We saw abrupt changes in Saul’s circumstances in our last discussion. He was about 40 years of age becoming established in his Father’s donkey business when God offered him grace and blessing. All he had to do was drop what he was doing and become king of God’s people, Israel. Yeah, like that was really going to happen!!
When we first read this story, it seems Saul was God’s choice for King. But in the larger context we soon learn this was not true. God gave his people the man they wanted. Saul was a man who looked kingly. He was strong, domineering, and taller than anybody else. He was a man who had a way with people. He would score high on the Gallup polls. Israel chose man over God and they “benefited” from their bad choice for years to come.
God created a way for the people’s choice to sit on the throne. But God did not give up His sovereignty or His love for His chosen ones. In fact, the story of people on earth is a love story of God for His created people. God patiently instructs and reveals while constantly searching for people who fear, respect and love Him. Jesus died for all the people who live on planet earth.
Saul has just officially been made king as we look in on him working in his field with his oxen. Meanwhile the Ammonites are threatening the village of Jabesh and a runner comes into Saul’s place with news while Saul is coming in from the field. Upon hearing the news “The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul” and he took a yoke of oxen, cutting them into pieces distributing them throughout the land recruiting the people to come to the aid of Israel. Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. Saul led the people in three companies and struck down the Ammonites. The people now look to Saul with hope and admiration.
After their celebration victory over the Ammonites, God, through Samuel, destroyed Israel’s new crop with a devastating rain just prior to harvest. This was a message about their devotion to Saul. Clearly, their victory was God’s doing. Israel and Saul were confronted with the harsh reality that God is still in control even while Saul is sitting on the throne. So what was it that prompted God’s judgment against Saul and Israel? Why was it necessary to destroy a whole season’s worth of crops?
This may give us hint. Two verses are inserted between the defeat of the Ammonites and their celebration, which reveals the heart of the people. There was a group that did not support Saul for King. They did not pay Saul homage after his inauguration while the eyes of the people were on Saul. However, it was culturally correct for Saul to defer to God as part of their spiritual heritage so Saul acknowledges God: “not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished deliverance in Israel.” This is not coming from Saul’s heart; it is the politically correct thing to do. The only confession we see from Saul is when he is under severe pressure and then it is not true repentance. The following cry in Mark by a father of a spirit possessed boy never passes the lips of king Saul.
“Immediately the boy’s father cried and began saying, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief.’”
Throughout recorded history God asserts His divine presence through power and holiness to unbelieving man. God was not an image to be worshiped; He is a living presence, a cloud by day and a fire by night. He is manna from heaven and living water from a rock. God made sure Saul got a close look of divine reality so that he, as King of Israel, would be prepared to trust God.
Saul had no qualifications, he wasn’t skilled in Jewish practices, but this isn’t what God wants, not in Saul’s time and not in ours. God required Saul’s heart, freely given. So God provided Saul with convincing and ample opportunities to be God’s man. God provided not only grace but also a personal mentor, Samuel. Grace was important for Saul and essential for you and I. Grace enables us all to respond to God, not only for new birth, obviously, but also for producing spiritual fruit in an earthly kingdom.
Saul is like a branch in the vine. The vine branches are sanctified and like Saul have a choice to grow in grace or be thrown away as a branch. Saul had personal instruction in God’s grace but his earthly heart becomes hardened by choosing the ways of men rather than God. Jesus refers to this as “hardness of heart”. Earthly ways are the ways of self and indulging in self-interests. God is the one who qualifies Saul to be king because of the cry of his people. God is the one who has qualified you and me and we have the personal instruction of the Holy Spirit through His word to produce His holy fruit.
Men are skilled deceivers. Successful deceivers unknowingly become victims deceiving their own selves. Self-deception leads to fear and destroys God’s blessing quenching His power of grace. God has already provided all we need in Christ. It is ours to possess. Saul’s life illustrates the problem of self. Deception and fear.
