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Category: Personal Study
Thread: Game of Thrones
Post Topic: King Saul – Too Good to be True
Post in Thread: #3
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Scripture: I Samuel 10:20-24
I Samuel 15:1-24
Key Verses:
I Samuel 15:22-23
22 But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord? …
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”
Observations
First Impressions of the First King
- Head and shoulders taller, and more handsome than all other men (I Samuel 9:1-2). Just what you’d want from the first king, right?
- Initially humble
- Having already spoken to Samuel, he knew he’d been chosen. But when the lots fell to him, he was hiding among the supplies (I Samuel 10:21-22)
- Even Samuel says to him: “Although you were once small in your own eyes…” (I Samuel 15:17)
- Impressive to the people – they chanted “Long live the king!”
- Fierce warrior
- In I Samuel 11, he wins his first battle.
- I Samuel 14:47-48, a summary of his fighting skills describes him as valiant.
Saul’s Downfall – Arrogance
- Saul constantly took things into his own hands, rather than waiting on God.
- In chapter 13, impatient to attack the Philistines, he offered up a sacrifice rather than wait for Samuel as instructed.
- In chapter 14, a foolish curse Saul made before battle put the life of his son Jonathan in danger.
- The final straw is his disobedience with the attack on the Amalekites in Chapter 15.
- God instructed Saul to completely wipe out the Amalekites for ambushing Israel under Moses.
- Saul won the battle, but spared the captured king, Agag.
- Saul also spared the best of the sheep and cattle, taking them as plunder.
- Saul set up a monument in his own honor on Carmel.
- Samuel rebuked Saul for taking plunder.
- Saul’s excuse – he wanted to bring back a sacrifice for God.
- Samuel again rebukes Saul for his arrogance and tells him God has rejected him as king.
- Another excuse – Saul claims he was afraid of the men.
Interpretation
Setting
Near the territory assigned to the tiny tribe of Benjamin, Samuel’s base of operations was also the home of Saul. Enemies of the Israelites were all about.
Genre
Narrative description.
Author
The author is unknown, but they had access to the records of the kings and possessed a thorough knowledge of the life and times of Samuel and the events surrounding the first kings of Israel.
Takeaways
- Saul exhibited humility before he became king. Boy, did that change. Was it the power that corrupted? The fame? The success?
- Saul obeyed God halfway. He mostly wiped out the Amalekites.
- He took Agag as prisoner rather than killing him. This was another way for Saul to show off his own might to the people.
- Saul claimed the plunder was to be used as a sacrifice. But that wasn’t up to him to decide.
- Samuel responded that obedience is more important that sacrifice, or ritual.
- Saul felt remorse at being caught. But his string of disobedient acts and self-promotion showed where his heart was.
- Samuel compared his arrogance to the sin of idol worship.
Imagine
Jonathan’s choice – his father, or God? (click to expand and read story)
Prince Jonathan, they call you. You’ve never been sure about the title, or your role as the king of Israel after your valiant father is gone. But you’ve tried to follow in King Saul’s footsteps. Like him, you’ve fought bravely. You’ve defeated Philistines and now Amalekites. As a child, he gave you direct access to the great Samuel, who taught you to fear God. Firsthand, you’ve seen the hand of God deliver you time after time. You’ve finally embraced a future as the leader of the chosen people.
Eliab bar Jesse slaps you and your shield-bearer on the back. “Jonathan! A glorious day for you and the king! Finally, the Amalekites’ attacks on our people have been avenged! This day is even more wonderful than Gibeah!”
You simply nod, recalling Gibeah, where you and your shield bearer had killed 20 uncircumcised Philistines. It had to be God. No way the two of you could have defeated that force by yourselves. The enemies seemed confused that day, sometimes swiping at each other. You returned triumphantly. Of course, you almost died that day, too. Back at the encampment, you learned of your father’s curse on anyone who ate before sundown. But you’d already partaken of the honey – was your father really ready to have you die?
And now, the king hasn’t killed Agog. And the Amalekites’ sheep are bleating. When you asked your father about it, he said he wanted a sacrifice to God. So many sheep are needed? You decided to keep your mouth shut. But now you have a funny feeling as Samuel approaches. The man of God doesn’t look happy.
This time, your father’s excuses don’t fly. You admire Samuel’s bravery in front of your father’s angry countenance. But his words hit you in the gut.
Your shield bearer nudges you. “Rejected as king? What does that mean? What happens to you?”
You shrug, trying to appear strong. But your legs are barely holding you up as the reality of Samuel’s proclamation sets in.
“I don’t know,” you say. “Does this mean I’m no longer destined to lead Israel?”
Your shield bearer casts an angry glance at the king. “But… it isn’t your fault.”
Your father grips the hilt of his sword tighter. But Samuel doesn’t back down. His words about obedience and arrogance cut through you. Suddenly, you’re ashamed. Ashamed of your father. Ashamed of your own inaction.
You point to King Agag, still in chains, but smirking at your father. “No, my friend. I should have run Agag through with the sword myself. I knew the Lord’s command, yet I did not stand up to my father.”
“But Jonathan-“
“Silence! It is decided. I will try to honor my father. But from this day forward, I will obey the will of the Lord first, regardless the consequences to myself.”
Correlation
- I Samuel 9:21 – This verse shows that Saul had been humble before he became king. What happened to him?
- Proverbs 21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice
- Isaiah 13:11 – God promises to punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; Specifically, calling out the pomp of the arrogant.
- Luke 18:9-14 – The parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector:
- Jesus story attacks “those who were confident in their own righteousness”
- He finishes with: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Dig Deeper (optional): There are many good verses and stories on this external link: What does the Bible say about arrogance?
Pick out five to ten passages from this web page that catch your attention. Note how arrogance is described in one column (Observation). Then describe what will happen to the arrogant, or what God thinks of such a person. In a final column, note any takeaways from the passage (Interpretations) or ways to apply it to your life (Applications).
After your chart, note the one or two most impactful takeaways.
Remember – subscribers can download a free copy of Burning Bush Blog’s version of this Dig Deeper.
Application
Generic Applications
- God despises idol worship. It’s at the top of the 10 commandments. Yet Samuel compares the sin of arrogance to the evil of idol worship in verse 23.
- Obedience is more important than outward appearances and proclamations of virtue. We’ve all heard the saying “how do you act when nobody’s watching?”
Personalize it
- How can I guard against arrogance when I achieve success in my life? Do I truly give credit to God?
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.
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