King Saul’s Rebellion ~ Downfall

This story is such a sad story. God was the King of Israel and His people rejected Him as their King.

Question – Why would anyone reject God especially when they had seen and heard about what God had done for them?  It comes down to man’s sin nature thinking that man can rule over men better than God can.

Rebellion was not a new problem at the time, it started back in the beginning of Creation first with Lucifer an angel who stood in the presence of God, then with a third of the angels, then Eve, then Adam and then Cain and so many others since and it is still a problem in our day and always will be until time comes to a close, which my be a lot sooner than many think.

This is the excuse the Israelites used at that time for their rebellion, it says in 1^st Samuel 8:1–4, “As Samuel grew old he appointed his sons to be Judges over Israel.  Joel and Abijah his older sons held court in Beerseba.  But they were not like their father for they were greedy for money.  They accepted bribes and perverted justice.  Finally the leaders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. Look, they told him, you are now old and your sons are not like you.  Give us a King like all the other nations have.”

This sounds like we are not guaranteed how our children will turn out even if you do love the Lord and are faithful followers of His.  We all have a free will to make whatever choice we want to make.  Eli the Priest had a similar problem with his two sons.  His sin was that he failed to discipline them and it cost them and him dearly.    

In those days Judges were appointed to rule over God’s people, not King’s, God was their King and Samuel was their judge at the time.  Samuel was very upset with their request and went to the Lord for advise.  The Lord replied, “do as they say for it is me they are rejecting, not you, they don’t want me to be their King any longer.”  How sad, after all God had done for them.  I don’t know about you but this makes me sad because I have been just as guilty as they were at times.  I don’t think any of us can say we have never rebellious against the Lord at one time or another, probably many times to our shame.  In verse 8 God says, “Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually forsaken me and followed other gods.”

Samuel warns the people about what a King would be like and how he would treat them, but the people reject Samuel’s warning, they just want to be like the other nations.  This reminds me of our country and many of the people today.

This country was founded on freedom of religion and governed by the constitution and Christian principles and values.  It seems to me that there are many that are rebelling against God today. They are trying to erase God and everything He stands for plus the Constitution along with all our freedoms for the benefit of the government.  And this has been going on behind the scene for a long time.  Rebelliousness and deception are running rampant today and God and his elect seem to be the number one targets.

Now let’s get back to King Saul’s rebellion.  

Samuel told Saul and God’s people not to turn their backs on the Lord again and to love Him with all their hearts and not to go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue them.

Samuel anoints Saul, King over Israel, but it isn’t long before he rebels and sins against the Lord.  Samuel told Saul to go down to Gilgal ahead of him and wait for him there for seven days and he would join him there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings.  But instead of waiting Saul took it upon himself to present the sacrifice, not a good choice.  After Saul was reprimanded by Samuel for his very foolish act, Samuel told Saul that he would lose his Kingship.

But Saul didn’t learn from that experience and he rebelled against the Lord again.  This time the Lord told Samuel that He was sorry He made Saul King for he had not been loyal to Him and had again refused to obey Him.  Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard what Saul had done he cried out to the Lord all night.  This it what it says in 1^st Samuel 15:12–23, “Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul.  Someone told him Saul went to Carmel to set up a monument to himself, then he went on to Gilgal.”  (He must have felt very highly of himself, where is the monument to the Lord for giving him victory over his enemies?)  “When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully, ‘May the Lord bless you, I have carried out the Lord’s command!’  ‘Then what is all the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle I hear,’ Samuel demanded.  ‘It is true that the army spared the best of the sheep and cattle,’ Saul admitted.  ‘But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God.  We have destroyed everything else.’  Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Stop! Listen to what the Lord told me last night.’  ‘What was it?’ Saul asked?  And Samuel told him, ‘although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel?  The Lord has anointed you the King of Israel.  And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’  ‘Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord?  Why did you rush for the plunder and do exactly what the Lord said not to do?’  ‘But I did obey the Lord,’ Saul insisted.  ‘I carried out the mission He gave me, I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else.  Then my troops brought in all the best of the sheep and cattle and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.’  But Samuel replied, ‘what is more pleasing to the Lord, your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice?  Obedience is far better than sacrifice, listening to Him is far better than offering the fat of rams.  Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols.  So because you have rejected the Word of the Lord He has rejected you from being King.’”  In verse 24 Saul finally admitted that he had disobeyed the Word of the Lord because he was afraid of the people.  Disobedience and rebellion are sins and there are always consequences for sin.  Sin, if not truly repented of, will result in more sins and before Saul’s kingship was over he committed many more sins that ended up costing him his life.

You may be asking yourself this question, will Saul be in Heaven?  I don’t know, only the Lord knows if he repented or not.  But this I do know, when we sin we can repent and ask the Lord to forgive us, if we are believers and if we are truly sorry, we will be forgiven!  Praise God!  Don’t let sin separate you from the Lord or cause you to lose the ministry you are doing for God.  If you sin, keep short accounts with God, confess your sin immediately and don’t put it off.  Maybe the Lord has been telling you to do something or to stop doing something you are doing that you have been putting off for awhile, stop being rebellious and be obedient, you and the Lord will be glad you did.  What would you prefer the Lord to do correct you or bless you?  The choice is up to you, I hope you make the right one. 

And for anyone who reads this that is not a believer and truly wants to be, repeat this prayer:  Lord I know I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness.  I am sorry for my sins, please forgive me and be the Lord of my life, in Jesus name I pray, amen.  If you are truly sorry, I believe the Lord will honor that prayer.  Then thank the Lord and find a Bible believing church and start growing.  And don’t forget to share what you did with someone else.  Praise God, have a great day and God bless you.