“Saul: Do I trust in God?” - 1 Samuel
If you have your bibles with you this morning, I invite you to turn with me to the book of 1 Samuel. If you’re using one of the Bibles in the seat racks, it will be on page ___. Hopefully you have had the chance to read through this book the last two weeks. We have been going through the OT together, and seeing that the issues the Jews faced 4000 years ago are the same issues we face today.
We have seen a few key stages of the Jews’ history, and today we begin looking at a new stage. In Genesis, we saw the age of the Patriarchs, the famous forefathers of the Jews. In Exodus we saw the years of Slavery. In Numbers, we saw the period of Wandering. In Joshua, we saw the period of Conquest. And today, in Samuel, we see the beginning of the period of the Kingdom.
We saw last week that Samuel’s sons were evil, and in 1 Samuel 8:3 we see, “But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.” As a result, the Jews take that opportunity to ask for what they really had been wanting all along, to be just like the enemy nations surrounding them - they wanted a king.
And for the next thousand years, the Jews will have a Jewish king over them. But the kingdom rises or falls on the type of King they have. God chooses their first king, Saul. In 1 Samuel 10:20 we see the process God uses to appoint this king. When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. So they enquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no-one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
We want to look today at the question of where our confidence lies. And when we look at Saul, we see an example of looking at all the wrong places. This morning, where is your confidence? It’s easy to say it is in God, but there are so many other places we turn to find our confidence. Let’s pray that the example of Saul will teach each of us. --PRAYER--
Part of the consequence of living in this sinful world of ours in that we face problems. It’s something that none of us are immune to. But how do we face our problems? The source of our confidence says a lot about our faith. Often we look at our own strength and ability, we look at our intelligence to figure out solutions, we try to use might to keep us safe, we hope luck and chance is on our side, and the stars are in our favor, and when they aren’t, we seek to dull our pain through amusement and entertainment. And we do all of this instead of running to the one, the only one, who can help us.
That, in a nutshell, is the story of King Saul. King Saul, as we saw in chap. 10, is a head taller than any of the other Jews. Of course he would be the ideal king, at least in the thinking of all the people. Because they are looking at having
1. Confidence in Human Ability - It was important for a king to be strong, because he was the one who led his troops in battle. Often a nation would choose one of their best fighters to be the king. The king was always out in front in the battle. So the fact that God chose this giant of a man caused the people to be elated.
Saul was from the right family. He had blue blood. It says in 1 Samuel 9:1 - There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites--a head taller than any of the others. Not only was Saul, tall, he was also good-looking, the meaning of “impressive” here. So he is tall, young, handsome, and from a wealthy family. It sounds like John Kennedy. If there is anyone from an earthly perspective who would make a good candidate for king, it is Saul.
But we can’t trust human ability. We can’t just look on the external. Later, in 1 Samuel 16:7, when Samuel is sent to replace Saul, God reminds Samuel - ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
In fact, we see that even though we might expect Saul to be the perfect candidate to lead the people, when they look for him, he is hiding in the baggage. Can you imagine at the presidential inauguration if they can’t find the president, and upon looking, they find him in the hat check room hiding out. It’s not a good sign to build confidence.
But in our lives today, what does this mean. Far too often we judge others by external factors. If someone is good-looking, or has a noted name in this area, we want to be their friends. There are some churches in this town that have a reputation for being the “acceptable” places for the “country club” set to go. All the “movers and shakers” go there.
Any time we make our decisions, friendships, associations, with others based on popularity, we have fallen into a trap of the devil. Do you find yourself intentionally avoiding some people because they seem “beneath” you. They don’t seem like they’re in the same social class as you. Their house isn’t quite as nice. They don’t drive as nice a car. They don’t eat out at the same restaurants as you. Our world is filled with prejudice. The last thing we need is to let it enter into the church. In Galatians 2:11-13 Paul declares, But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who don’t bother with circumcision. But afterward, when some Jewish friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore because he was afraid of what these legalists would say. Then the other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was influenced to join them in their hypocrisy.
