Skip to main content

Saul's Slippery Slope: Part 4

Saul was not always that jealously vicious king children often hear about in Sunday school. At one time, he was humble, perceptive, and bold. Yet, because he made a foolish and hasty decision to offer an unlawful sacrifice to the Lord, Samuel prophesied that Saul would ultimately lose his throne to another (1 Samuel 13). Many conjectures may be made over what went on in Saul's mind once he realized the gravity of his brash decision, but the fact is that instead of fully repenting over his sin, he let the wound fester by allowing doubt and bitterness lodge in his heart. After Samuel's rebuke, Saul camped out in Gibeah with only six hundred men. They were a ragtag team with little weapons and dampened spirits. It is not known whether Saul was planning an attack, standing his ground, or simply hiding from the Philistines. What is certain is that his son, Jonathan, would manifest heroic bravery and unflinching faith.
In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan chooses to fight instead of sit idly by simply hoping for mercy or a miracle. He said to his armor-bearer, "Let's go to the military post of these uncircumcised people. Maybe the LORD will act on our behalf. The LORD can win a victory with a few men as well as with many (Vs. 6 / GWT)." While everyone else was hiding, Jonathan stepped out in faith and trusted that God could give him the victory. Such courage and confidence would later be shown through the life of David as well. After Jonathan boldly killed over twenty Philistines from the garrison, an earthquake shook the ground and caused mass confusion in the Philistine camp. Some fled for their lives while others started fighting against their fellow men! Eventually Saul noticed the ensuing chaos and led his army into the fray. Even the Hebrews that had once joined themselves with the Philistine military, abandoned them and fought with Saul's army. Indeed, God delivered Israel that day, but I can't help wonder, what would have happened if Jonathan did nothing?
Saul should have been the one to commit the battle to the Lord while leading his army against the Philistines. Instead, he was entrenched on the outskirts of Gibeah watching and uneasily waiting. It is one thing to wait on the Lord and another entirely to remain idle with fear. Hastiness towards holy things became one pitfall for Saul, but now slothfulness towards the battlefield would prove to be another. In the final instructions Paul gave to the Corinthian believers, he declared, “Be alert. Be firm in the Christian faith. Be courageous and strong (1 Corinthians 16:13 / GWT).” God's ways are marvelous, but sometimes for us to recognize, experience, and rejoice in them, we must step out of complacency and “...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10 / KJV)” Would Jonathan have ever saw the mighty earthquake blast forth, if had not trusted in God? Would Peter have ever had the chance to walk on water, if he had not first stepped out of the boat to be with Christ? What is keeping you back from fighting the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12)?

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Star Light

I remember, when I was a child, my brother and I wanted to camp out in our front yard. We even talked our friends into joining us. We begged our parents to let us sleep out under the stars without a tent, because it would not rain that evening. It was somewhat foolish, but we were not thinking about the insects, strong winds, or even the morning dew. We just thought it would be fun to sleep outside. I think we lasted a solid hour in the dark, but once the cold wind blew and the mosquitoes landed, our imagination dissipated and we ran back indoors. Though we didn't stay out long, I do remember the stars that night. They were unusually bright and seemed to crowd the sky more than any other night. I don't think I will ever “grow out of” being in awe over the beauty of stars. I don't believe King David did either. He wrote in Psalms 19, “ The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky displays what his hands have made. One day tells a story to the next. One night shar...
Post a Comment
Read more

Madam Darkshade continued

My most despicable Marah, The abyss of my heart has grown beyond measure! Everything your sister has told me about your efforts - how undeniably successful they are - is just another reminder as to why I always saw myself in you. So, that foolish grungy has finally declared himself as bishop. Naturally, during their meeting, there was tremendous conflict and a choosing of sides. Classic. It reminds me of the struggle at Corinth, when so many fought over who was on Paul's side and who was on Apollos' side. Of course, you are much too young to know what I am referring to! Now, I must remind you that there is still much work to be done. Divide and conquer. The ecclessia is split, therefore, waste no time instilling pride and hatred. I know you are enticing our self exalted puppet to start his own assembly, which is good, but before he does, through slander and lies, he must cripple those who withstood him. Make him feel betrayed. As if he were a great captain who ...
1 comment
Read more

The Devil Wears a Tie (Continued)

Of all the ways the devil will tempt a person, catering to one's vanity is his favorite means to get them to fall. After all, before the inception of time, he also succumbed to pride. He believed he had an inward right to the heavenly throne, and through promulgating the potential of self exaltation to other angelic beings, he led a massive insurrection against the Almighty. There was absolutely no chance of a “successful rebellion”, but reason often dissipates when one is steeped in prideful bitterness. Simply put, the devil began to hate God, for being, God. This attitude of entitlement parades itself in every heart. We may be able to mask it for a while, but given enough hardships and displeasure, we often become the corrupted clay, vilifying the ways of God and distrusting the commands of His word (Isaiah 29:16). The apostle Paul's warning to believers at Ephesus was,  “Don't give the devil any opportunity to work  (Ephesians 4:27).” Yet, in the garden of Eden, we ...
Post a Comment
Read more