When Yahweh first selected a king for the Israelite in the Old Testament, Yahweh found himself looking at Saul; a young man filled with promise and he could lead Israel to prosperity. According to the first book of Samuel verse 9, line 2, Saul would be appointed as king and he was “higher than any of the people.” His position was validated in the same book – 1 Samuel, verse 10 line 24 – as prophet Samuel anointed Saul to be the king of the Israelite and no other people would have the same privilege.
At first, Saul was a very humble king. When he was asked by the prophet Samuel if he wished to be an emperor, Saul had replied “Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such thing to me? (1Samuel 9:21)”
However, as time passed, Saul slowly separated himself from God and he only relied on his own perceptions, leading him to have a very miserable life and end.
How could one such as the first anointed king of Israel and one selected by God lose his way and take his life? Here are five points which have led to Saul’s miserable end.
1. Pride
In the war of Israel against the Philistines, Saul engaged into war even though he knew he and his people are not ready. He also offered a burnt offering even before Samuel came to guide him.
In the Old Testament, God selected the tribe of Levi from the twelve tribes to become laymen and do things asked by God and teach about the word of God. When the King of Judah entered the temple of God and sacrificed without adhering to tradition, God struck him with leprosy which he ailed until he passed on. In the case of Saul, offering a burnt offering is an action of assuming his identity. Moreover, when he was offering the burnt offering, he was just casually prevaricated. “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. (1 Samuel 13:12)” In this verse, the word “compelled” shows that he was reluctant in seeking the guidance of the Lord, especially after offering the burnt offering.
2. Rebelliousness
Samuel said to Saul” “Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them (1 Samuel 15:3).” When the Israelites escaped from Egypt, they were attacked by the Amalekites without considering their tired and sleepy states. Amalekites didn’t fear the Lord and ignored God’s chosen people and their identities.
God let Saul kill all Amalekites in full power to the ground. However, “Saul and the army spare 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 (1 Samuel 15:9).” “When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions (1 Samuel 15:13).” When asked as to why he lied, “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 (1 Samuel 15:15).”
Samuel had accused Saul of lying to God and asked “Has Yahweh took great delight in the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and obeyed Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (1 Samuel 15:22).”
3. Stubborn
The biggest crime for Saul is his stubbornness. Nobody is perfect and sometimes, people make faults, but it is often not horrible. What is horrible is that they do not admit to their faults. Samuel blamed Saul for his faults several times, but Saul did not listen due to his stubbornness. He refused to acknowledge his mistakes and even debated about them with Samuel.
Firstly, after Saul privately offered the burnt offering, Samuel asked Saul “What have you done? (1 Samuel 13:11)” 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 Mikmash. 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. (1 Samuel 13:11-12)”
Second, Saul didn’t follow God and left the best sheep and cattle. Samuel asked “Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord? (1 Samuel 15:19).” “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. (1 Samuel 15:20-21)”
Thirdly, “Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying 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. (1 Samuel 13:22-23)” “Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel, come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God. (1 Samuel 15:30)”
In these three instances, Saul didn’t truly recognize that he was wrong. He didn’t follow the God’s words to do things. Instead, he thought that all the faults he did were for the benefit of others. The statements “You didn’t come within the days appointed,” “to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal”illustrated this belief. Despite the fact Saul was absconded by Samuel, he demanded to Samuel “Please honor me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel.”
4. Do not Fear Yahweh
After Saul found out that David was assisted by the priests, “The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doge the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day, he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. (1 Samuel 22:18-19)”
Saul massacred and slaughtered the innocent at will so much even though these laymen do the will of God. Saul was caught by David and David did not kill him because he thought highly of the king selected by God. However, Saul killed these laymen’s families and killed 85 people even if they begged for their lives. “Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair. (1 Samuel 22:15)” Yet, Saul hardened his heart and killed these laymen’s families in cold blood.
Before battling with the Amalekites, Samuel told Saul to heed the Lord’s word, but Saul still left the best sheep and cattle alive while killing the laymen’s family. His cold-heartedness is shocking.
5. Spiritist
“You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God (Exodus 20:5).” These were the rules Yahweh told His people when they escaped from Egypt. But, Saul completely ignored these rules to meet with a female spiritist, violating Yahweh’s major rule. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.” But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?” Saul swore to hear by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this. (1 Samuel 28:8-10).” In these passages, Saul misused the name of God, which violates the third commandment “Thou shall not take the name of the Lord, thy God in vain (Exodus 20:7). “Saul must have read and saw the commandments, but he ignored these for the sake of his beliefs and security, casually swearing with the name of the Lord.
Since Saul was the first anointed king of Israel and anointed by God, and he was obsessed by God. If he followed God, it wouldn’t have been necessary to select David as the next king of Israel. History would also have been different. Saul would also become an excellent king; however, he disregarded the word of God because of his crimes and believed only in himself. He did not value God’s words. Moreover, he still obeyed his own ideas and was extremely stubborn despite Samuel’s warnings in many instances.
As we practice our faith, it is necessary that we are on guard from committing crimes like Saul. We should check whether we are rebellious, stubborn, pride and do not fear God within our beliefs and thinking. “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:7).” When we repent, God would forgive us and be happy with us.
Translated by: Liu Jun
