Saul Rejected, David Anointed

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Saul Rejected, David Anointed

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: 1 Samuel 13-16


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JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE (49)

Tonight, we continue our journey through the Bible.  Currently we are studying the 9th of 17 time periods of Bible history – the United Kingdom, a period of time when Israel was (mostly) ruled by a single monarch.  It was period that lasted about 120 years during the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon (~1050-930 BC).

In our last lesson we noted Saul anointed by Samuel as their first king, his coronation and first failure that resulted in his legacy being rejected by YHWH (ch. 13 as he offered an unlawful sacrifice before engaging in battle against the Philistines).  Tonight, we pick up after that event.

  1. The text
    1. Recall in 13:3, Jonathan (son of Saul and a military leader) attacked a garrison of the Philistines in Geba (which was in the territory of Benjamin, and was a Levite city of inheritance – Joshua 21:17).  The Philistines had encroached into Israel and were oppressing Israel.  The Pharisees were provoked and prepared to fight against Israel.  Saul offers a burnt offering because Samuel had not come to them for 7 days.  Samuel arrives as the sacrifice is completed and tells Saul his kingdom would not continue.
    2. 13:16-23 – the Philistines are preparing to battle Israel on 3 fronts. Israel does not have proper weapons and even had their tools sharpened by the Philistines for a high price.
    3. 14:1-23 – Jonathan and his armorbearer inquire of YHWH whether or not to engage the Philistines. They learn that God is with us and begin to fight.  The Philistines then panic (we also read of the earth shaking) and begin to attack each other.  This gives Saul and the people of Israel courage.  So they fight against the Philistines and drive them away.  23 notes, “So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.
    4. 14:24-46 – but the Israelites are weak because Saul (rashly) has put them under an oath (curse) to not eat anything until their enemies were subdued. Thus the army was weak.  However, Jonathan did not hear the words and came upon some honey and ate and was strengthened. When told about the oath, Jonathan notes that it was rash and caused the battle to not be as successful.   When the Philistines are driven back, the people rush to eat whatever they could find eating animals with their blood.  Saul sees it and corrects their behavior by having the food properly prepared.   35 – Saul then built an altar to YHWH and inquire as to whether they should continue the battle, but He does not answer them.  Lots are cast and it is determined that Jonathan had broken the vow.  Saul is ready to put Jonathan to death, but the people stand up for Jonathan noting that he was working with God that day.  There is peace.
    5. 14:47-52 describes Saul establishing his reign and fighting various enemies around them. We are also introduced to his family and Abner his general.  Finally, we note that he would take any strong or valiant man for himself (his army) which is what Samuel said a king would do (1 Samuel 8:11).
    6. 15:1-9 – YHWH through Samuel tells Saul to UTTERLY destroy the Amalekites. Saul wins the battle but he spares king Agag and the people took the best of the spoils and animals.
    7. 15:10-35 – YHWH tells Samuel has greatly regretted making Saul king because he was not obeying God’s commandments. Samuel grieves.  When Saul sees him the next day, he is glad and assumes all is well.  He declared, “I have performed the commandment of the LORD”.  Samuel then asks, “Why do I hear sheep and oxen?” Saul begins to make excuses – the people brought the best to sacrifice to YHWH, but the rest was utterly destroyed.  When confronted for his failure, Saul insists he had obeyed God.  He blames the people for taking the spoil.  Note Vs. 22-23 – what does God desire, sacrifices or obedience?   Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness as idolatry.   “Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”   Saul THEN declares, “I have sinned”, but again he makes excuses – “I feared the people”. He begs forgiveness, but Samuel turns to leave.  Saul seizes his robe and it tore.  Samuel again repeats, the LORD has torn the kingdom from you today and given it to a neighbor better than you.  Agag is brought to him and Samuel executes him (punishment for his cruelty).   Samuel leaves and does not see Saul again after this until his death.  But he continues to mourn for Saul.
    8. 16:1-13 – David is anointed by Samuel to be the next king. He is sent by YHWH to Jesse of Bethlehem.  Samuel goes and offers a sacrifice and invites Jesse.  Samuel is introduced to Eliab, Jesse’s oldest and assumes he is to be anointed.  YHWH replies in vs. 7, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  The 7 sons of Jesse appear before him and none are chosen.  He inquires if there is another son.  David is mentioned and fetched.  David is chosen and anointed. “The spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” (vs. 13)
