Over the years I have learned to do a lot of different things including using a lot of different tools. There have been a few occasions when I’ve watched someone experienced do something and thought to myself, ‘Oh I see how that’s done, I could do that myself’ and then discovered that I’ve made a mess of it because I wasn’t experienced enough to see where problems could arise. Sometimes a little humility goes a long way.

Saul had started out as a humble man. Everybody knew him because he was so much taller than everyone else and I guess that’s part of what made him a good candidate for leadership. He was humble but everyone knew him and his humility meant that he would be obedient to God. Now we can see that his position and power had begun to get the better of him. He was doing things in his own strength and making decisions for himself that made him popular and probably added to his own wealth too.

In essence he had stepped into sin, he was disregarding the commands God had made and his disobedience had separated him from the plans that God had for Israel. Samuel had to deliver the bad news. God was, “grieved that (He) had made Saul king because he has turned away from me.” (V.11).

There is a simple formula we all need to remember, it goes like this; Disobedience = Sin. When we step out of the call that God has placed upon us we enter the place of sin. In sin we are separated from God and His plans for us and the only way to resolve that situation is to repent, pray and ask His forgiveness. Jesus made a way for us to do that on the cross but Saul didn’t have that option so his time as king suddenly became very limited.

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Question:

How often to you seek God asking for His guidance and leadership? How often do you find yourself doing the things you want rather than the things He ask you to do?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, forgive us for our disobedience. Forgive us for thinking we know what You want even when we haven’t asked. Help us to see the error of our ways, to repent of our sin and to seek Your heart once again. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.