In our scripture reading today we find perhaps one of the saddest accounts recorded in the bible of a father who went wrong, of a dad who made the wrong choices!
behold, I have played the fool, This is the confession of King Saul. No doubt in this particular setting Saul was referring to his conduct toward David, but in reality the same confession could be written as his autobiography.
What really makes matters worse is that this is one confession that could have been avoided. Saul was not sent into this world to play the role of a fool! And might I quickly add DADS that God never intends for any of us to foolishly raise our children!
Come with me this morning as we examine the life of this old testament father, and learn at his expense, the errors he made in his life and with his God!
We first meet up with Saul in the 9th chapter of 1 Samuel. What we find is a dad telling his son to go find a lost donkey! But he wasn’t just any son…in fact verse two says in the KJV that Saul was “a choice young man”…the NIV says “an impressive young man”… you might say that:
1.He was a man of splendid physique!
We are being introduced to a young man that stands head and shoulders above any of the other young men in Israel at that time. No doubt a regular down at the Fit for Life Club, Saul was the pick of the litter!
Secondly I would suggest to you as we get to know this young man that;
2. Saul started out a modest man:
This is evident in his conversation with Samuel. When the prophet came to anoint him King: it was Saul who made sure that everyone knew he was from the tribe of Benjamin; the smallest of the tribes of Israel.
Notice also that he was working at a fairly lowly task. HE went out searching for a lost donkey and ended up finding a Kingdom!
Hey dad: you might think that your task is small and insignificant: but it could be just the right setting for God to call you to a higher place of living!
I would also suggest to you as we get acquainted with this father that we notice:
3. He had youth on his side:
His best years were ahead of him, he was at that age in his life where the right career choices would undoubtedly bring him the largest results for himself and his family. He possessed all the qualities it took to get a job done right!
And as a result:
4. HE was chosen for a great task:
You see that morning before Samuel first met Saul: God had spoken to Samuel and said: “I have picked Saul!” Oh sure he had some learning to do: but God looked over all of Israel and hand picked Saul for the job!
In this room this morning: in our community: at our places of work are young fathers who just like Saul possess all the qualities for success!
Hey dad: you know who you are: Macho looking, modest, kind hearted, feeling perhaps even a little younger than you actually are…and your leaders have recognized the right qualities in you! You have been chosen to lead the project….You have been interviewed for the CEO spot… You have been called into the closed door meeting and told of the great opportunity…Yes even God himself may have looked in that great abyss and saw you to be the one to father that special child…
Say every element of success: every ingredient for happiness and well being had been afforded Saul…Oh as you look at them and the more you get to know Saul it’s easy almost to get a little jealous…but this morning there is but one question to be answered…
What did Saul do with his opportunities…and likewise dad’s what are you doing with your life opportunities?
Saul sums it all up in that 21st verse when he says: : behold, I have played the fool,
Oh Saul how did it happen…how could you have taken all the opportunities that had come your way, only to BLOW IT???
Saul, King Saul are your sure: recap your life for us surely there is something: : behold, I have played the fool!
Dad’s; SAUL SINNED! HE rebelled against God. HE turned from following the Lord who had given him a crown.
But wait pastor; haven’t other people sinned, I mean look at David….Yes friend but you see Saul’s tragedy was that; not only had he sinned, but he could never be brought to face his sin and confess it!
For instance: in chapter 13 we find his success rapidly going to his head, going into the midst of battle he forgets Gods plan, and figures he will do it his way. The result: 3,000 soldiers are reduced to just about 600. Samuel meets him and has to tell him “You acted foolishly” Things get really messed up and in verse 22 of chapter 13 we find that on the day of battle not a soldier with Saul had a weapon, only Him and his son…
Say dad; take warning this morning…Don’t squander God right out of all your plans. Oh in the midst of success it is easy to forget him, Saul did! And my fear for you dad is that when you come down to that crisis day in the life of your family, there will be no protection, the enemy will have come and you have no weapons…
Another time we find Saul receiving a command to go destroy the Amalekites. In fact orders were to destroy it all, cattle, sheep, EVERYTHING! But Saul decided to capture the king and keep the fattest cattle and save the best sheep.
