A Revoked Leadership

The people of Israel didn’t want a man of God to rule over them. Instead, they wanted to be like the other nations and have a king rule. Samuel was instructed by God to give the people what they wanted, even though doing so would bring them to ruin. Saul was selected to be the first king of Israel; and by the account of Scripture, he was a humble man.

Before he was king, Saul was a dutiful and loving son who obeyed his father in seeking out their lost donkeys. When it took him longer than expected to find the donkeys, he was concerned that his father would worry about him. His journey led him to Samuel; and his response to the suggestion of being king was, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?” (1 Samuel 9:21)

Because of his humility, God gave him a different heart and he prophesied with the prophets (1 Samuel 10:9-11). On the day when he was to be hailed as the king, Saul hid himself among the baggage (1 Samuel 10:22)! Yet after a short time of being king, Saul’s heart became disobedient towards God’s instructions; and the Lord rejected him as king (1 Samuel 13, 15).

How did someone start off so well and end up so tragic? It all begins and ends with our desire to obey God more than offering up our sacrifices. It’s about pleasing the Lord more than pleasing ourselves or other people. We are all vulnerable to falling into Saul’s sin if we refuse to humble ourselves before the Lord.

Prayer

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I refused to obey Your Word. I pray that You will instill in my heart a desire to please You above all else. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In His Service,

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