The Downfall of Saul
Notes
Transcript
11/5/25 Big Picture Pt. 31 “The Downfall of Saul”
Context Recap: The Coming of Saul
Context Recap: The Coming of Saul
Israelite Nation:
The story so far: from Moses → Joshua → Judges → Samuel → Saul.
Last time:
KINGDOM ARRIVAL in ISRAEL
REJECTED SAMUEL & GOD— DESIRED KING…
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GOD PERMITTED:
BROUGHT SAUL to SAMUEL VIA MISSING DONKEYS (PROVIDENCE)
GOD DIDN’T ABDICATE HIS THRONE— SAUL = “PRINCE/LEADER”
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Transition: LEFT OFF: CHAPTER 10
SAKE of TIME—SKIPPING 11-12, MUCH of 14
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Bridge Summary (Ch. 11-12):
Bridge Summary (Ch. 11-12):
CH. 11— SAUL’S REIGN BEGINS WELL
DEFEATS NAHASH
GIVES GOD GLORY for VICTORY
KINGDOM RENEWED
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CH. 12— SAMUEL GIVES NATIONAL CHARGE for ALLEGIANCE to YAHWEH:
1 Samuel 12:14–15 (ESV)
14 If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well.
15 But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king.
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Transition: In today’s text, WE’LL SEE— IF SAUL HOLDS UP to EXPECTATIONS…
Read: 13:1-4
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Teaching Text: 1 Samuel 13-15
Teaching Text: 1 Samuel 13-15
Chapter 13: Saul Fights the Philistines
Chapter 13: Saul Fights the Philistines
1 Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.
OBSCURE HEBREW TEXT SURROUNDING SAUL’S AGE/REIGN...
Most Important:
JONATHAN (SAUL’S SON) DEFEATS PHILISTINE GARRISON @ GEBA
Problem: PHILISTINES ANGRY,, SAUL RALLIES FORCES…
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Transition: We’ll see the Philistines do the same:
Read v5-7
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Philistines Muster Forces
Philistines Muster Forces
5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Saying: “You mess with the bull you get the horns.”
JONATHAN’S ATTACK CAUSED STRONG RESPONSE
SAUL’S ARMY—3,000 GUYS @ OUTSET
PHILISTINES— 10X in CHARIOTS ALONE!
Background: PHILISTINES = MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY DEVELOPED—SEAFARING PEOPLE
SUPERIOR
ANGRY
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Response: HEBREWS HIDING & AFRAID!/QUAKING in SANDALS
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Transition: So what do you do?
Read: V8
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Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice (v8-23)
Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice (v8-23)
Samuel’s Delay
Samuel’s Delay
8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.
SUSPENSE BUILDING:
INITIAL VICTORY
PHILISTINE RETALIATION
SCARED & FLEEING ARMY
LATE PROPHET—DOES GOD CARE??
C.C FOR US—GOOD STORY—
— FOR SAUL,, LIFE & DEATH!
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Transition: And as they say: DESPERATE TIMES CALL for DESPERATE MEASURES…
Read: v9-10
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Saul’s Sin & Samuel’s Arrival (v9-10)
Saul’s Sin & Samuel’s Arrival (v9-10)
9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him.
C.C.—STUDY in LEVITICUS/READ LEVITICUS:
GOD HAS OPINIONS!
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SAUL - KING ,,, NOT PRIEST
SAUL = BENJAMITE,, NOT LEVITE.
UNAUTHORIZED for THIS.
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Key Idea: KING MUST SUBMIT to GOD’S LAWS—GOD = TRUE SOVEREIGN🔑
Background: Deuteronomy 17:18–20 (ESV)📜
18 “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,
20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
SAUL’S TRANSGRESSION = BIG DEAL— POSITION of AUTHORITY/INFLUENCE & DISOBEYING GOD…
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Irony: SAUL SINS BY REQUESTING GOD’S FAVOR!
WE APPROACH GOD on HIS TERMS—WE DON’T MAKE the TERMS
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Climax: SAMUEL ARRIVES—RIGHT on SCHEDULE.
