1 Samuel 11 – 15
Saul never seemed to accept the title of king as we see in verse 11:5 where he is working the fields:
Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh.
When you think of a king or a president the last image most get is plowing a field. We imagine them in a more prominent position. This is partially because Saul never really accepted the anointing of king. When he was presented to the people they found him hiding in the luggage and not accepting the responsibility.
Now one could argue that Jesus is King and one of his last acts was washing his disciple’s feet. He was never a proud man who assumed a throne to rule, he worked with the people and not above the people. Now where an earthly king needs to assume a role of leader, God does not. He is above all and there is no questioning that, so what he desires is a one on one relationship. Unlike a king who could never talk with all his subjects, God can interact with all of us at the same time. Not that is awesome when you think about it.
Verse 12:20 has Samuel giving the people some important insight:
And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
Jesus said the greatest commandment is love the Lord with all your heart. To love the Lord is to serve Him with all your heart. How many of us decide to “love” God and do nothing in service? I know more often than not I am guilty of this! See Samuel knows if we love God and serve Him, our attentions will remain on Him and not the world.
One side story in chapter 14 is Jonathan eating honey while Saul made a vow for the people to eat nothing:
Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey.
Granted this is Saul making a vow, but isn’t it interesting how this sounds similar to the story of Adam and Eve? Granted one is God’s rule and the other is Saul’s, both had a similar result. Sorry for the tangent but found that interesting.
Saul’s anointing ends in chapter 15 where he battles the Amalekites, yet does not destroy everything as God commanded. This caused the “riff” between him and God, thus removing his anointing of king. In verses 15:22 & 23 the Lord lays out His problem with Saul:
22 And Samuel said,
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has also rejected you from being king.”
Sometimes the Lord wants obedience before the rituals of being Godly. Saul did what he thought would be good in the eyes of the Lord, and failed before the Lord for not obeying his orders. As we mature the idea to “think for yourself” becomes important. The last thing you need is your parent’s guidance in your 50’s! So thinking on your own is important, but at the same time we need to know when to listen and when to think. In this case Saul needed to listen, yet his “thinking” cost him his anointing as king.
Know when you need to think on your own and when God’s command needs to be obeyed. Technically as a Christian you don’t need to obey any of the Law, you are forgiven. But if you kill a man, you will pay the consequences. If you lie, they will eventually come back and bite you. If you eat pork, you will not be feeding your body with the best food available. Although eating pork is not a sin, you see there are consequences in going outside God’s Law. Saul’s was losing his position as king. What will your loss be? Think about that next time you decide to drift.