The glove of “hardness of heart” fits naturally on the hand of self-deception. This common malady of unbelief is the exact opposite of faith and truth. Unbelief prevents genuine fruit. If it is not genuine fruit, it is not fruit at all. Fruit glorifies God the Father. We are not talking about new birth salvation; we are talking about the living, loving life of Jesus producing fruit post new birth. Man looks on the outward appearances but God looks and sees each heart. Desire in the heart is critical. God already knows the condition of each heart and the kind of fruit it is capable of producing.
Wherefore the Lord said, forasmuch as this people draw near to me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.
The story of Saul’s preparation to be king reveals the heart of a man who does not accept God’s grace but chooses to wear God’s crown so that he may serve himself as God’s anointed. This is a very contemporary story. To quote Solomon, David’s son:
“That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So, there is nothing new under the sun. ”
After the victory over the Ammonites Samuel leads the people, ”’Come and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. ’So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.”
Giving thanks and rejoicing are easy after God provides deliverance. It is conspicuous not to participate when God’s deliverance is obvious and complete.
I do not agree with those who label Saul as “Satan’s man” or that he was evil. This was matriculation for Saul as King just as we have to move from the reign of sin to the reign of grace. This process is common to all who become believers in Christ. In Saul’s case, he never lets go of self, he withers on the vine, is cut off, gathered up and burned.
Samuel’s wisdom and counsel cannot compete with Saul’s self-indulgent power and authority. His self-confidence builds as he manifests his selfish heart. God provides choices through Saul’s circumstances but his rejection of God’s grace becomes a pattern. God continued to provide Saul opportunities to trust and obey so that he could be God’s man. The Lord would have established his kingdom had he made a different set of choices.
Let’s review the recorded events leading up to this victory and celebration. Saul and his man left home looking for lost donkeys. Before they return home Saul is designated king of Israel and the lost donkeys are reported found. They were experiencing the intervention of God in their lives but it seemed to them the natural unfolding of events. Then Samuel made it clear to them things don’t just happen in the life of God’s people.
Samuel spent time with Saul sharing his heart after the banquet with about 30 men of Israel. Before leaving the next morning, Samuel told Saul three events would occur on his way home. First, he would find two men near Rachel’s tomb who would inform him the donkeys were found but his dad was concerned for his son. Second, Saul would meet three men of God at the “Oak of Tabor” each carrying meat, bread and wine. Samuel instructs Saul they will greet and give him “two loaves of bread” which Saul is instructed to accept. Third, near the Philistines garrison Saul will find a group of prophets coming down from the “high place” playing instruments and prophesizing. Samuel explains that Saul will be changed into “another man” and will prophesize with these men.
Saul left in the morning. All three of these events occurred the same day. At the third event he was closer to home and several men who knew Saul’s family crossed their paths. They were astonished by Saul’s participation in prophesying. This was very much out of character for the Saul they knew. In fact, it probably was not in character for his whole family since they questioned whether he was a member of his father’s family. Further, we find Saul’s encounter with his uncle after leaving “the high place” does not include a report about prophesizing. Even more remarkable, he does not mention his status as king designate even though his uncle asks concerning Samuel. Instead, Saul reports Samuel let him know about the donkeys and that is it!
Later, Samuel calls the people of Israel together to affirm that a king for Israel is not God’s choice. He recites their history and God’s deliverance from the Egyptians and God’s constant provision for them as a people. They reject God’s provisions and insist on their own new king. They assembled by tribes and clans to select a new king by lot. The tribe of Benjamin was selected. Selections by lot went all the way down to Kish’s family and finally to Saul himself. But where was Saul? He was not anxiously waiting his selection. He was out of sight hiding behind some baggage storage!
Samuel took Saul from his hiding place and presented him to all the people. “Do you see whom the Lord has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” He was taller than any of the people from the head upwards. He looked great, handsome and strong. “So all the people shouted and said, ‘Long live the king!’”
