Saul- The Bible’s Tragic Hero (Bridge Lane Chapel, 25/08/02, am)
Hymns
Readings
1. Psalm 51
2. 1 Chronicles 10
3. Hebrews 12:12-24
Intro- The Tragic Hero
Greek tragedy (Aristotle) components:
• Unity of time, place and action
• Inspire horror and pity
• Man of greatness with tragic flaw
• Ends in death
Examples:
• Oedipus (blindness to fate and the gods)
• Hamlet (procrastination)
• Macbeth (ambition)
• Lear (irresponsibility)
• Othello (jealousy)
Question: how can we be acceptable to God? How can we be a Happy Hero, not a Tragic Hero? What is the one flaw we must avoid? How can we be, men and women “after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22)?
What do all of these six characters have in common?
• Cain (Abel)
• Esau (Jacob)
• Saul (Jonathan & David)
• Ahab (Naboth & Elijah)
• Herod Antipas (John the Baptist)
• Judas (Jesus)
All involved with murder or attempted murder.
What do these two characters have in common?
• Moses (the slavedriver)
• David (Uriah)
Both involved with murder.
Now many people would say that good people should go to heaven. By that they mean, anyone who hasn’t committed murder or rape or any other ghastly crimes like that. They say this, because they hope to include themselves in the list of people acceptable to God.
But the odd thing here is that even though all eight of the characters I’ve mentioned are guilty of murder, the last two according to the Bible were actually acceptable to God. Could it be that a murderer could get to heaven, whereas someone who has “never harmed a fly” might end up in hell after all?
I want you to think about why that is, and I’ll come back to it at the end.
We’re going to look at one of the tragic heroes in the first list, Saul. You’ll notice that all of them (repeat list) got very near at times to following God- they are all also-rans of the Bible. And we’ll compare Saul to David, one of the two happy heroes of God. What is the crucial difference between the two, and how can we make sure we are Davids of the faith, not Sauls?
Saul David
1a Man’s kind of king (1 Sam 10:23,24)- good-looking body, David Beckham God’s kind of king (2 Sam 7:8-16)- good-looking soul
1b After people’s praise (1 Sam 18:6-8)- so became envious of songs of praise to Dave! Pharisees After God’s heart (Acts 13:22)- “he will do everything I want him to do.”
2a Cruel (1 Sam 20:30-34; 22:11-19)- calls Jonathan a son of a bitch; takes revenge on God by killing 85 priests and an entire town Kind (2 Sam 9; 1 Chronicles 19:2)- actually goes looking for Saul’s surviving relatives so he can show generosity to them, including the lame Mephibosheth!
2b Violent- throws spear at David three times, whilst David is trying to sooth him with his harp! Even tries to spear his own son Jonathan Avoids violence and respects his persecutor- David has two occasions when he can kill Saul (one when he is peeing, 1 Sam. 24, one when he is asleep, 1 Sam 26); show picture!!
2c Cowardly (1 Sam 17:11; 18:12; 19)- tallest Israeli, won’t fight tallest Philistine!; scared of David and takes advantage of him by seeking to murder him in his bed Courageous (1 Sam 17; 1 Chron 18)- youngest of eight sons of Jesse, fights huge beast with just sling and five stones AND THE LORD- Romans 8:31- “if God is for us, who can be against us?”
3a Unforgiving (1 Sam 14:44; 18:9)- threatens to kill his own son because of his own stupid vow- show picture!! Forgiving (1 Sam 26)- forgives Saul and other enemies who show contrition, such as Abner (1 Chr 3)
3b Unrepentant (1 Sam 15:10-31)- doesn’t kill Agag Amalekite and keeps his stuff; does a dodgy sacrifice instead and then lies about it- 1 Sam 15:22,23 [keep thumb in it!]
Ungodly sorrow (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10- “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death”; Hebrews 12:16,17- “Esau could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears”) Repentant (2 Sam 12:13; 24:10)- admits sin of Bathsheba & Uriah to Nathan; immediately shows sorry for the census
4 Did his own thing- offers sacrifices without priests, goes chasing into battle without consulting God, makes stupid oaths without God’s permission; tried perhaps to do the right thing, but in his own strength and for his own glory Consulted God- see list below
5a Separated from God (1 Sam 16:14; 28)- after many opportunities to be led by God’s spirit, he ends up being tormented by a demon, and even seeking help from witchcraft, which he had previously banned! Show pictures!!!! Died from suicide. Show final two pictures!!! At peace with God (Psalm 4:8; 37:11)- “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety…the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” Died in his bed.
5b beheaded by Philistines; Kingship rejected (1 Sam 15:23)
final verdict on Saul, in our OT passage, “Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not enquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” (1 Chron 10). beheaded the Philistine Goliath; kingship eternal through Christ (2 Sam 7:29)- “Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed for ever”; see genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3
Now I don’t want to overlook the fact that Saul did some amazing things- he was very brave at points and he showed humility at the beginning of his reign (even hiding amongst the baggage when the people were looking to crown him). He actually admits he has gone wrong on several occasions, probably more than any other tragic hero in the Bible. As far as we know unlike David Saul never committed adultery; he never arranged for the murder of an innocent man just because he wanted to have sex with his wife. But the absolutely crucial distinction is that even though he gets so close to repentance, it’s always “worldly sorrow which brings death” (2 Cor 7:10), because his repentance never translates into a change of life and isn’t based on trusting God.
On the other hand, when you read David’s great Psalm of repentance, Psalm 51, we see an enormous desire in this sinner to be changed. Read whole Psalm. Here we see a reiteration of Samuel’s words: God does not desire sacrifice or empty peace offerings with a stubborn heart; he desires a “broken and contrite heart” and a determination to be changed. Saul seeks to justify himself so many times before Samuel; David admits his total guilt and knows that God is the only just one, and only by faith can David be justified. “The just shall live by faith,” as it says in Romans 1:17.
Conclusion
So what can we conclude? How are we made acceptable to God? What is the tragic flaw we must avoid?
The tragic flaw is this: unfaithfulness, or lack of faith. Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). Saul simply did not believe in God, he did not trust God for his justification and peace. He had to do things his own way. Ultimately, what separated Saul from God was not that he was a murderer (for James tells us that if we are guilty of one sin, we are guilty of all). No, what separated this poor tragic man from God was His refusal to come to God on the terms that God had provided for him. And this is what separates all unbelievers from God. Tom Forryan’s sheep and goats picture.
And David’s glorious strength was this: faith. Despite his murder, lying and adultery, David was acceptable to God because he trusted in Him and repented of his sins. He did things God’s way, and when he didn’t he was sorry for it, and asked God to change him completely. And, looking forward he put his faith in the coming Messiah, his very own son, the Son of David, the only name under heaven by which men can be saved, the lily of the valley, the fairest of ten thousands, the wonderful counsellor, the prince of peace, the mediator of a new covenant, the shedder of blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel, the chosen one of God, our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, may His Name be ever praised, amen!
If you look in Hebrews 11, you see David in the Hall of Faith, as one would inherit the kingdom of God. In Hebrews 12:17, you see Esau (and no doubt Saul) as one rejected by God, who would inherit only darkness.
Which are we? A David or a Saul? Are we trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone to save and keep us from God’s wrath and bring us into joy eternal? Or are we still clinging onto our own works of righteousness, our own sacrifices and justifications, hoping they will somehow redeem us?
Brothers and sisters, this day and always, let us be warned by the example of Saul and learn from the example of David, to trust God alone, and so, in the end, seeking to bring many others with us through our testimony of Jesus’ goodness to us, to be saved. Amen.