    9. 16:14-23 – to add to Saul’s troubles, the Spirit of YHWH departed from him and a distressing spirit troubled him.  They seek a skillful harp player to soothe him when he was troubled.  David is recommended and chosen. He comes and plays for Saul and sooths him.
  2. Lessons to consider –
    1. Concerning King Saul, we see his failures as a leader. Saul in his decisions shows pride, lack of humility, insecurity, and other qualities.  As Christians, leaders or not, these are qualities we ought to avoid.
    2. Another lesson in faith – while Jonathan (and his armor bearer) is not in the NT, we see another example of trusting in God. It was behind his decisions.  Jonathan trusted in God to help him.  WE may not receive signs today like his, but we know who He is because of accounts like these.  Hebrews 11:1, 6.
    3. As in much of these accounts we see the power and sovereignty of God. His will is accomplished.  Furthermore, He is not limited by human constraints.  Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”  Matthew 19:26 – with God all things are possible. (But let us not take this out of Biblical context).
    4. We are again reminded of rash vows. This reveals King Saul’s character – not thinking before he made demands.   But nonetheless, they were expected to keep their vows.
    5. When God gives us specific instructions, we must keep them.  Partial disobedience is still disobedience.
    6. Saul – an example of weak repentance – Twice in 1 Samuel 15 Saul says, “I have sinned” (24, 30). But in both instances he “qualifies” his repentance. It seems to be more about self-preservation that genuine godly sorry.  2 Corinthians 7:10 tells us that it is godly sorrow that leads to genuine repentance.
    7. We cannot ignore unpleasant tasks. Samuel was told by the LORD to go and confront Saul.  Sometimes, the right thing to do is going to be unpleasant, but it is necessary.  Hebrews 12:9-11 – chastening is not joyful. E.g., 2 Corinthians 7:8-9.
    8. To obey is better than sacrifice. Obedience is not a suggestion.  When God gives us instructions we are expected to follow them.  Matthew 7:21, Hebrews 5:9.  John 14:15 it is a demonstration of love. NOTE: This does not mean that sacrifices, when commanded, are not necessary.  The point is that if they are offered without genuine submission they are an insult to God.  Amos 5:21-24.
    9. 15:30 – God is not a man that He should relent – God can and does keep His word.
    10. Why did God command the destruction of the Amalekites? This is an argument made by skeptics and critics of scripture. They use this and other examples (such as the utter destruction of the nations of Canaan) to describe God as cruel and uncaring.  Often, what is especially emphasized is infants and children, who are innocent.  But consider the following:
      1. The Amalekites were not innocent – Exodus 17:8-16 describes them as attacking Israel as they headed toward Mt. Sinai.  Deuteronomy 25:17-19 adds, they ambushed the weak and stragglers.  It was at that time that YHWH declared that Israel, when settled, were to utterly destroy them.
      2. They were continually a thorn in Israel’s side – Judges 3:13 – along with Moab & Ammon, they attacked Israel; 6:3-5 with the Midianites, they came and destroyed crops and drove Israel into hiding and poverty.
      3. They were given 400+ years – that is plenty of time to repent. Evidently, they had not! Consider what Samuel said to King Agag before executing him – as your sword has made women childless (Cf. Genesis 15:16 – their iniquity is not yet complete).
      4. As to the innocent – God’s judgment was on the nation. In one sense it was an act of mercy for infants and children who would have been safe as they faced God.  And likely spared of the idolatrous influence they would have been raised with.
    11. We cannot live our lives in mourning because of life’s difficulties. Samuel is rightfully grieving the rejection of Saul, but he is told to get up and go.  There was work to be done.
    12. God looks at the heart, not at outward appearances. We are introduced to David in this text.  We see a simple, humble shepherd boy who has courage and integrity.  We will learn much about godliness form David.
    13. Psalm 23 – with this lesson, we introduce the psalms of David. We know from scripture that David is both a poet and a musician.  Psalm 23 is the best known of the psalms and could have been one of David’s earliest.  The message of this psalm resonates with the timing of our text. NOTE: There are a handful of psalms that are keyed to specific events in the life of David.  We will notice these throughout his life.   We also see in this psalm how one can learn lessons from one’s experiences and make deeper, spiritual applications.

And thus we see the progressive downfall of King Saul, and we are introduced to a coming change (David),  We will continue to see Saul degrading spiritually.  But for now, let us learn how to live our lives – surrendering completely to His will in all that we do.

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