A Tale of Two Kings part five

In verse 44 (of 1 Samuel 14) we do in fact see Saul curse his own son, the one God used to deliver the people, with death. He also does this later with David (tries to kill him, the one God used to defeat Goliath). Some pastors and leaders do this today. When someone from their own church becomes more anointed and successful than they are, is accomplishing more, they will try to “kill them” by cursing them, renouncing them before the people, or by giving them tasks meant to destroy their zeal and faith. When Saul later tells David he’ll give him his daughter for 100 Philistine foreskins, it’s because he’s hoping David will die in the attempt. David had already earned his daughters hand in marriage by defeating Goliath but we see that Saul isn’t honest and upright in his dealings with David and neither are pastors who become jealous or envious of people in their midst.
Notice that through all of this God is using Saul’s enemies to expose the folly of his heart and he’ll do this to us also. The battles we fight will show outwardly what is in us inwardly. If Christ is ruling and reigning in our hearts this will show when we face adversity. We will defeat our enemies (lust, greed, pride, anger) every time if we are submitted to Jesus. If not, we’ll end up like Saul – defeated.
In chapter fifteen, Saul’s fate is sealed. Though God has said to Saul “thy kingdom shall not continue”, he still sends his prophet to give him instruction. God is still dealing with him for the sake of his people. God will still deal with denominational, religious churches, though they are in rebellion to him, out of love for the people. If this message finds it’s way into the hands of anyone in bondage to Religion, than that is a sign of God’s mercy on them. In verse three, God commands Saul to “go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass”, but we see Saul’s wickedness in again disobeying God’s command in verses nine. Verse eleven echoes Gen:6:6, but as we see that God has repented of his call on disobedient, rebellious pastors and churches, like Samuel, we should grieve over them before God. We should never rejoice to see our brethren fall.
We see the depth’s of Saul’s deception in verse 13 – “And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord”. Those in bondage to the religious spirit of Babylon really believe they are pleasing to God and are in obedience to Him as they go about their traditions and rituals that have a form of godliness but deny his power in their midst. In verse 15, Saul tries to shift blame to the people, saying they have brought the animals and he tries to placate Samuel “to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God” – this is religion in a nutshell. It’s ok to disobey God as long as you throw Him a bone, as long as you do something in His name, like a sacrifice, or how about Vacation Bible School, or a street outreach, etc.?
Verse 17 shows us the truth that God exalts the humble and as we’ll shortly see, He abases the proud. In verse 20, Saul still cannot see his own wickedness, he still believes he’s ok with God! God uses his prophet to expose Saul’s true heart condition and He still does this today (and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets Eph:2:20), which is why apostles and prophets are not so well loved (2 Cor:12:15) and are usually stoned (today, with words).
Again, in verse 21, Saul again blames the people but he was the one in charge, he was the one responsible for their actions. They did it with his consent. Verse 22 is famous as is verse 23 and they provide a very serious truth for us today for God is even now speaking by His Spirit through me and saying to many pastors today “he hath rejected thee from being king”. In verse 24, Saul finally repents but it’s too late. In a moment of clarity, he sees the truth – “I feared the people and obeyed their voice”. This is a dire warning to all who are in leadership today – follow the apostle’s example and say (Acts 5:29) “we ought to obey God rather then men”. Saint, don’t you submit to anyone who cares for man’s honor and acceptance more then they do God’s, whose faith in man and not God. This is why Paul was careful to point out that “my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”.