Saul’s commentary on his own heart plays over and over. Looking back, you would expect Saul to share a compelling joy and excitement when he first saw his uncle on his way back home. He was not a boy but still you would think some sharing of what had taken place with his uncle would be obvious. This omission is worthy of our note. Perhaps he was visualizing how this was going to work out or perhaps he was caught in a spiritual depression. Israel’s spiritual religion was not where Saul lived. He was not familiar with living in a culture of faith and giving up control to God. Instead of submitting by faith to God, despite numerous faith-based opportunities, we see continual evidence of his self-serving reliance.
The three events Saul experienced on his way home from Samuel demonstrated God’s authority and power in a personal way. Saul participated in God’s power by prophesizing in the Spirit. God demonstrated His control over the events that came about yet, he, like the people of Israel, chose to indulge in self. Saul was content with life without God.
Its official, Saul becomes anointed king by God. As the story unfolds later, David respected Saul simply because he was God’s anointed even though his own life was endangered. Saul became a threat to David and David had to flee. Yet, David would not harm Saul, even though he had motive and opportunity. David would not go against the person God placed upon the throne. But we are getting ahead of ourselves, Saul is just launching into his new role as King and the Lord touched the hearts of men who travel with Saul back to his home. God enables Saul to rule and govern His people righteously.
Here we see another interesting principle of God. Saul was God’s anointed and would be used because he was in the position to channel God’s plan and purpose even though Saul’s heart was not fully engaged to God’s purposes. How often we experience this in our own grace culture. We see God’s power at work, like the people of Israel; we tend to look at a person rather than God Himself. Yet, this is an opportunity for Saul to change his heart and serve the living God. How great is God’s mercy because of His agape love. Both to us and to Saul!
Now we come back into the place where we began this discussion about the Ammonites threatening an Israeli village. Saul cut up a yoke of oxen and gave a piece to each of several messengers who went throughout the land threatening them to assemble immediately together or else all their oxen would be cut up in small pieces like Saul had done to his yoke of oxen. “Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.” The men that came together from Judah and Israel were about 330,00 men.
It was morning. Saul had divided his men into three companies. They struck the Ammonites during the morning watch battled until the heat of the day. Those who survived their attack were so scattered so that no two people were together. This caused great joy and celebration in Israel.
God gave them a king and God gave them a victory over their enemy. The people’s first response? Kill the men who were not in favor of Saul being king, as though it were Saul who gave them the victory!
It was not in Israel’s heart to bow down and give thanks. Rather, it was to affirm Saul their new King and get rid of his critics and contrary pundits. It was Samuel who directed them to Gilgal and to offer sacrifices to their living God. Was this to appease God in the peoples mind? Or was it to give God His due for services rendered in their behalf? They did not repent for their desire to have a human King. They did not say to God, “Forgive us and take away our king and allow us to listen to your servant Samuel. You, God, are our true King.” Instead they turned to their religious rituals. They went through the motions of being righteous and offered sacrifices. What do we know about their hearts?
“And Samuel said to the people. ‘Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And you must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things, which cannot profit or deliver, because they are futile. For the Lord will not abandon his people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you will do wickedly, both you and your king shall be swept away.’”
God has not changed. His plan and a purpose have not changed. Today, we are his chosen people under a new covenant. He will tolerate a Saul on our personal throne as long as we are obedient. It is through obedience we discover unnecessary “Saul’s” working in our flesh and through obedience we remove them. God is gentle. He leads us into faith according to our willingness to grow as a sprout on His vine. His grace includes choices, which prepare us to grow His fruit. We have the mind of Christ but we possess it in grace to produce holiness.
These lessons of preparation and choice continue for Saul and the people. He was old enough to have some maturity in the ways of men. He retained 3000 men to be his guard and when he found men who excelled, he brought them into his guard upgrading the men around him.
One of his best soldiers was his own son, Jonathan. This is the same Jonathan who later becomes David’s friend. He had his own command and being the king’s son he took liberties others would not. The Philistines were constantly threating Israel. Jonathan found a way to attack and defeat the Philistine garrison in Geba. This became a great moment of joy for the people.
