293. SAUL'S FAILURE
"To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams"
The early part of Saul's reign was full of promise. So long as he was humble and placed his confidence in the strength of Yahweh, success followed. One of Saul's first tasks was to subdue the Ammonites who were threatening the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead (1 Sam. 11:1). His leader ship in overcoming the Ammonites was encouraging, but the most im pressive aspect of his victory was that he gave God the praise as the one who had really obtained victory for Israel "... today Yahweh hath wrought salvation for Israel" (v. 13). It seemed as though the people's desire for better leadership was to be realized in Saul. But the story of his decline and ultimate rejection as King is one of the most tragic recorded in Scripture.
Our aim in this lesson is to outline the reasons for Saul's rejection and to understand the principles of Divine acceptance.
1 Samuel 13 & 15
THE PHILISTINES THREATEN ISRAEL (1 Sam. 13:1-7).
We read in 1 Sam. 7:13 that "the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel". It was in the early part of Saul's reign that they began to make inroads into the territory of Israel again. It ap pears as though God allowed this to happen in order that the faith of Saul might be tested. In the third year of Saul's reign, his son Jonathan deter mined to do something about the Philistine problem. He courageously smote their garrison at Geba which was about 15 kilometres north of Jerusalem. Saul, naturally elated over this success, published the news of this victory far and wide amongst the people (vv. 1-4).
The subduing of the garrison was the signal for more concerted attacks on the Philistines, and so all the people were called together at Gilgal to plan the future moves.
But the Israelites were not the only ones preparing for battle, for the Philistines, smarting under the defeat at Geba, were also busy organizing themselves for war (v. 5). They amassed a mighty force including many chariots and stationed themselves at Michmash which was about 25 kilometres west of Gilgal.
This in itself challenged the faith of Saul, and when it was accom panied by the fear of his own people, he failed. Instead of putting trust in Yahweh the people were thrown into complete disarray. Some hid themselves in caves and thickets, others in the rocks and inaccessible places, whilst still others fled over the river Jordan to the land of Gilead. We can imagine what sort of an effect this would have had on Saul, and the record very poignantly states, "As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling" (v. 7).
SAUL'S TEST OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE (1 Sam. 13:8).
Here was a great test of faith for Saul. He had been commanded to wait in Gilgal for seven days until Samuel arrived to offer the burnt and peace offerings to God, before launching an attack on the Philistines. But the situation surrounding Saul was far from encouraging. A fierce army was just 25 kilometres away to the west and he had a fearful and trembling people on every side.
What would you have done under these circumstances? We know what Saul did, but let us remember that these incidents were recorded for our learning and admonition. There will be times in our lives when we, too, will be placed in circumstances demanding the utmost faith. Remember God never tests us above that which we are able to bear.
Placed in this unenviable position, Saul should have called to mind the encouraging words of Samuel spoken to him when he was anointed as King: "Do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee" (1 Sam. 10:7). And had not God been with him? Saul had acknowledged this when he mightily destroyed the Ammonites not so long before (1 Sam. 11:13). And had not God promised so many years before through the mouth of Moses, "Ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: And your enemies shall fall before you by the sword" (Lev. 26:7-8)?
Had Saul meditated upon these matters, the problems could have been overcome. But instead he failed through lack of faith.
SAUL'S DISOBEDIENCE AND REJECTION AS KING (1 Sam. 13:9-22).
As each of the seven days went by, Saul became more and more afraid of his position. Finally when the seventh day had almost ended and Samuel had not appeared, he decided in desperation to offer the burnt and peace offerings himself. He assumed that God would overlook this departure from the appointed way of worship. This was a very foolish ac tion. He should have known that only those appointed by God could of fer sacrifices and that any other method was useless. Later in Israel's history, another king, Uzziah, disregarded God's law and offered in cense. For this he was smitten in the forehead with leprosy (2 Chron. 26:16-21). This is Yahweh's estimation of such presumption.
Saul had no sooner finished offering than, alas, Samuel arrived on the scene and enquired as to what had been done. In his reply Saul freely ad mitted that he had offered sacrifices because he was afraid. He was little prepared for the harsh words or rebuke that followed. In his mind he thought that although he had broken a command, Samuel needed only to forgive the wrong and all would be well.
But the reply from Samuel is a revelation as to how Yahweh looks upon disobedience to His commands: "Thou has done foolishly", and as a consequence, his kingdom would not "be established" (Roth). Though not specifically rejected himself as yet (cp. 1 Sam. 15:26), succession of his seed upon the throne was. God was seeking for a "man after his own heart", for upon the heart He looks and not the stature (1 Sam. 13:13-14; 16:7; Psa. 89:20).
We can visualize the tragic scene as Samuel turned his back on Saul and returned to Gibeah, leaving the dejected king with a small number of disillusioned followers.
Saul could have achieved a great victory over the Philistines had he obeyed, but instead Israel was humbled before the Philistines who en croached upon their territory (vv. 17-22).
SAUL AND THE AMALEKITES € AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REPENTANCE (1 Sam. 15:1-3).
A further test of Saul's faith was soon to arise. The opportunity came for him to show that he had learnt a lesson at Gilgal. From the position of weakness, Saul had risen again and had carried out some crushing defeats on the surrounding nations (1 Sam. 14). Then Samuel came to him with instructions concerning the Amalekites (vv. 1-3). It is important to note Samuel's opening words to Saul, "Now therefore hearken...".