**NOTE: STILL 7th DAY**
SAMUEL = NOT TECHNICALLY LATE TILL 8th DAY!
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Transition: WHAT WILL SAMUEL SAY?
READ: V11-12
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Samuel’s Response & Saul’s Defense (v11-12)
Samuel’s Response & Saul’s Defense (v11-12)
11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”
SAMUEL CALLS SAUL OUT for HIS SIN…
(Q) WHAT DO YOU NOTICE ABOUT SAUL’S RESPONSE? HE BLAMES OTHERS.
· The people—they scattered.
· Samuel—he was late.
· Philistines—they had mustered an army.
Key Lesson: SAUL WAS QUICK to TAKE CREDIT—BUT SLOW to TAKE BLAME.💡
JONATHAN DEFEATS PHILISTINES (V4) —SAUL GETS CREDIT.
SAUL SINS—IT’S THEIR FAULT.
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Exhortation on Repentance:
Exhortation on Repentance:
1ST STEP of GENUINE REPENTANCE: TAKING RESPONSIBILITY & OWNERSHIP of OUR SIN.
MY SIN = MY FAULT.
HARD PLACE? MY SIN = MY FAULT.
If you are blaming others—you aren’t sorry.
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SAUL’S RESPONSE = BLAMING—SOUND FAMILIAR?
(Q) WHAT HAPPENED in GARDEN of EDEN?
MAN SINS
MAN BLAMES WOMAN/GOD
WOMAN BLAMES SERPENT.
SERPENT ONLY ONE NOT SHIFTING BLAME!
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WE MUST TAKE OWNERSHIP & BE GRIEVED ABOUT OUR SIN…
Background: PAUL’S LETTER to CORINTH…
2 Corinthians 7:9–10 (ESV)📜
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Worldly Sorrow: UPSET YOU GOT CAUGHT
Godly Sorrow: UPSET YOU DID IT.
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Background, Hebrew/Greek Concepts of Repentance:
OT: TURN/RETURN
NT: CHANGE of MIND...
Biblical Overview/Process:
Acknowledgement: AGREE W/ GOD—MY SIN is SINFUL (CHANGE of MIND)
Ownership: MY SIN is MY FAULT.
Action: TURN from IT.
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IF WE AREN’T WILLING to ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SIN is SINFUL—WHY WOULD WE NEED FORGIVEN?
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Transition: WHAT HAPPENS?? Would GOD UNDERSTAND it’s truly not Saul’s fault?
Read: v13-15
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Saul’s 1st Judgment by God (v13-15)
Saul’s 1st Judgment by God (v13-15)
13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.
Pondering: HAD SAUL RESPONDED DIFFERENTLY…WOULD GOD HAVE RESPONDED DIFFERENTLY??
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REGARDLESS—SAUL’S DYNASTY = CANCELLED.
SOME SINS HAVE LASTING CONSEQUENCES
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NOW: GOD SEEKING BETTER KING—A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART—DELIGHTING to DO GOD’S WILL…
(Q) DAVID FELL TOO… GREATER DEGREE THAN SAUL.... WHAT DISTINGUISHED HIM? REPENTANT HEART.
Psalm 51:1–4 (ESV)
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight....... so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
DAVID RECOGNIZED: SIN = MY FAULT… & COMMITTED AGAINST GOD.
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Transition: SAUL’S REJECTED…
STILL HAS PHILISTINE PROBLEM on HIS HANDS...
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Read: next pt of v15-18
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Saul’s Response/Reaction (v15b-18)
Saul’s Response/Reaction (v15b-18)
And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 16 And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were present with them stayed in Geba of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual; 18 another company turned toward Beth-horon; and another company turned toward the border that looks down on the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
AS FAR as BIBLE SHOWS: NO REPENTANCE
Instead: NUMBERING PEOPLE—TRUSTING in SELF!
SAUL’S FORCES DWINDLED: FROM 3000 to 600!!
