ENDINGS. 1st Samuel 31
At the beginning of 1st Samuel, a woman is praying for a son who will return the nation to the Lord their God. The Lord answered her earnest, passionate prayer with Samuel coming into the world by divine sovereignty. As a small boy at the beginning of his life learns what faith is, he prays, "Speak, Lord, Thy servant heareth." What a contrast at the ending of this book where Saul the king, standing head and shoulders above the people, is cut down on the side of Mount Gilboa, falls on his own sword, and dies in disgrace. Samuel was dedicated to the Lord. Saul only considered himself.
A revival at the beginning of a work doesn't guarantee a victorious ending. It is possible that we will live to see a drift so far away from the truth, from God and His word, that we will not be able to survive the opposition that will arise against the people of God. Thankfully, the church will be gone before the Tribulation spreads its evil over the whole world that has rejected the authority of God. In a favored nation like ours, we may personally experience the rotten fruit of our own self-indulgence and self-will.
David's recovery from fellowship with God and Saul’s further steps away from God to apostasy close one era and open the door to another. David emerged from the darkness of fear, unbelief, and self-absorption into the light of God, again, speaking to him and working on his behalf to bring victory over the Amalekites. At the same time, Saul went into the moral darkness of communicating with the powers of hell, then into the personal darkness of paralyzing fear, then into the physical darkness of death when he lost the battle and took his own life, and then into the eternal darkness of one who does not know God, and even at the end of his life, does not call on God.
Saul’s decline started when he presumed his new position gave him the right to do what was forbidden. That resulted in him being foretold that the kingship of Israel was lost to his family. Then he made a foolish curse on those who would eat during a battle, and that curse fell on his son, Jonathan. In a further step away from God, he spared Agag and the best of what God hated the most and lost his kingdom. He lost any connection with God, so he got no answer when he prayed. He consulted with a witch a step further down, and his doom was predicted. As the last downward step, Saul took his own life, ending his reign as well as his life.
In self-will, disobedience has a claim on us that binds us and blinds us to the light of truth. When we are yielded to God's will, even if we have been away from Him for a while because of a lack of faith, the light and freedom to serve our Lord becomes a joy that gives meaning and purpose to all we do. One who is big in their own eyes is very small and insignificant in the eyes of God. Such a person cannot be trusted with anything of value nor be given spiritual work to accomplish. Giving orders to others and looking good on the outside may create a certain amount of fearful obedience in people. But when that is the case, respect and allegiance will be superficial and temporary or perhaps missing, and the outcome of such directions will bring disaster.
When there is moral decay within, it will not be long before the effects will be seen outwardly. In contrast with Saul, David knew God and had encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Disobedience to God brought a tragic end to Saul, Jonathan, and his brothers, as well as the retinue of those around Saul. David, who, by faith, overcame his failure, had power with God and with men. Suppose a person has the right relationship with the Lord and lives in fellowship with Him. In that case, that strength of character and life will produce respect, honor, and allegiance that can be counted upon even in the battles of life and service.
It was a sad scene on Mount Gilboa, where Gideon defeated the Midianites with three hundred men, and Saul's last battle was the place of his death. Israelite bodies lay on the ground, among which were three of Saul's sons. Poor Jonathan's feet would not follow his heart to follow David. If we could look up that hill, we would have seen the tall king struck by an enemy arrow, looking over the battlefield to which his path of disobedience had led. Rather than suffer torture like Samson at the hands of the Philistines, Saul fell on his own sword and died after one last look. What sorrow he must have felt!! What regret!! How much more the sadness when there was no evidence of repentance - only guilt! Guilt is real and valuable when it leads us to repentance toward God. Without that, to die with a sense of guilt in the soul must be terrible.
Saul died without saying anything about God or calling on His name. At death, we have to face what we are before Him. Saul's actions and attitude had a disastrous effect on many others. Those who did not die there fled the area, and the Philistines took their cities and moved in. Instead of leading the people of Israel to overthrow them, they overthrew him and took the land and cities that belonged to Israel. Saul, the man of the flesh who the Israelis thought would be their ideal king, turned out to be a self-centered man of the world. The people found out that having a king like other nations and doing things in the way of the world did not solve their problems, nor did it bring happiness and peace.
If we allow evil and compromise to continue in our lives, they will become so much a part of us that they will control us. No matter how attractive the social world may seem to a child of God, it will never satisfy us. No matter how appealing the religious world may seem, that will not bring peace to the heart and mind of one who belongs to the kingdom of God. No matter how much attraction the world's politics holds for us, a genuine, Christ-exalting Christian realizes the world is getting worse, and the best thing we can do to be help is to "pray for the powers that be that are ordained of God." "The mighty were fallen" that day, but amidst the darkness that settled over the nation because Saul was dead, one believer had been away from God and had returned in faith to the Lord. A glimmer of light from David shone around the nation's far edges when he returned the lost property to the people of Judah and other cities.
Those whom the Lord puts in places of authority must rule in a godly way with patience, grace, and wisdom, using the value of their experience to teach truth and the practice of righteousness. Unless those who rule are guided by God, weakness, disunity, and defeat will come to an assembly of God’s people. Those who submit to godly leaders will likely become like those who lead them.
The life of faith begins with a consciousness of God in us and then spreads to an awareness of God among His people. Each passing day gives us opportunities to build upon the strength of the day before. Constant, daily obedience and consistent faith provide a basis on which faith can be demonstrated a little here and there. When put together with the lives of others of God's people, like candles of light all over the world, their testimony shows the path of life that leads to God. When the last "Philistine" has been dealt with, our "David" will sit upon David's throne and bring peace and light that will shine all over the earth.
WE LEARN FROM THE LIFE OF Saul that we are not expected to carry out an order that is wrong, nor should we take matters into our own hands when in a dilemma. A desire for God’s will and obedience to do it when made plain to us will build a strong character and a defense against temptation and evil. It is important that we be consistent in our lives of faith even when people all around us turn to the pleasure of the world, the deceitfulness of the flesh, and the enticements of the devil.
The ending will be successful, even as was the beginning. In these interim times, God's people must lead consistent lives "in all godliness and honesty." Failing people may darken the glory that should have been, but our God will ultimately give the final victory. He is a faithful God who intends us to be faithful to Him and "His dear cause."
Saul started out with a humble heart even though he stood physically high above others in his apparent dignity. He was the man God chose in his youth, and he began to lead carefully, although he was naturally strong. Trusting God to use him mightily, he began his leadership by fearing God in truth. Sadly, it wasn’t many years later that temptation grew strong because he was “the leader” and thought he could do no wrong.
Instead of obeying the commands and guidance written in the scriptures, he thought he’d sacrifice like a priest. He didn’t pay attention to what he would have been taught but chose to do things his own way. As a result, God had nothing to say to His people through Saul because to disobey God is the end of a useful life. Now, deep in his spirit was darkness, not light, and the future got darker where once it was bright with hope.
Saul, the first king of Israel, made terrible choices based on his own opinion of himself. His disobedience affected others, the nation, and his sons, who died following him until his reign was done. That is the result of ignoring God’s word. It is very unwise when God gives us the privilege of working for Him to in any way seek to fulfill His commission in our own way or the energy of the flesh. God is serious about what He wants us to do. Never let it be said, “The work went to his head;” others are following us and we must be wise for we lead them and they take their direction from us.
We have influence, and some may follow our lead, so we must be careful and considerate in what we allow ourselves to do. Others are watching and learning from us daily what we believe is important. Step out in faith, and make it known that in God you trust. If some people drop out, by the way, stay faithful; you must be faithful to the Lord or have fateful consequences to pay.