Saul: Let No Man Take Your Crown

Saul: Chosen, Anointed, and Destroyed by Envy

When we read the Bible it is important to see ourselves in the text and the characters. In this way, we can learn from any passage of Scripture. So what does King Saul have to tell us about ourselves?

Jesus warns us in the Apocalypse not to lose our crown through apostasy or compromise:

The Eastern/Greek Orthodox Bible: New Testament Chapter 3

11 I am coming quickly! Hold firmly to what you have, so that no one may take your crown.

Saul was chosen and anointed yet he lost his crown and his relationship with God. Looking at his story we can see that he fell in stages that can be summarized as Disobedience- Disgrace- Defeat- Death. Let us look at his story in 1 Kingdoms and see how this tragic story worked itself out.

Saul was chosen and anointed yet he lost his crown and his relationship with God. Looking at his story we can see that he fell in stages that can be summarized as Disobedience- Disgrace- Defeat- Death. Let us look at his story in 1 Kingdoms and see how this tragic story worked itself out.

SUMMARIZE

The Israelites were tired of being ruled by judges and wanted a king. It had been God’s intention for them to eventually have kings but they were seeking for this on their time and for bad motives. Samuel counseled against it but they insisted. Saul enters the picture as he is seeking some lost donkeys belonging to his father. Samuel anoints Saul as king privately and as Saul was returning home the Spirit of the LORD comes upon him and he prophesies. Samuel calls all Israel together and calls for lots to choose the king. When the lot falls to Saul, he is nowhere to be found. He was hiding in the baggage. Saul is then anointed as king publically. He then goes to battle and defeats the Ammonites. For his next battle he gathers an army to fight the Philistines.

DISOBEDIENCE

1 Kingdoms 13:1-15

Now we come to Saul’s Disobedience. This is the beginning of his long fall from grace.

Now we come to Saul’s Disobedience.

READ:

*(13:1) There is a textual corruption in 13:1 of the Hebrew. This verse is not even in the Septuagint. It seems the Hebrew meant to give Saul’s age at his accession and the length of his reign. St. Paul says Saul reigned for 40 yrs. ().

*(13:2) The 3000 fighting men are selected from the force of the army of 330,000 mustered for his campaign against the Ammonites (11:8).

*REREAD (13:3-4) WHAT IS SAUL’S FAILING HERE? (Taking credit for the accomplishments of others/ Not giving God glory)…WHO ELSE DID THAT BEFORE FALLING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO? (Samson took credit for killing the thousand Philistines)

Jonathan attacked and destroyed the Philistine outpost, but Saul took all the credit for it. Saul’s growing pride started out small— taking credit for a battle that was won by his son. Left unchecked, his pride grew into an ugly obsession; thus, it destroyed him, tore his family apart, and threatened the well-being of the nation. Taking credit for the accomplishments of others indicates that pride is controlling your life. When you notice pride taking a foothold, take immediate steps to put it in check by giving credit to those who deserve it.

*POINT OUT: (13:9) he offered: this is a double act of disobedience. Saul refuses to wait for Samuel as instructed in 10:8; and, as a layman, he is forbidden to officiate at a liturgy of sacrifice.

*REREAD (13:11-12) It is difficult to trust God when you feel your resources slipping away. When Saul felt that time was running out, he became impatient with God’s timing. In thinking that the ritual was all he needed, he substituted the ritual for faith in God. WHAT DOES THIS TELL US? “To obey is better than sacrifice” () Yes, we should do the rituals and sacrifices, but not without our hearts and obedience.

*REREAD (13:12-13) Saul had plenty of excuses for his disobedience. But Samuel zeroed in on the real issue: “Thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee.” Like Saul, we often gloss over our mistakes and sins, trying to justify our actions because of our “special” circumstances. But our excuses are nothing more than disobedience. God knows our true motives. He forgives, restores, and blesses only when we are honest about our sins. By trying to hide his sins behind excuses, Saul lost his kingship (). He should have fallen at the Lord’s feet as St. Peter did today in the Gospel, admitting he was a sinful man and committing himself to follow God ().

*POINT OUT (13:14) An advance reference to David (16:6-13). The significance of this statement is that God—not Saul—will choose the next king of Israel. Allegorically, the change from Saul to David foreshadows the change in covenants from the Old to the New and the transformation of priesthood and kingship in the eternal priest-king, Jesus Christ (St. Augustine, City of God 17, 4).

SUMMARIZE

Hahn, Scott. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: 1 & 2 Samuel (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) (Kindle Locations 2187-2188). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.

Now we come to Saul’s Disobedience.