At the same time, Saul was growing in his own esteem. He reminds me of the Iranian president, Mohammad Ahmadinejad, so self-deceived he would deny the reality of the Holocaust. In our episode Saul takes credit for Jonathan’s victory and published it throughout the land as though he, Saul, had defeated the Philistines. The Philistines were infuriated by their defeat at the hand of Jonathan and assembled 30,000 chariots and 6000 horsemen and encamped in Michmash.
This large assembly of philistines caused all the people to scurry to the hills, hiding in caves and any sort of refuge they could find. Saul remains in Gilgal waiting for Samuel to come and offer sacrifices to God. The people began abandoning Saul and those who remained were very fearful. Samuel had sent word he would arrive in seven days but the time came and went, Samuel had not arrived.
Saul was losing more people every day so he decided to take matters into his own hands. You and I may think well of Saul by showing leadership and addressing this issue. You and I would be wrong. God has his way of doing things and it requires faith. Saul had no spiritual authority; he was never sanctioned to take on the role of priest among God’s people. The priest was a type of Christ and only one man was able to present himself before the presence of God on behalf of the people. That man was Samuel.
Saul ordered preparation for offerings and Samuel still had not arrived. Saul went ahead and offered the burnt offering. As soon as he was finished, Samuel appears on the scene. Saul goes out to greet him knowing he has some explaining to do, but he is, after all, king.
Samuel is not smiling!
What have you done?, demands Samuel.
Saul knows how to spin and lie, listen to this:
“Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord, So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”
I’m thinking Samuel had a very stern look and used it here. Looking directly up into Saul’s eyes and seeing a king who does not take responsibility but rather looks for others to blame, responds:
“You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure, the Lord has sought out one for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has anointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
“To obey is better than sacrifice.” This lesson Saul is yet to hear but one he could have already learned if he had an open heart.
There are two additional recorded events further showing the hardening of Saul’s heart. The first one centers on Jonathan who once again defeats an enemy. This time it is the Philistines and unknown to Saul, Jonathan has broken a foolish edict requiring no one to eat until the Philistines were totally defeated. The Lord gave them victory and Saul builds an altar inquiring after the Lord. ”But he did not answer him on that day”. Saul blames the people for God’s silence. In the process Saul finds out Jonathan had taken a little honey against his edict so is ready to put Jonathan to death. Saul is going to blame his own son and put him to death to cover his own heart. The people know this is not the cause for their trouble and stands up to Saul on Jonathan’s behalf. Jonathan lives to fight another day and has a heart ready to embrace someone like David in the future.
The other event concerns another battle and affirms Saul’s heart so that God no longer will tolerate his pugnacious will. God owned punishment to Amalek for his treatment of Israel on their coming up from Egypt. Samuel instructed Saul to totally destroy Amalek including all that he had; “put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey”.
Saul assembled 200,000 foot soldiers plus 10,000 men of Judah and journed to the city of Amalek and set ambush in the valley. Saul defeated all the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur. But rather than destroying everything, Saul spared king Agag, and all the best of the sheep, oxen and lambs. Everything that was worthless they destroyed but if it had value they took it to themselves.
God conveys to Samuel Saul’s failure to follow the Lord’s command and expresses His displeasure. Samuel is grieved and cries out to the Lord without results. In the meantime, Saul journeyed through Carmel and set up a monument to himself before proceeding to Gilgal.
The next morning Samuel goes out to meet Saul.
Saul: “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.”
“Really!”, says Samuel. “What is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”
“Oh, that”, (here comes the spin), “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed.”
Samuel interrupts: “Wait, let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”
Saul: “Speak!”
Samuel: “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed you king over Israel, and the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, “Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated. Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord?”
Saul: “I did obey the voice of the Lord , and went on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal”.