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Transition: GETS WORSE & WORSE…
Read: v19-23
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Situation Summary: No Weapons (v19-23)
Situation Summary: No Weapons (v19-23)
19 Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.” 20 But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle, 21 and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. 22 So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.
PEOPLE of GOD SUBJECTED to TYRANNY FROM TIME of JUDGES
PHILISTINES RUN the SHOW
GARRISONS/MILITARY OUTPOSTS THROUGHOUT the LAND.
NO WEAPONS for ISRAEL—PAYING PHILISTINES to SHARPEN FARMING TOOLS!
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Transition: FOR SAKE of TIME—WE’RE GOING to SKIP MUCH of 14—KEEP to “BIG PICTURE”....
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Summarizing Chapter 14:
Summarizing Chapter 14:
CH. 14—JONATHAN’S AMAZING DEFEAT of PHILISTINE GARRISON & GOD’S MIRACULOUS HELP.
SAUL’S CONTINUED FOOLISHNESS— W/ RASH VOW.
GOD CARRIES THEM THROUGH…
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Transition: I’LL READ CLOSING SUMMARY of CH. 14 W/ SAUL’S REIGN...
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Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies (v47-48, 52)
Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies (v47-48, 52)
47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. 48 And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.
52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.
SAUL OVERALL = TRAGIC CHARACTER.
GOOD VICTORIES
BUT BECAME PROUD— TAKING TOO MUCH CREDIT/SHIFTING BLAME for FAILURES
=> KEEPING ISRAEL AFLOAT.
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Background: SIGNIFICANT—ISRAEL HAD ENEMIES on ALL SIDES…
**SEE P.P. PIC**
§ Philistines to the west.
§ Syrians?? To the north??
§ The Moabites and Ammonites to the east.
§ The Amalekites and the Edomites to the south.
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Transition: Now, remember, SAUL’S DYNASTY = DONE AWAY WITH…
SAUL = STILL KING…
MISSION WILL BE GIVEN:
READ: CH. 15:1-3
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Chapter 15: The Lord Rejects Saul
Chapter 15: The Lord Rejects Saul
15 And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”
SAUL = GIVEN HARD TASK of PUTTING AMALEKITES UNDER the BAN
Background, Amalekites: NOMADIC PEOPLES— STRUCK ISRAEL WHEN LEAVING EGYPT.
Background: GOD’S COMMAND THROUGH MOSES: Deuteronomy 25:19 (ESV)
19 Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.📜
AMALEK = PERPETUAL PROBLEM for ISRAEL—VERY WICKED PEOPLE.
TASK for SAUL: EXACTING YAHWEH’S REVENGE.
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Apologetic Thoughts on the Ban:
Apologetic Thoughts on the Ban:
Paul Copan:
“If the Amalekites had their way, Israel would have been wiped off the map. Unlike other Canaanites, the Amalekites just couldn’t be assimilated into Israel” (p. 174).
“If any infants and children were killed, they would have entered the presence of God. Though deprived of earthly life, these young ones wouldn’t have been deprived of the greatest good—enjoying everlasting friendship with God” (p. 189).
NO CHILD PAYS ETERNALLY for SINS of PARENTS—BUT SOMETIMES SUFFERS NATURAL CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED W/ PARENTS SINS…
CONSIDER: DAYS of MOSES,, KORAH & CO — FALLING INTO HOLE.
Quote, Ted Cabal: “What is true of individuals is also true of groups that commit sinful acts (Jnh 3:9–10; Jl 2:13–14). The problem with the few groups of individuals whom God ordered to be completely destroyed was that they had incorporated grave sins into the very fabric of their society and continued in their sins over a considerable period of time.”[3]
INCREDIBLY HARD TASK…
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Transition: WOULD SAUL OBEY?
READ: V4-6
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Saul’s Compassion on the Kenites (v4-6)
Saul’s Compassion on the Kenites (v4-6)
4 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
PREPARING for ATTACK— DELIVERING ANOTHER PEOPLE GROUP
Background: MOSES FATHER-IN-LAW WAS a KENITE—THEY SHOWED KINDNESS to ISRAEL
PRESENT DESTRUCTION/SALVATION was BASED UPON HOW PEOPLE-GROUPS TREATED ISRAEL!