SUMMARIZE

The battle is off to a rough start until Saul’s son Jonathan takes out a Philistine lookout post with his armor-bearer. This causes to enemy to panic and run and the Israelites chase them. Saul makes a rash oath which nearly results in Jonathan’s death. Saul continues to fight and win wars until he defeats the Amalekites. Here he gets in trouble again. He had been commanded to take no prisoners or booty but he takes both against God’s command. He is rejected a second time as king. Right after this Samuel anoints David as king secretly. Then comes the story of David and Goliath and David enters Saul’s service as his armor-bearer, also playing music for him to calm him whenever an evil spirit afflicted him.

DISGRACE

READ: (Hebrew text)

*(18:1-5) These verses not in Septuagint. OSB numbers verses differently as well.

*Story Arc: 18:1-30 David soars in popularity with the people but plummets in popularity with Saul. He is "loved" by Saul's son, Jonathan (18:1-3); by Saul's daughter, Michal (18:20); by Saul's servants (18:22); and by the tribes of Israel (18:16, 28). Saul, too, looks upon David with admiration at first (18:5), but his thoughts soon turn to suspicion (18:9), fear (18:12), and murder (18:17, 21, 25). Allegorically, if you want to see the mystery of the Lord prefigured, look upon Abel, who was murdered; Isaac, who was bound; Joseph, who was sold into slavery; Moses, who was exposed; and David, who was persecuted (St. Melito of Sardis, Homily on Passover 59).

*REREAD (18:8) WHAT SIN IS SAUL FALLING INTO HERE?.....Saul’s appreciation for David turned to jealousy as people began to applaud David’s exploits. In a jealous rage, Saul attempted to murder David by hurling his spear at him (1   Sam 18: 11-12). Jealousy may not seem to be a major sin,   but in reality, it is one step short of murder. Jealousy starts as you resent a rival; it leads to your wishing that rival removed; then it manifests itself in your seeking ways to harm that person in word or action. Beware of letting jealousy get a   foothold in your life.

*POINT OUT: (18:9) This is where Saul begins to suspect that David might be the "neighbor" destined to supplant him as king (15:28). Heb. has additionally: “what more can he have but the kingdom?”

TI - The Revised Standard Version

CY - Oak Harbor, WA

PB - Logos Research Systems, Inc.

PY - 1971

SE -

ER -

*REREAD: (18:10-11) Not in Septuagint, Heb. reads: “10 And on the morrow an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; 11 and Saul cast the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. “

Saul begins to suspect that David might be the "neighbor" destined to supplant him as king (15:28). Heb. has additionally: “what more can he have but the kingdom?”

(18:10-11) Not in Septuagint, Heb. reads: “10 And on the morrow an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; 11 and Saul cast the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. “

evil spirit: A harassing demon. David's ability to drive away the spirit and to ease Saul's torments gains him a position as court musician and exorcist.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT SAUL WAS SENT “AN EVIL SPIRIT FROM THE LORD?”

from the Lord: Not that Yahweh does evil in the world as well as good, but that he permits even fallen spirits to work their mischief in view of a greater divine plan. In any case, allowing evil is not the same as approving it or accomplishing it. The expression also underlines the biblical doctrine that God is the Origin of all creatures seen and unseen, in contrast to the polytheism of the Near East, which viewed the gods and spirits of the world as independent beings beholden to the will of no ultimate deity.

TI - The Revised Standard Version

CY - Oak Harbor, WA

PB - Logos Research Systems, Inc.

PY - 1971

SE -

ER -

*REREAD (18:11-12) HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND WHEN OTHERS HAVE ILL FEELINGS TOWARD US? .....Saul tried to kill David because he was jealous of David’s popularity, yet David continued to protect and comfort Saul. Perhaps people have been jealous of you and have even attacked you in some way. It would be natural to strike back or to avoid them. A better response is to   befriend them () and to ask God for the strength to continue loving them, as David kept on loving Saul.

SUMMARIZE

After this, Saul tries to kill David again by setting him up with the princess Michal and setting a dangerous bride-price. David, however, succeeds and marries her. David and Jonathan become even closer friends and Saul a more bitter enemy. Soon David has to flee for his life with the aid of Jonathan and Michal- Saul’s own House is working against him! The whole series of adventures during David’s life as a fugitive in the Wilderness being chased by Saul ensues and eventually David has several opportunities to kill Saul but he does not take them out of respect for the Lord’s Anointed King. Saul gives up chasing David after the second time David spares him and returns to fighting the Philistines one last time.

DEFEAT

READ:

*POINT OUT: (28:3-5) Although he had removed the sin of witchcraft from the land, he did not remove it from his heart. We may make a great show of denouncing sin, but if our hearts do not change, the sins will return. Knowing what is right and condemning what is wrong do not take the place of doing what is right.