Samuel: "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”
Saul: ”I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice (He still is not taking responsibility). Now, therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”
Samuel: ” I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
Saul grabbed the edge of Samuels coat as he turned to leave. The garment tore in Saul’s hand. Samuel turns back to face Saul.
Samuel: “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. And also the glory of Israel will not lie or change his mind; for He is not a man that He should change his mind.”
Saul: ”I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.”
Samuel return following behind Saul. Saul then worshiped God. Samuel, on the other hand, had to take care of Saul’s unfinished business.
Samuel: "Bring me a Agag, king of the Amalekites.”
Agag came before Samuel in a happy mood thinking the threat of death and past.
Samuel: “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.”
Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord. When he was through, Saul and Samuel separated and Samuel never saw Saul again until his death.
Saul continues to reign over Israel but his opportunity to serve the Lord has passed. Israel chose Saul and lives with their choice until God decides to put David on the throne.
Saul became comfortable with sacrifices and alters. He could lead Israel once he became familiar with the language, the culture and the expectations. What he lacked was God’s power and peace. God did not abandon his people but he did let them carry the burden and responsibility of their choices including Saul. To obey is better than sacrifice.
Even when Samuel confronted Saul with the truth from God, Saul was still rationalizing. His self-deception corrupted his ability to see clearly. Truth was corrupted by his self-need and he created his own version of truth. He wanted Samuel to walk with him as a sign of acceptance before the people. Even in his acceptance of the truth, he is concerned about deceiving the people to believe Samuel trusted him. This would mean the people could trust him too. This is why Samuel refused to walk with him.
Some believe God’s harsh ways during the time of Saul, Samuel and David have changed. Sin and judgment were confronted squarely and death was an accepted consequence. Today sin is dealt with by forgiveness and God’s love but we defer holiness as our hope at for the time of our bodies’ redemption. God is disappointed in us for not taking Him and His word seriously. God has not changed nor has His expectations changed. His nature is the same yesterday, today and forever. It is His nature that is in us!
Just as man corrupts truth generally, he also corrupts spiritual truth. This constant problem was prevalent in the letters to the churches as it is today. God is a righteous judge as well as love. Many choose between love and righteousness as though they were not able to occupy the same space. The Scripture teaches clearly both are companion attributes in the nature of God.
We need to constantly bow before our Lord and ask Him to reveal those secret, hidden things corrupting our ability to know him intimately. We constantly need His wisdom and discernment. Yes, we need His power but we need His wisdom so that we can apply His power in holiness. He is our source and only His power can produce holy fruit and the faith our nature in Christ craves.
Scripture demonstrates the lengths God goes to get our attention. Years ago when spanking was “in” they would say, “Dad could apply the board of education to the seat of understanding.” This was God’s Old Testament approach with the children of Israel in the desert and He used it with His people under Saul. We all know the hurt produced from our own frailty.
God has not changed under grace. He uses the power of grace in our circumstances and requires we abide in Him as “tender new growth” growing out of the vine of Christ our resurrected Lord.
May I suggest God’s holiness is at issue. The eternal qualities making up who God is separates us from Him. However, His love for us overcomes this separation so that we can be like Him in Him. It requires our heart, mind and our will as He provides the necessary grace to make it possible. He has reconciled us to make us one in Him through our regeneration. Our holiness is guaranteed and we can bring our body and soul into that same glorious unity through His resurrection life in us. His holiness will permeate our soul and flesh through submission to who we are in Him.
Just as God prepared Saul to be king, He continually provides grace to restore Him for useful purposes but Saul refused to live in God’s grace. His fruit was not holy, his fruit was not fruit at all. His branch was cut off and thrown into the fire.
As “tender new growth” we have been born again as a new creations in Christ. We have the opportunity to receive the organic divine life from our Holy Father through Jesus our redeemer. We died with Jesus on the cross so that His life might be our life, and the life we now live in the flesh we live by faith in Jesus who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Moses instructed the children of Israel: “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.” Peter put it like this: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.”