You may know the story…God spoke to Samuel “ I a grieved that I have made him king”
Oh listen Dad’s Saul didn’t refuse to go kill the cattle. No he didn’t spare all the sheep. It wasn’t that he rebelled against what God had said; he just didn’t follow all of God’s instructions! HE obeyed God as far as it suited him, but he wouldn’t go beyond that point!
Dad can I warn you today that God never counts partial obedience as whole hearted obedience! Your kids need to see you carry it out all the way for God!
Oh that next morning ole Samuel went to confront Saul: And what does he find but a man who has convinced himself that he had followed God’s commands!
In fact listen to the conversation : Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.” MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…..
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa……
And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
And just when Saul could have repented: just when Jonathon and his two brothers and his sisters, Merab and Michal could have seen their daddy fall on his face and repent, what does he do? HE LIES! And places the blame on somebody else! Apparently forgetting that HE was the leader, he was the one in charge, HE was the one God had told the game plan to!
You Dad’s that are here this morning, get this…God has given you a game plan for your home, for your family…And woe be to the father who on that day of questioning starts to blame someone else for his failure!
TAKE NOTE DAD of what is in your tent! Way too many fathers have walked off the job in today’s society! Don’t wait on mom to take the spiritual lead, THAT S YOUR JOB…if you struggle with that read Ephesians 6:4 & Colossians 3:21 this afternoon!
Oh but lets get back to the 26th chapter! Now its trouble time for old Saul: David could have just as easily killed him but he didn’t and Saul’s is trying to bargain when he finally confesses the story of his life! behold, I have played the fool,
Dad’s here today: might I suggest that Saul isn’t in a class all to himself. How many of us never give God a second thought until the phone rings and tragedy has struck…Oh the baby is sick; the car was going to fast: suddenly, suddenly its reckoning time…
Let’s hasten quickly to the outcome of Saul’s foolishness…. Saul what happened to you, Oh one time great king?
1.He became a Godless Father
“God is departed from me, and answereth me no more,” Hear that saddened cry as it echoes into the corridors of eternity!
Oh we pity the dad who loses his sight or his hearing!
We feel sorry for the dad who loses his job, or becomes ill…
But what about a dad who has lost his God? Certainly he has suffered a supreme loss! It is most tragic…Saul had to tell his children, his wife, his friends…GOD IS GONE!
2.HE became a wretched father
From this time on, he loses all hope! HE loses the peace in his heart, the laughter is gone. All he sees now is gloom and despair! Depression has arrived at his doorstep!
3. HE became a fretful and suspicious father:
He allows himself to fall into the hands of that torture called envy! One day he hears the singing from outside the window; “Saul has slain his thousands and David his 10 thousands” and anger wells up within him! …..He now wants to kill his son’s best friend: David who had been such an inspiration to him, now jealousy has infiltrated his being!
But not only did Saul live a foolish life,
4. He caused himself and his sons to die a tragic death
31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul’s sons. 3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. 4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
The battle turned completely against Saul. They are in full retreat, and get overtaken. And right in front of this dad gone wrong; he no doubt stands and watches as his three sons are slaughtered.
Then the arrow is shot that plunges into the side of Saul…There is no escaping now, he is dying! THE enemy arrows now one after the other come making solid contact with his body, his sons are laying dead at his feet, it’s a pathetic sight…It’s the sight of a dad gone wrong!
So not wanting to take anymore, he tells his amour bearer: “Finish me off!”
In his dying moments he doesn’t want to suffer the indignity of having the enemy make sport of his body. Even staring death in the face he shows no real concern for his relationship with God whom he is about to meet!
Oh dad; scripture doesn’t tell us of any prayer, it only says that this father fell on his own sword and died.
Saul, the King, a dad who once knew the joys and blessings of the Kingdom; a dad who once was the representative of God to the chosen people, now lies dead with his boys!
What a horrible scene: But the greatest tragedy of all is that it need never have happened! This dad didn’t have to die like this: but he chose his path!
Inch by inch, day by day, situation after situation, choice after choice, until the day of tragedy came!
Dad on this fathers day I ask each of you in closing: what choices have you made?
Are you living up to the blessings that God has given you? Do your children see Gods best for them when they look at you as their daddy and spiritual leader?
Where are your choices taking your children?
Dad today is the day for you to step up and be a REAL MAN! A REAL FATHER, A REAL HUSBAND…
Today is the day for you be sure all is right with God!
Saul had it all: but when it counted in the end he said “I have played the fool