Tyndale House Publishers Inc.. Chronological Life Application Study Bible KJV (Kindle Locations 102759-102760). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

*(28:6) None of the acceptable means of divine revelation were working for Saul. The "symbols of revelation" in the Septuagint refer to the Urim and Thummim. So Saul sought unlawful means for guidance. He should have repented and been patient as today’s Prokeimenon declared: “With Patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication.” And he should have remembered that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness and that the Lord is the true source of vision as we heard in 2 Corinthians during the Liturgy but he chose to be one of the “evil men who go from bad to worse” St. Paul was talking about in the reading from 2 Timothy.

attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication.”

*(28:8) Necromancy, the occultic art of communicating with the dead, is condemned as an abomination in the Mosaic Law (). The episode also reveals that belief in life after death was not unusual in ancient Israel.

*REREAD (28:12) Did Samuel really come back from the dead at the medium’s call? .....The note in the OSB shows the fathers and early commentators were divided on this point:

28:7-25   This passage created great controversy among the Fathers of the Church. In fact, at least three distinct interpretations can be found.     

Nelson, Thomas. The Orthodox Study Bible: Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World . Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

1. The woman called Samuel forth from the dead (Justin Martyr, Origen, Ambrose, and Augustine).     

Nelson, Thomas. The Orthodox Study Bible: Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World . Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

2. Whether it was Samuel or a demon, it appeared at God's bidding and not by some magic of the woman (Chrysostom, Theodoret).     

3. The entity was a demon who deceived Saul and gave him a false prophecy (Tertullian, Hippolytus, Ephrem the Syrian, Evagrius, Basil, Jerome, Ambrosiaster, & Gregory of Nyssa).     

The third interpretation seems to be held by the greatest number of Fathers, and Gregory of Nyssa wrote a specific treatise on the subject. He defends this view by citing the impassible chasm in the Lazarus parable (). The apparition appeared only to the woman; she told Saul whom it resembled. The Greek word translated medium in this passage is literally the word for “ventriloquist.” Also, Saul had been plagued by evil spirits for years and was easily deceived by them.

*(28:15) God did not answer Saul’s appeals because Saul had not followed God’s previous directions. Sometimes people wonder why their prayers are not answered. But if they don’t fulfill the responsibilities God has already given them, they should not be surprised when he does not give further guidance.

Tyndale House Publishers Inc.. Chronological Life Application Study Bible KJV (Kindle Location 102781). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

*NOTE: (28:24-25) A feast marks the end of Saul's career just as a sacrificial meal marked its beginning (9:22-24).

Hahn, Scott. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: 1 & 2 Samuel (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) (Kindle Locations 2667-2668). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.

SUMMARIZE

As Saul returns to his army after consulting the witch, the Philistines are gathering their army at Aphek. David is with them but he is sent away because most of the Philistine lords do not trust him to turn and fight for Saul during the battle. David and his men go home to the city the Philistines had given him as a refuge from Saul while the Israelites and the Philistines face each other at Mt. Gilboa.

DEATH

And now the tragic story of King Saul comes to a close. Saul’s fall began with repeated acts of DISOBEDIENCE, then he fell into the DISGRACE of Envy of David, then his spiritual DEFEAT was completed when he consulted the witch at Endor. Now all that is left is his DEATH:

READ:

Now we come to Saul’s Disobedience.

Now we come to Saul’s Disobedience.

READ:

*Saul’s sons: Three of his four sons are slain in the battle (). The lone survivor, Ish-bosheth (also called Eshbaal), will make a bid for kingship after Saul's death ().

CONCLUSION:

READ:

Consider the difference between the last judge of Israel and its first king. Samuel, the judge, was characterized by consistency, obedience, and a deep desire for God’s will. He had a genuine desire for God. Saul, the king, was characterized by inconsistency, disobedience, and self-will. He did not have a heart for God. When God called Samuel, Samuel said, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (). But when God, through Samuel, called Saul, Saul replied, “Wherefore then speakest thou so to me?” (). Saul was dedicated to himself; Samuel was dedicated to God.

Tyndale House Publishers Inc.. Chronological Life Application Study Bible KJV (Kindle Locations 102841-102845). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

This story should be a reminder to us not to lose our crown. Not to let any person or any passion take it from us so that we do not end as sadly as Saul did having squandered our gifts and become a stranger to God. Saul trusted in his own strength and only gained a little relief from David’s song, he did not repent and did not gain salvation. But we should remember the words of today’s Prokeimenon: “The Lord is my strength and my song, and He is become my salvation.”

He is become my salvation.

Instead, let us hold the mirror of Scripture to our lives and learn to follow the King of Kings rather than imitate King Saul. As St. Andrew of Crete wrote in his Great Canon:

“When Saul once lost his father’s asses, in searching for them he found himself proclaimed as king. But watch, my soul, lest unknown to thyself thou prefer thine animal appetites to the Kingdom of Christ.”