The second mistake we make in choosing where to put our confidence is putting
2. Confidence in Human Intelligence - And this is an area where Saul messes up time after time. We see it first in 1 Samuel 13:7 - The Philistines, an enemy people to the West, along the seacoast, have been oppressing the Jews. They are a far superior people technologically. Saul’s son Jonathan drew first blood, going to a Philistine military outpost and attacking it. Now the Philistines are fighting mad. 13:5 tells us The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. . . . When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
Saul has an enemy army, vast, powerful, at his front door, and he is terrified. 13:8 goes on to tell us, He waited for seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. Samuel said to wait, but he’s not here. The troops are scared. Something needs to be done. So Saul takes action. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” “You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”
What was Saul thinking? He was thinking HE had to do something, so he used his human reasoning to come up with a plan. But it was a bad plan.
**Anytime we disobey God to do something we think is better, we are sinning!
Saul was disobeying what Samuel had told him. But he felt like he needed to do something. Sometimes the hardest thing for us to do is NOTHING. When God says, “just wait on me”, we don’t like that. We want to do something, anything, but waiting can be hard.
Sometimes we’re just like Saul. We know what God says, but we don’t want to wait on God’s timetable. Why is it that the average American has around $20,000 of credit card debt? Because we don’t want to wait for God to provide, we want to get what we want when we want it. Sometime in the near future we’re going to offer a study on finances - handling finances according to God’s plan.
Some people use their human intelligence - or lack of it - in choosing a mate. They find someone THEY think is a good match, and disregard all the “red lights” others see about this person. They say, “if only they knew him like I do” - and years later learn that everyone else saw clearly.
It is foolish to place confidence in our human intelligence. Saul messes up in this area again in chapter 15. They fight against the Amalakites, and God tells them in verse 2 - Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
But Saul once again messes up - Samuel comes back to camp after the battle, and sees all kinds of things that Saul took for himself. Verse 10 says But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs--everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. Samuel ask him why he did this. Verse 15 - Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” “Stop!” Samuel said to Saul. Samuel says, “Don’t tell me lies!” Verse 19 - Samuel confronts Saul again - Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?” Verse 20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 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.” (NLT)
Saul uses his human reasoning, but it is flawed. He tries to claim his innocence, but Samuel doesn’t let him off the hook. So in verse 24 he finally owns up to his actions. Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.”
Saul just tries to manipulate the situation - he tries to “spin” his actions so it looks like he did right - then he tries to say, “Ok, I was wrong, but it doesn’t really matter - let’s just go on.”
Anytime we try to justify wrong, we are sinning. It is not intelligence, but STUPIDITY!
Sometimes we try to find strength by putting our
3. Confidence in Human Technology or military might. So many times we put our security in “things.” Our bank account, our pension, our insurance, our house, our investments, our collectibles, but we realize that all of these things are uncertain. As a nation, we put our confidence in weaponry. If we have a bigger stockpile of weapons, we feel safe and secure. Another nation might only be able to destroy the world one time, but we have enough weapons to destroy the world five times.
Ever since 9/11, we have thought about safety in new ways. Even with a strong military, we realize we are not safe as long as we are on US soil.
Saul couldn’t trust in Military strength. The Philistine army was much bigger, stronger, better equipped. 13:5 tells us The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And 13:22 tells us about their weapons - So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them. The Philistines had iron technology and blacksmiths, and the Jews went to them to sharpen their plows. Only two swords in the nation of Israel. No reliance on military might here. In fact, because of their lack of military might, the Jews were in fear. 13:6 tells us When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.
Even though they didn’t have military might, they still looked to it as the basis of having confidence of victory. Psalm 20:7 reminds us Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
David was not afraid to look to the battle with eyes of faith, in 1 Samuel 17 when he comes against Goliath, the giant leading the Philistine army, he says, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel . . . this day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head . . . and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
What “things” are you trusting to keep you safe? A revolver in the night stand? A padlock on the door? A fierce doberman? Might never keeps us safe. None of those measure are wrong in and of themselves - in fact, I encourage you to plan for your safety, but never leave the Lord out of the equation.
Another area where we fail is in putting
4. Confidence in the Demonic Realm. And it is easy for us to think that this in ONE are that we have down pat as Christians. Saul might have thought the same thing. 1 Samuel 28:3 tells us
Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. He had rid the land of all the witches, mediums, he shut down the psychic network.
Just a thought, if those psychics are really that good, why do they need to ask for your credit card numbers?
Saul had rid the land of them. But later in his life, God has anointed David to be the new king, Saul has experienced frustration with knowing people are following David, he longs for God’s approval that has been removed, and you know the story, he turns to the occult. He goes to the witch at Endor.
