Saul’s Downfall

The downfall of Saul is something that many are familiar with. There were quite a few telltale signs now that we can look back on his life. First off, he looked the part to people, and he really had been anointed king, but where is he when the coronation is to happen, hiding by the baggage. Next, he’s offering sacrifices on his own instead of following God’s process. Samuel the priest was taking too long so Saul took matters into his own hands. Bad idea. Afterwards, he makes a foolish vow that leads to him attempting to kill his own son because of it.

In today’s focus, he’s been given the task of destroying the Amalekites as judgment for how they treated the people of Israel on the way to the promised land. This is the divine order from God:

This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” – 1 Samuel 15:2-3 NLT

Do you know what Saul does? He gets the first part right. He mobilizes the army, they warn a surrounding group that they’re coming to destroy all Amalekites, and they’re off. Then we read down a few verses and things turn:

Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. 1 Samuel 15:9 NLT

When Samuel arrives he can’t believe what’s happened. On a side note, I wonder if Saul tried to hide the spoils. See Samuel’s response:

“Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded. – 1 Samuel 15:14 NLT

Now isn’t a time for sarcasm, so I wonder if Saul really did try some underhanded cover up of this sinful mistake. What’s hard and sad, and even more so a reflection of us, is that Saul really didn’t get it. And we don’t either.

“But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” – 1 Samuel 15:20-21 NLT

In some way, he either actually thought he did what he was supposed to, or he’s so far gone that he would lie about doing the Lord’s work. This is bigger than making a mistake, far bigger than misunderstanding, this is blatant sin. Blatant disobedience to God’s work.

This leads to some of my favorite verses:

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” – 1 Samuel 15:22-23 NLT

In essence, the sin was in Saul’s doings of course, but the root of his sin was in his heart.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

We are so appearance driven. It’s hard not to be. We live in a society where everything essentially tells us we should be. Get the car. You’ll look good in it. It’s a status symbol. Buy the big house. Pack on the makeup. Buy the distracting outfit. It’ll complete the look. And we don’t do this with just our appearances and others’. We do it with situations.

The phrase “this looks bad” comes to mind. And sometimes, I’m not going to lie, it is bad. And sometimes, what looks good turns out to be pretty bad. And guess what? Sometimes what looks bad actually turns out to be good. And God can take what was bad and use it for His good. It rarely is what is looks like. It doesn’t have to look good to be good.

I’m not challenging us to be blind to what’s around us. I’m challenging us to be sensitive to Holy Spirit. I’m challenging us to pray for discernment. Because the more we expect what things look like to be what they are, the less in tune we are with reality. And most importantly the spiritual realities that we need.

I love this encounter with Samuel and God about David. Because God tells Samuel, that what mankind sees is so far removed from what He sees.

1 Samuel 16 ⁶ When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” ⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

If appearances are everything, we will miss the most important things.