For the next couple of posts I want to compare and contrast Saul with David. Today we will look at Saul & tomorrow we will look at David.
"Saul Profile- What you see isn't always what you get"
3Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys. (1 Samuel 15:3 NLT)
God gave Saul a command. "Go and kill the Amalekites." Seems easy enough doesn't it? God spells it out in disturbing detail by adding- "men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, camels, & donkeys." Hard to get this one wrong right? Leave it to Saul to tweek the command of God.
Saul does defeat the Amalekites in battle. He wins & thinks that's all that God requires. He keeps King Agag alive (trophy?) along with the best of the livestock. The text make sure that we know that he killed all of the worthless livestock. Here's the thing, God didn't tell him to keep the best, God told him to kill them all. God didn't tell him to keep Agag alive, God told him to kill everything, no exceptions.
By doing this, Saul shows what is really going on in his heart. He sees his relationship with God from his perspective & not from God's. He adjusts the commands of God to his life rather than adjusting his life to the commands of God. Saul relies on himself & his thinking to do God's will rather than simply obeying what he has been told. Saul uses logic & reasoning rather than just doing what God says. Saul is out to make a name for himself (1 Samuel 15:12) rather than a name for God. These are just some of the ways that he demonstrates that he is not God's man to lead God's people.
How do we compare with Saul? How do we view our relationship with God? Are we at the center or is he? Do we adjust our lives to the commands of God or do we go about adjusting God's commands to fit our lifestyle, desires, opinions, feelings, & experiences? Do we rely upon our thinking & logic to guide our lives or are we focused on his commands? Do we see his commands as optional or essential? Are we out to make a name for ourselves or exalt the name of God with our lives? Do we tweek the commands of God?
How do we measure up to Saul? Saul was an outwardly impressive man but inwardly he was not who God desired him to be. He had great intentions but horrible obedience. How are we doing? Do we see Saul in us?
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