One of the most sobering lessons on the destructive power of stubbornness, disobedience and the deadliness of rebellion s seen in God’s account of the Personal Shipwreck of the Life of King Saul. There are fifteen glaring warning lights blinking of impending disaster in the life of King Saul. As we read the 15 chapters that chronicle his rise and fall, there is a sobering lesson for each of us to glean.
Thoughtfully ask yourself whether as a man you are following this deadly course, or as a young person if you are starting this slide, or as a woman or young lady if these areas are neglected. For anyone these warnings unheeded spell infinite doom!
Saul lived a life of ignoring the warnings of departure from God’s Way! What were those signs? Here they are with the locations from God’s Word.
1. Saul’s pathway of rebellion started with IMPATIENCE with God’s plan. This can be:
o Impatience with God’s timing for us getting a job,
o Impatience with God’s timing for us getting married,
o Impatience with God’s timing for us having children,
o Impatience with God’s timing for us dealing with sexual desires,
o Impatience with God’s timing for us dealing with wealth and security, or any of many temptations we face. Saul was seeking the approval of man before he sought the approval of God. 1 Samuel 13:8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.
2. Saul’s pathway of rebellion involved NEGLECTING to provide for those entrusted to your care. In the New Testament such a one is worse than an infidel. Saul had made sure he had what he needed to defend himself, but not that those he cared for were armed for the battle. 1 Samuel 13:22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
3. Saul’s pathway of rebellion involved LAZY INDIFFERENCE. Saul was unaware of his son, the battle, and even the victory. He missed it all. 1 Samuel 14:2-3 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4. Saul’s pathway of rebellion involved RASH WORDS. Saul spoke with no thought of what the implications were to his family or nation. 1 Samuel 14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.
5. Saul’s pathway of rebellion involved INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE. Saul used selective, self-serving obedience in place of total and God-honoring obedience. 1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. Saul’s pathway of rebellion involved NOT CULTIVATING PERSONAL WORSHIP. There was no seeking of God on a personal level or worship offered to God from Saul’s heart to Saul’s God! 1 Samuel 15:30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”