Sermon Tone Analysis

Hand in Hand: Foolishness & False Piety - 1 Samuel 14:16-52

How can you spot a fool?

[from Dan Rockwell at leadershipfreak.blog - https://leadershipfreak.blog/2013/05/01/twelve-ways-to-spot-fools/]

(Or what should be the telltale signs to us that we are behaving foolishly?)

1. Believe they are right.

2. Hate accountability and practical strategies.

3. Love blaming and reject responsibility.

4. Pursue personal ease rather than challenge.

5. Expect you to adapt to them.

6. Reject instruction.

7. Can’t see their foolishness.

8. Express frustrations quickly and openly.

9. Gossip and cut down privately while complimenting publicly.

10.

Act confidently.

11.

Enjoy talking.

12. Despise listening.

Is foolishness a serious problem?

The Bible has a great deal to say about this, but here is just one example from Isaiah:

Please PRAY with me before we continue in 1 Samuel: God of all wisdom, teach us to be wise according to your instruction.

Amen.

So the word for the day is foolishness:

Foolishness is not a matter of intelligence or talent.

(Many a fool is supremely intelligent and talented.)

Foolishness is a lack of listening and obedience to God’s command, being wise in one’s own eyes.

Foolishness is sin.

The other term to understand today then is false piety:

Piety is a word describing what can be seen as a virtue that includes religious devotion and spirituality from an attitude of humility.

- Another way to express false piety then would be that it is fake religious devotion and spirituality and only a facade of humility.

(It has the outward trappings of religion without the inward heart of submission to God.)

How is it that Saul simultaneously becomes more religious but more agitated and self-absorbed—falsely pious and foolish? - It’s self-preservation and not coming to God on his terms and following God’s commands his way.

Why do I say his behavior smacks of self-preservation?

Remember that in Ch. 13 Samuel told Saul of the consequences for his disobedience:

In the remainder of chapter 14 we will see that Saul is bringing around the ark of God’s presence (with his people), he’s making a grand vow, he’s building an altar to the Lord, he’s holding the people accountable for sin… no matter who it is (supposedly), and he’s creating for himself a real legacy.

- Here’s the problem: It’s all false piety and utter foolishness, and he doesn’t seem to know it!

When we don’t REALLY listen to God, we behave super piously and make foolish decisions, thinking that we are displaying devotion and wisdom.

Let’s observe the evidence of Saul’s false piety and foolishness.

(Rather than smirking at Saul, we should allow God’s word to be the mirror which reveals our own hearts.)

The Follow-up to Jonathan’s Bravery (vv.

16-23)

It is foolish to repeat the folly of the past.

Saul is doing this in two ways:

1.

He was sitting on his hands yet again while Jonathan went to work against the Philistines.

(Remember before who had attacked the Philistines at Geba in the first place?

Yep, it was Saul’s son.)

And again young Jonathan had to sneak off without his father’s knowledge in order to see the Lord work through him against the Philistines.

- It’s shocking that they even had to ask who was missing from the group!

2. Saul repeated the earlier folly of the Israelites bringing the ark of God around into battle like a talisman.

** Wasn’t the ark of God captured by the Philistines in chapter 4 of 1 Samuel bc of this same approach?

And didn’t Eli drop dead bc of it?

- Saul is not exercising good judgment.

What image does the Bible use about repeating folly?…

It is false to give lip service to the idea of listening to God.

… while not actually doing so.

Saul gears up to inquire the will of the Lord, but then tells Ahijah to stay his hand either bc of being in a hurry or bc he decided it just wasn’t necessary anymore.

And by the way, a note about somebody other than Saul from vv. 21-22 (quite a few somebodies, actually)…

It’s false allegiance to God and to his people to realign yourself when it’s convenient.

It’s false to finally fight for what’s right when right seems to be winning.

Even the deserters (some probably mercenaries) and cowards come out to join Israel… because Jonathan (and his armor-bearer, I dare not forget that brave teammate) had the courage to attack a Philistine outpost: “It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” (14:6c) & “Do all that is in your heart… I am with you heart and soul.”

(7)

Saul’s Big Talk (vv.

24-31)

It is false piety to make any vow that doesn’t have God’s glory as its goal.

He makes no mention of God’s enemies, of Israel’s enemies… no, he has somehow turned this thing personal and wants to be avenged on “my enemies.”

It is foolish to make bold and sweeping vows without foundation and careful consideration.

Saul obviously does this without reason or forethought.

(I mean, he doesn’t even have a reason like, “No time for food!

Let’s fight!) Saul’s vow is rash, reckless, and self-centered.

I have recently committed to memory the following proverb for myself, because I need it.

I don’t want to be Saul-ish.

Saul’s foolish venting has two serious consequences, the 2nd more disastrous than the first.

The first result was that the defeat among the Philistines was not as great as it would have been without the foolish vow.

(Even in pursuing the enemy from Michmash to Aijalon, the people had gone some 15-20 miles in battle, on foot, over undoubtedly rough terrain.

No wonder they were beat without anything to eat.)

The first consequence was weakening the victory.

The second consequence was Israel’s sin against the commandment of God.

[Let’s read how it goes down.]

Whose Treachery Indeed! (vv.

32-35)

It is foolish to not consider one’s own fault and take responsibility.

“You have dealt treacherously”

It is false to consider the Lord as an afterthought for self-preservation.

He only considered the sin of the people in doing this thing when others brought it to his attention.

So this first, or first and only, altar Saul built seems to be an afterthought… and he seems to continue acting in self-preservation.

When God Won’t Answer (vv.

36-42)

It is foolish to presume upon the Lord’s favor when one’s heart is far from him.

When you are false in your devotion to God and continue in disobedience to his will, it is foolish to think you can just inquire direction from him and expect his good graces.

- Saul only did so when Ahijah the priest recommended it.

Jesus said, quoting God’s words through the Prophet Isaiah:

C’mon now, building an altar and inquiring of the Lord… those are right things to do, aren’t they?! …Unless their heart is false.

When they proclaim loudly that they’ve supposedly done great things for him in his name (like prophesy, drive out demons, perform miracles).

But if their heart is false, this is the reply when standing before the Lord: (saying “Lord, Lord”)

Jesus continues to say and gives the corresponding illustration that the person who hears his words and acts on them (obeys his will) is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

- What is the term for the person who builds his house on sand… who claims to be listening to Jesus but doesn’t act accordingly?

Right, the foolish man.

By contrast...

It is foolish and false to assume others are the cause of our problems with God.

Saul is so bold here, we know he thinks this sin is in someone else!

He never even considers that HE himself has broken fellowship with God.

It is foolish to pronounce punishment before a matter is known.

To me, Saul’s words in v. 39 are incredibly suspicious.

It is foolish and false to use God-talk to suit our own purposes.

With our current perspective, Saul’s religious language and ceremony for discerning God’s will seem quite dubious.

It is foolish to equate someone not doing what we want with sin.

So somebody broke Saul’s ridiculous vow?