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Transition: With the KENITES SPARED.... WILL SAUL OBEY GOD’S COMMAND?
Read: v7-11
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Saul’s Partial Obedience (v7-11)
Saul’s Partial Obedience (v7-11)
7 And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.
10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.
SAUL PARTIALLY OBEYS…
THEY SPARE the BEST ANIMALS & the KING
DEVOTE to DESTRUCTION WHAT THEY DON’T WANT.
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Consequence: GOD SENDS MESSAGE: REGRET.
CONFUSING @ FIRST—BUT NOT SO BAD.
· Theology Point: GOD WILL NEVER REGRET—IN the SENSE THAT HE DID SOMETHING WRONG.
GOD HAS NEVER ERRED!!
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Marriage & Adultery Illustration:
OFFENDING PARTY: MIGHT REGRET ACTION— SIN
VICTIMIZED PARTY: MIGHT REGRET MARRIAGE—HURT
2ND PARTY—DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG—BUT HURT BADLY
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Exhortation: SIN BREAKS the HEART of GOD.
Ephesians 4:30 (NLT)
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
GREAT WAY to FIGHT SIN & TEMPTATION = CONSIDER HOW GOD FEELS ABOUT OUR SIN.
JOSEPH & POTIPHAR’S WIFE: SIN AGAINST GOD?!
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Transition: WE’LL SEE HOW THINGS GO for SAUL… BAD NEWS COMING
Read: v12-14
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Samuel’s Meeting w/ Saul (v12-14)
Samuel’s Meeting w/ Saul (v12-14)
12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” 14 And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?”
SAUL CLAIMS HE OBEYED…
SAMUEL, CLASSIC LINE: WHAT’S UP W/ the SHEEP NOISES??
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Shocking: SAUL BUILT a MONUMENT to HIMSELF (V12)— INSTEAD of an ALTAR to GOD…
SAUL’S PARTIAL OBEDIENCE = DISOBEDIENCE....
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Transition: HOW WILL SAUL RESPOND to SAMUEL’S CHARGE?
READ: V15-16
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Saul’s Excuses (v15-16)
Saul’s Excuses (v15-16)
15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”
(Q) ANYONE NOTICE WHAT SAUL DOES… AGAIN? THE PEOPLE—THEY’RE the CULPRIT!
(Q) LOOK BACK @ VS. 9… WHAT’S IT SAY? SAUL & THE PEOPLE.
1ST RESPONSE: BLAMING
2ND RESPONSE: JUSTIFYING—IT WAS for SACRIFICE!
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SAUL DOESN’T OWN UP to HIS SIN—AT ALL!
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Transition: WE’LL SEE if SAMUEL BUYS IT…
READ: V17-19
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Samuel’s Response (v17-19)
Samuel’s Response (v17-19)
17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?”
SAMUEL BEGINS—RECOUNTING GOD’S GRACE…
SAUL—A NOBODY—WAS CHOSEN BY GRACE to LEAD ISRAEL!!
HE FORGOT WHERE HE CAME FROM… && this is HOW YOU TREAT GOD?!
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(V19) HE DIDN’T OBEY…
… HE POUNCED ON THE SPOIL!
… HE DID WHAT WAS EVIL.
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Transition: WHAT’S SAUL GOT to SAY??
READ: V20-21
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Saul’s Justification (v20-21)
Saul’s Justification (v20-21)
20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
SAUL — STILL JUSTIFYING HIMSELF.
HE BROUGHT the KING—NO BIGGIE.
THE PEOPLE… SPARED the SHEEP, ETC…
… IN ORDER to SACRIFICE.
Problem: ONLY ONE OPINION COUNTS—GOD’S.
OUR OPINIONS DON’T MATTER—SIN is DEFINED BY GOD.
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Transition: WILL GOD FORGIVE THEIR GOOD INTENTIONS?
