For the past several weeks, we have studied about King Saul's behavior and foolish choices found in 1 Samuel 13-14. In these chapters, you will see that self reliance, pride, and impatience would begin to control Saul's steps. Probably though, the most glaring testimony of his fall from being a godly king and a faithful servant of the Lord is recorded in 1 Samuel 15. There is no set time-line given as to when this took place during Saul's reign. Only that from the very beginning of the chapter, Saul is commanded by God, through the prophet Samuel, to completely destroy the Amalekites. Not a single person or livestock were to be kept alive. Because of their cruel and wicked treatment of the Israelites, during the days of Moses, God had declared that judgment would fall on the people of Amalek.
There were no spoils to be had in this battle, only that Saul would, “....claim everything they have for God by destroying it (1 Samuel 15:3 / GWT)” Upon hearing the Lord's command, Saul amassed an army of over 200,000 men and set an ambush for the Amalekites. He also alerted the Kenites, who dealt kindly towards Israel, warning them to flee the region so they wouldn't end up being killed alongside the Amalekites (Vs. 4-6). This was it. After his irreverent altar fiasco (1 Samuel 13), this was the opportunity to step back into God's favor once more.
Sadly, verse nine states, “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction (ESV).” Rather than simply heed to all that God commanded, he decided to carry out what he thought was a better way. Discard the undesirable and keep the seemingly profitable. The Jewish historian Josephus once stated that one of the reasons Saul preserved King Agag was to parade him around like a trophy!
Yet again, he allowed pride and presumption to deter him from following the will of God. Oh but how often do we also allow our own ignorance over God's truth and arrogance over our Christian walk to hinder us from truly growing in the Lord and fulfilling His will?! I remember when I was in Bible college I had developed this sort of rigid concept over what holiness was. For so long I heard different preachers shout that the KJV was the only true translation, wearing a tie was best for worship (Wednesday nights were debatable), and any Christian music apart from Southern Gospel was bordering the line of ungodliness. All of a sudden holiness could be reduced to regulative appearance, rather than heartfelt availability. Instead of solely looking unto Jesus in humbleness, I began sneering at others in self-confidence.
I also started looking at myself as a lighthouse rather than a rescue boat. Instead of faithfully witnessing to others, I tried to perfect the art of separating from the world. I am simply warning against using man made preferences to determine what is best in the Christian life. Look to Jesus! Follow Him in full obedience! Christianity is not a Try Harder Religion, it is a Trust Him Relationship! We do well to remember the call of Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil (KJV).”
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