King Saul blows it again!

Why did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but [instead] swooped down on the plunder [with shouts of victory] and did evil in the sight of the Lord ?” Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things [that were] to be totally destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”
1 Samuel 15:19-21 

We see in chapter 13, King Saul took authority upon himself crossing the line to sacrifice burnt and peace offerings due to his fear and what he saw occurring within his physical circumstances during the battle against the Philistines.

Now we see in chapter 15, King Saul disobeys God’s instructions due to his pride and for the approval of men. He was told to totally destroy the Amalekite nation including all people and animals. Yet, he responds with a very familiar excuse in which many Christians still use today.
“I did obey.”

It is like a Christian saying that they had fulfilled their calling or duty. They did get many saved. They did become a pastor, minister, deacon, worship singer, and such. They did go to church. They did pray, read, and so forth. They did fast! Yet, within that context, the reality is they did not do exactly as God had instructed. They spend much of their lives in ministry or church but still like King Saul, lived a sad unfulfilled life.

Their definition of obedience is that they had obeyed because they did act upon it and performed a majority of the instructions. But this type of obedience is considered disobedience. As a result, King Saul was told since he had rejected God’s instruction now he was rejected as king. His mission as king had ended.

Although, King Saul was told the Kingdom was taken away from him, he reigned for 40 years overall. Through his life and even though God gave him victory for the sake of God’s people and for God’s glory, King Saul lived a life full of jealousy, bitterness, fear of losing approval from men, and fear of losing his position and authority. He went after David’s life which today can represent carnal or disobedient Christians going after spiritual Christians.

Many Christians can live a life thinking they had worked for God as God works in their lives. But what are your fruit? Are you disobeying and feeding your idols like King Saul or are you like King David after God’s heart? There are not many who are like David after God’s Heart. How determined really are you?

In the end, King Saul fell on his own sword and killed himself during battle. God had taken his life.

King Saul blows it!

Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for [if you had obeyed] the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man (David) after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as leader and ruler over His people, because you have not kept (obeyed) what the Lord commanded you.”
1 Samuel 13:13-14 

It appears this BIG test came at the beginning for Saul. When Saul was anointed, he was told by Samuel to wait for him at Gilgal so that Samuel can make the burnt and peace offerings.
But with soldiers scattering and out of fear, Saul forced authority upon himself. He stepped out of boundary. He had crossed the line.

The pouring of the anointing oil on Saul can represent the calling. The calling is given to him. Right afterwards, Saul was given a big victory against the Ammonites in chapter 11. This represents a taste in power and anointing.

This pattern is very familiar. Many Christians can receive a calling or anointing and immediately possess and express power to heal, cast demons out, experience supernatural events. Although power was given, authority still had belonged to Samuel. Prophet or priest Samuel possessed the authority to offer burnt and peace offerings unto the Lord. King Saul had his role and Samuel had his part.
The Bible says that from Abraham many kings will come from his descendants. But even King Saul was under covering and authority of Samuel. Within the church, There are many “kings and queens” of God operating but they all still need to be under covering, authority, and church order.

Saul blew his test. Rather than submitting to Samuel’s instruction, out of fear from the circumstances, he took authority upon himself to obtain God’s favor. As a result, he was rejected and replaced. Sadly, this is the norm within mainstream Christianity as many do not understand authority and order.
Even in all the churches, people may try to seek opportunities to take authority and position by forcing it upon themselves when they do not have that privilege or authority. When you see God keep taking you to the back of the line, I hope you see the wisdom.

Pastor Steve