fight their battles just like the kings of the nations around them. They rejected the headship of God for the leadership of man. So God agreed to their demands and gave them Saul.
Saul embodied every proud aspiration of man. A man we're more than happy to have take charge and lead us to glory. Society constantly worships at the altar of good looks, talents and charisma and Saul fit neatly into the mold of this idol. What's more, Saul was anointed of God, empowered by His Spirit and even flowed in the gift of prophecy! Saul was an accomplished leader; an important protagonist in the annals of Israel’s kings. But failure to carry out God's clear instructions, exposed how spiritually bankrupt he really was.
Some pastors are convinced that God chose them for their extraordinary leadership skills. Can you really imagine God saying, “Tom is a true visionary, Dick is a keen strategist and Harry can get people to where he needs them to be (whether they like it or not!) - I gotta have them on my team”?
If this is what God is looking for, then Saul would have been the man after God's own heart. But he was nowhere on that list.
There could be a question at the back of your mind.
Didn't God see this coming? Surely God could have warned His people about Saul?
More to follow....
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