Title: Saul and Saul (1 Samuel 28:7)
Contents If we look at the Bible, we can see that there are many people with the same name but different people. Saul is one of them. There is also Saul in the Old Testament.
These two are not the only things that are different from each other. Literally a contrasting figure. So, in this time, I want to compare these two people and think about important lessons.
Then, how are these two different from each other? First, there is a contrast in status. In the Old Testament, Saul was the first among the kings of Israel, and in the New Testament, Saul was the last among the apostles.
Next, a physical comparison. Saul of the Old Testament was tall and had a good face, so there was no one among the people who was more handsome than Saul. But what was the New Testament Saul like? He was small in stature, weak and incomplete.
He said he had thorns piercing his body, and his eyesight was not good. Most of the Bibles Paul wrote are great manuscripts. When writing by hand, you can see that it is written in large letters. Likewise, Saul in the Old Testament and Saul in the New Testament are physically in contrast. However, these comparisons are merely contrasting. It doesn't matter whether you are the first king or the last apostle, and it doesn't matter if you are strong or weak, in contrast.
Next is a comparison of the personalities of the two. Let's think about the comparison of character by dividing it into first and last.
What was the beginning of these two? Saul of the Old Testament was very humble at first. He tried to make him king, but there was no one there. I have to have a good meal, but no one is visible. People searched for it and finally found it, but he was hiding in the depths. In order not to be set up as a king, he only made him a king, but he was a great king by removing idols and carrying out reforms. Saul of the Old Testament did this for the first time.
But what about Saul of the New Testament? He was very proud. Saul also means great. He was at the forefront of the repression of Catholicism. He was a man who consented to the killing of Stephen but even stood as a witness.
Saul, who was still not angry, heard that there were believers in Damascus and went to get the permission of the high priest to grind his teeth. In this way, the first and the last of the two were contrasting.
Then, how was the end of these two? Saul of the Old Testament was good for a while after he was set up as king, but soon he started to fall more and more. I was so proud of myself that I didn't even know that I would be afraid of God.
As a king, he did an act of extravagance that was impossible for him to do. He waited for the prophet, but when he did not come, he performed the ritual. Also, in the war against Amalek, he disobeyed God's command and drove fat and fertile cattle and sheep, and even erected a monument to victory in which his name was revealed because he had won the war. Is that all? How many times did you search to kill innocent David? In this way, Saul of the Old Testament became more and more corrupt.
Then, what did Saul of the New Testament do? The Saul of the New Testament changed his name to Paul and became more and more humble. In 1 Corinthians, it is said that I am the least of the apostles, but in Ephesians, he says that I am the least of all the saints. He became more and more humble, and it was difficult to find traces of the character of the previous day. As 2 Corinthians said, we have become a whole new creation in Christ.
The two of them were so different in the end.
Next, let's compare what the two of them said at the end. In the Old Testament, Saul said that I will go and ask him where is the witch with a demon. Even if we fall, how can we fall so far? But what did Saul of the New Testament say when he went to the bottom? This time, of course, is Paul. I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith, so now the only remaining order is to go before the Lord and receive a reward.
The two are very contrasting.
Finally, let's compare the end of the two.
The Old Testament Saul committed suicide. Two sons were killed in battle, and Saul was seriously wounded. He asked his servants to stab me and kill me, but no one dared to stab the king, so he killed himself with his own sword.
But how did Saul of the New Testament end? He preached the gospel until the end, and he was gloriously sacrificed for martyrdom outside Rome. The two were very contrasting.
So, what is the lesson we learn from this? A person should be better at the beginning than the beginning, and decorate the end beautifully.
In general, at first, people seem to have good demeanor, sincerity, and faith, but as they go, they become corrupt and take a step backwards.
The traitor, Judas Iscariot, was also trusted at first and was in charge of the money transfer. The infamous Emperor Nero was not evil from the start.
Dear all. We have to decorate our entire life beautifully from the beginning to the end, and even if we made a mistake at the beginning, we should gradually improve and improve, decorate the end beautifully and put the end of our life right.
It is of course important to live right before God from a young age. But more importantly, we need to live a worthy life before God more and more. The first is important, but the last is more important.
Finally, you imitate Saul of the New Testament, you will improve and be renewed day by day. At the end, like the Saul of the New Testament, you will end up giving glory to God and blessing you in the name of the Lord. . Amen.