The instructions were very clear. He was to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all that they had € "man and woman, infant and suck ling, ox and sheep, camel and ass."
No doubt could arise as to the extent of destruction to be carried out. Moreover, implicit in Samuel's words was the fact that continuation of his kingship depended on his obedience (v. 1).
There was a reason for this destruction which at first glance appears very severe. The Amalekites were the first nation to attack the children of Israel after they left Egypt, and thus frustrated their walk towards the promised land (Num. 24:20). With Yahweh's strength, Joshua overcame them and, after the victory, God commanded Moses to write as a memorial in a book that He "will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven" (Ex. 17:14).
Later, at the end of forty years wandering, Moses recounted this incident and reminded the people how this cowardly nation smote the weak and feeble of the children of Israel who had fallen behind the rest (Deut. 25:17-18). He then repeated God's intention to utterly destroy this nation. The Amalekites became a fitting symbol of Sin, against which we "war" continually as we walk to the promised land.
SAUL TREATS LIGHTLY THE DIVINE COMMAND (1 Sam. 15:4-9).
Had Saul appreciated God's estimation of the Amalekites, he would have carried out the command to the letter. But from this incident, as at Gilgal, we come to understand how Saul thought and acted. He was not a spiritually-minded man and he lacked appreciation of divine principles. He thought that God would be satisfied with something less than He had specified and would overlook "minor" details. And so alas, what do we find? Instead of utterly destroying everything as commanded, he spared Agag and the best of the animals, stating that he intended to sacrifice them to God at a later stage. Here was an excellent motive, so he reason ed, even if he had not done exactly what God had told him. How could God be displeased with him?
But Saul had utterly missed the point of the whole instruction. No mat ter how good his intentions may have been, they were worthless and useless if that which had been commanded was not carried out.
TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE (1 Sam. 15:10-26).
God who searches the thoughts and intents of the heart saw all that had been done... and not done. On being informed, Samuel, who no doubt hoped that Saul would have shown a different attitude, was extremely grieved and cried unto Yahweh all night (v. 11).
The next day he went down to Saul at Gilgal, weary of heart. Saul ap proached him in all confidence, elated by his triumph, and said to Samuel, "Blessed be thou of Yahweh; I have performed the command ment of Yahweh" (V. 13).
But Samuel was not impressed by such a display of "righteousness". With a touch of irony he replied, "What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" (v. 14). The voices of the animals testified against Saul, declaring he had not kept God's commandment.
Saul protested that he had a reason for keeping the animals, but it was to no avail. The command was simple, he had broken it and thus nothing but denunciation could follow (vv. 17-19). Samuel reminded him that when he was little in his own eyes, God had made him king. Surely then the least he could do was to obey God's commands. Saul made one fur ther attempt to justify his action. He claimed that he had in fact "obeyed the voice of Yahweh", but the people had spared some of the animals "to sacrifice unto Yahweh thy God". Such self-justification may have been effective before fellowman, but it was inadequate before God's ap pointed representative, Samuel.
In Samuel's words of rebuke that follow, the relative value of sacrifice and obedience is crystallized for the first time. The very essence of sacrifice is obedience. Samuel said, "Hath Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
Many sacrifice, but few hear the Word and obey € which is more im portant than any "good" motive. The religious world, in its efforts to please the people, has discarded the Word of God, like Saul. No longer, in many sects, is belief of the gospel and baptism taught as essential for salvation. Instead they believe that good works will merit salvation and find acceptance in God's sight.
The basis of Saul's sin was faithlessness € he was more conscious of the people than God and acted accordingly (cp. 1 Chron. 10:13-14). Notice how the following passages of scripture, all written at a later time, show obedience to be more important than sacrifice (Ps. 40:6-8; 50:8-9; 51:15-17; Prov. 15:8; Ecc. 5:1 and Jer. 7:22-23). In order to emphasize the magnitude of Saul's sin before his spiritually-dull perception, Samuel went on to equate rebellion with witchcraft, and stubbornness with ini quity and idolatry. Just how true is that equation was seen in the last events of Saul's life when his faithlessness actually led him to witchcraft (1 Sam. 28). Previously his seed had been rejected from succeeding upon his throne, now he himself was "rejected from being king."
LESSONS FOR US:
€ Saul did not think that his sin was as great as it was. It does us well to seriously contemplate our own actions before the eyes of Him who sees all.
€ None would consider themselves guilty of idolatry and witchcraft, yet in our everyday life our thoughts and actions can amount to these.
€ Saul was disobedient because he would not humbly accept the instruc tion of God's Word, but followed his own feelings and reasoning € never a wise course.
€ Today we live in a society where obedience and respect for authority is scoffed at by many and there is a danger that such a careless attitude might "rub off" onto us.
€ Our heavenly Father is merciful and forgiving, but on the other hand "will by no means clear the guilty", as Saul found out to his sorrow.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Man David" (H. Tennant) € Pages 15-18
"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 23
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
€ How was Saul put to the test at Gilgal and how did he fail?
€ Why did God appoint the Amalekites to utter destruction?
€ Outline Samuel's conversation with Saul when he returned from the destruction of the Amalekites.
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. "Obedience is better than sacrifice". Explain this statement and give examples from the life of Saul.
2. Why was Saul rejected from being king?
3. What lessons can we gain from the failures in Saul's life?