Never think there is a sin you won’t commit. 1 Corinthians 10:12 warns us So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! I am sure Saul never thought he would turn to the demonic realm. But he did. You might think “I’ll never do that.” But don’t let your self-assurance lead you to pride.
The demonic realm is very active. The media tries to get us to laugh at the idea of witchcraft as funny or cute or innocuous, of very little harm. But the demonic realm is DEADLY!
Those who worry about horoscopes or what the stars have to say will end up going deeper and deeper into the demonic. Psychics, OUIJA boards, seances, witchcraft books.
I have never read a Harry Potter book, but this witchcraft craze has affected the youth of our culture, not just the outcasts. They look to spells and the demonic to give them power. There is a good movie out based on a book by Frank Peretti called “Hangman’s Curse”.
And in many cases, the first step into the demonic is through drug use. Satan uses a whole spectrum of doors to get people to open themselves to the demonic. Don’t think it can’t happen to you. Don’t think it doesn’t happen in Owosso. Don’t think it’s somewhere else.
And one of the smallest ways we build the thinking that leads to this is failing to give God credit. We get a good grade on a test and we say, “boy, I was sure lucky.” As though “luck” had anything to do with it.
Whenever God works for us, we need to be sure to give him the credit. When we don’t, we’ll be led to thinking that “fate” or “chance” was responsible.
The fifth area we fall is putting
5. Confidence in Human Entertainment - when we are troubled or distressed, and we find no other source of confidence, we try to find something to give us relief from our fears. Saul does that as well. He knows God has left him. He knows his time is limited. God sends a troubling spirit to Saul, and Saul’s heart grows heavy. So what does he do? Instead of dealing with the guilt and confessing his sin so he could have a clear conscience, he finds something to ease his spirit.
1 Samuel 16:23 - And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away. (NLT)
Saul uses music as an escape. Many people do. Many people get frustrated, so what do they do - they hop in their car, crank up the radio, and drive as fast as they can. They try to mask the pain. Why is there so much anger in Hard Rock? It’s an expression of a society that seeks to cover their pain through music.
Others us alcohol. After a rough day of work a glass or two of wine, a few beers, a shot or two of whiskey, and suddenly all those worries have vanished. So has your discretion and your ability to think logically, but it is an escape.
Some use movies, or novels, living out their fantasies through a media where they can escape who they are and seek to be the person they wish they were.
But God calls us not to escape from reality, but to see ourselves as we truly are, and enter into our worlds. Peace is found not as we run from God and our problems, but when we run TO God WITH our problems. Ps. 119:165 - Those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble.
Here are five wrong places for our confidence - Human ability, Human intelligence, Human Technology, the Demonic Realm, and Human entertainment. All of them will fail us. All of them failed King Saul. As a result, he ends his life a failure, losing the blessing of his God, losing the following of his people, losing the kingdom of Israel, and finally losing his life as he falls on his own sword to kill himself in 1 Samuel 31.
The true source of our confidence, and the only source of confidence, is when we put our
**Confidence in God - I think all of us know that this morning. The only problem is that while we know this, sometimes by the way we live, we deny it is true. We have a God who Hebrews 13:5 reminds us has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.” We have a God of whom 1 Peter 5:11 reminds us All power is his forever and ever. Psalm 112 tells us Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will never be forgotten. They will have influence and honor.
Sometimes when circumstances start looking bad - we think God is failing us - he doesn’t seem to be answering our prayers - we get discouraged - there’s not enough money left at the end of the month - your spouse isn’t getting along very well with you - we are then tempted to look somewhere else for our confidence. But 1 Peter 4:19 reminds us So if you are suffering according to God’s will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.
This morning, where is your confidence? I hope it is in God. Let me end with a few action steps to consider. Six steps, each one based on one of the areas we turn for confidence.
*Human ability - Pray for humility, as an individual, a church, a nation
2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
*Human intelligence - Pray for wisdom from God. He promises in James 1 - If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. (NLT)
*Human Technology - Don’t be intimidated if the “odds” are against you - keep on trusting.
*Demonic Realm - rid your house of all “lucky charms” - except the cereal
*Human Entertainment - Live out of priorities - reevaluate the part pleasure and entertainment plays in your life.
God - Reconsider how you think about God - while you may believe
When you consider the places you place your confidence this morning, is there an area you need to change? If so, make a commitment to change before you leave the sanctuary this morning. Let’s pray.
