Saul's downfall
1 Samuel 15:17-19
17 Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did
you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you
king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and
completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war
against them until you have wiped them out.' 19 Why did you not obey
the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of
the LORD?"
In today's reading, just like yesterday's reading, we see Saul act
on self-will, not God's-will, and it cost him his kingship. Saul
disobeyed God's command to please himself. Saul didn't follow through
on God's command to completely wipe out the Amalekites (a wicked
nation) because he wanted to sacrifice the Amalekite sheep and cattle
over the Israelite sheep and cattle. Saul spared Amalekite sheep and
cattle for his own convenience. Saul's disobedience in itself was
disconcerting, but his attempt to pass off his disobedience as
obedience was shattering. It's shattering because an unrepentant heart
completely separates one from God. Saul lacked the ability to
sincerely confess his faults; a result of his pride and the reason for
his downfall. Can you identify? Have you ever hurt someone and then
tried to reconcile the situation by justifying your wrongdoing? Have
you ever been wounded by someone that couldn't admit their mistakes?
I'm sure we've all experienced the repercussions of unapologetic
people at some point. Maybe we've been the shameless people. I know
I've walked that path. I have stepped on toes and then tried to
convince the people that I've hurt that they just didn't understand
where I was coming from; or that it was their fault for getting in the
way. I've learned that the three simple words (said sincerely), "I was
wrong," without excuse goes a long way. In the same way, we need to
humble ourselves before God with sincere repentant hearts. We need to
get rid of the excuses and come clean. If not, we'll block ourselves
off from experiencing God's forgiveness and love.
Let's not follow in Saul's footsteps and allow pride to hinder our
ability to admit when we're wrong. Pride is a cheater. It cheats you
out of a genuine relationship with God because you'll demand your own
way. Let's humble ourselves and approach God with sincere repentant
hearts. I promise that you'll find it easy to be faithful to the one
that is always faithful and always forgives.
God Bless,
Anthony
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