READ: V22-23
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22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
DISOBEYING GOD for the PURPOSE of WORSHIP—DOESN’T MAKE MUCH SENSE…
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C.C.: GOD DOESN’T WANT SUNDAY IF HE DOESN’T HAVE MONDAY—SATURDAY.
Key truth: GOD WANTS WORSHIP,, YES… BUT WORSHIP ALSO LOOKS LIKE OBEDIENCE. 📌
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Samuel’s Message:
I. REBELLION= DIVINATION
“the attempt to tap into demonic powers (Dt 18:10, 14).”[5
II. PRESUMPTION/STUBBORNNESS = LIKE INIQUITY & IDOLATRY
“In its basic sense, idolatry is exalting something or someone (including one’s own will) above God.”[6]
ELEVATES SELF ABOVE GOD!
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SAUL’S SIN = COSTLY… HE’S NOW REJECTED as KING…
Recap: CH. 12— THINGS GO WELL—IF YOU OBEY…
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Transition: HOW WILL SAUL RESPOND?
READ: V24-31
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Saul’s Admission & Request for Honor (v24-31)
Saul’s Admission & Request for Honor (v24-31)
24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 26 And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord.
1st TIME—SAUL ACKNOWLEDGES SIN…
(Q) SEE SAUL’S BIGGEST CONCERN?? BEING HONORED in FRONT of PEOPLE!
ROOT PROBLEMS: PRIDE & FEAR of MAN
· Saul’s concern wasn’t with God’s broken heart,
but more with his own broken reputation.
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SAMUEL LEAVING—ROBE TORN—KINGDOM NOW TORN from SAUL…
FINALLY SAMUEL OBLIGES…
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Transition: BEFORE SAMUEL LEAVES—ONE UNFINISHED TASK:
READ: V32-33
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Resolution: Samuel Kills Agag (v32-33)
Resolution: Samuel Kills Agag (v32-33)
32 Then Samuel said, “Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33 And Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.
SAMUEL FINISHED the JOB
Remember: GOD’S JUDGMENT UPON SIN— MUST BE METED OUT…
IF ANYONE WAS GUILTY,, IT WAS THEIR KING!
NOT to BE a WAR TROPHY…
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Transition: TEXT WILL CLOSE:
READ: V34-35
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Conclusion: Samuel & Saul Part (v34-35)
Conclusion: Samuel & Saul Part (v34-35)
34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
STORY ENDS on SOMBER NOTE
PROPHET & KING PART WAYS…
GOD SAD — SAUL’S DISOBEDIENCE
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Big Picture Connection:
Big Picture Connection:
A STEP FORWARD in ISRAEL’S/BIBLICAL HISTORY…
Focus: SAUL’S DOWNFALL SHOWS US—NEED for BETTER KING—WHO WOULD OBEY
DAVID
JESUS CHRIST (SON of DAVID)
JESUS CHRIST—ONLY SINLESS ONE.
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Transition: A FEW TAKEAWAY THOUGHTS for US...
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Takeaways/Application
Takeaways/Application
1. NO SITUATIONAL DESPERATION MERITS DISOBEDIENCE to GOD
SIN is SIN—NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL IT IS to US—GOD CALLS IT.
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2. TRUE REPENTANCE: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, OWNERSHIP, ACTION
Acknowledgement: AGREE W/ GOD—MY SIN is SINFUL (CHANGE of MIND)
Ownership: MY SIN is MY FAULT.
Action: TURN from IT.
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3. OUR SIN GRIEVES the HEART of GOD—IT SHOULD GRIEVE US TOO…
NOT WORLDLY SORROW (CAUGHT)
BUT GODLY SORROW
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4. OBEDIENCE MATTERS to GOD
WORSHIP is NICE—BUT HE’LL TAKE OBEDIENCE BEFORE SACRIFICE…
HE WANTS YOUR MONDAY—SATURDAY TOO.
ARE OUR HEARTS TUNED to OBEY HIM?
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CLOSING QUESTIONS/THOUGHTS??
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Close in Prayer
