Title: Saul, Why Are You Like This?
Contents
Saul, why are you like this?
(1 Samuel 15:14-23)
“Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to listen is better than the fat of rams, for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as the sin of bowing down to idols” (verses 22-23).
The world is buzzing with the supreme faction right now. Why is the world like this today? Why do people do this?
Saul, the son of Kish, became the first king of Israel by the grace of God, but he forsaken God's favor and behaved according to his own will, causing difficulties not only for his personal life, but also for his children and all his people.
In a way, there were many times when we too were like Saul. In order to use Saul as our mirror and turn rightly before God, I hope that you take the following steps carefully.
1. Get rid of Amalek.
Amalek is the son of Eliphaz the son of Esau and Timnah his concubine (Gen 36:12; 1 Chronicles 1:36). Amalek is a nomadic nomadic people who live in the land of Edom centered on Mount Seir and wander through the desolate wastelands to the Sinai Peninsula and inland Arabia. (1 Samuel 15:7), and nowhere in the Bible does he have a friendly relationship with the Israelites.
Around 2000 B.C., he was active from Shechem in Judah near Beersheba (Genesis 14:7), and he was the chief among the nations (Numbers 24:20). The spies also reported that Amalek was a powerful heathen (Numbers 13:29), and his course was changed from north to south. (Numbers 14:25) In the period of the judges, they acted as mercenaries with the Moabites, so they were always like thorns in their eyes.
After Saul became king, the first task was to destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:5). So they captured King Agag and killed him. However, the rest of the party took Ahinoam and Abigail away (30: 1-2) and decided to find them again (30: 17-18). Eventually, Saul was killed by the Amalekites (2 Samuel 4:10).
Then, Amalek refers to the blood that is wriggling in our hearts today. Amalek is a symbol of fornication and a symbol of the fallen devil. We must kill and destroy this Amalek. Otherwise, I will be caught and killed. Amalek in my heart! Amalek hiding in our home! Amalek is definitely lurking in our workplace! We must boldly eradicate the Amalekites who have invaded and occupied all levels of society.
Shall we all follow along? "Let's drive out Amalek!" "Let's get rid of Amalek!" "Let's banish the Amalekites!" "Let's kill Amalek." That's right. We must get rid of all the spirit, stubbornness, and pride like this Amalek that we have in us.
2. Remove the monument.
After a great victory in the war against Amalek, Saul built a victory monument in Carmel to commemorate his victory.
Saul thought that his tactical strategy was excellent and his valor was the result of his victory.
From the standpoint of the same king, Saul's successor David said, "Though an army is encamped against me, my heart is not afraid; though wars arise against me, I will rather be at peace" (Psalm 27:3), David's successor Solomon said, "The Lord Unless you guard the city, the watchman's watch is in vain" (Psalm 127:1). Because the LORD is my light, my salvation, my shield, and my stronghold.
David and Solomon put victory in battle with God's help, but Saul regarded it as his own merit. This is the result of the prevailing arrogant humanistic ideas.
According to 1 Samuel 7:12, during the time of the judges, Samuel was attacked by the Philistines when he was ruling the kingdom. A monument to victory was erected and sacrifices were offered.
If it was God's grace that Saul won the battle with Amarek, he would have been right a thousand times and ten thousand times if he should have offered a sacrifice instead of a monument.
God is still looking for the humble. We must boldly reject the thoughts of the Tower of Babel that try to become arrogant moment by moment in our hearts, at home, at work, and in church life.
It is said that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Sodomosa in Nicaragua, Bocasa in Central Africa, Duvalier in Haiti, Idi Amin in Uganda, Noumeire in Sudan, Castro in Cuba, and Kim Il-sung in North Korea have in common that the dictators of underdeveloped countries do not realize their faults at all and are filled with arrogance. will be
I hope that we too can overcome the temptation of the devil with the power of faith in moments that are easy to become arrogant.
3. Make a sacrifice.
In verse 3 of the text, even though it was said to destroy all the animals, they did not kill them, but the best of sheep and cattle and the fattest ones were not killed, but were tied up in the backyard of the royal palace. Here Saul ⓛ did not kill what he should have already killed, ② did not sacrifice what he should have already sacrificed, ③ brought him to a place where he should not have taken him, and ④ transferred his responsibility to the people.
In short, Saul tried to deceive God by disguising his actions with greed and lies. A poor person is satisfied with just the daily diet, but the so-called haves and those who enjoy what they have do not find satisfaction there.
In verse 19, Samuel sternly rebuked Saul, saying, “Why did the king not seek the voice of the Lord, but focus only on plundering, and do what the Lord considers evil?”
In the end, Saul ① became the object of God’s regret (1 Samuel 15:11) ② was forsaken by God (1 Samuel 15: 23) ③ was possessed by evil spirits (1 Samuel 16: 14) ④ died miserably (1 Samuel 31: 4- 5) ⑤ All the children also perished (1 Samuel 31: 4-6).
This Saul was victorious from the front, but failed from the rear. We succeeded physically, but we were defeated spiritually. We, too, should use this as a mirror and do whatever we do with faith, without having any doubts. Those who live by faith will find comfort in heaven. He who walks in faith will prosper in all things, whatever he encounters.
We must see ourselves in the light of Saul's actions. David also committed a sin no less than Saul, but he repented thoroughly. Saul had no repentance. If you repent you will be forgiven, but if you do not repent you will die.
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