Saul: A Man of No Faith
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Welcome/Prayer
Today we continue our march through 1 Samuel in chapters 13 & 14
We’re currently learning about the person of Saul and today we’ll learn that Saul is a man of no faith, by two actions that reflect his relationship with God’s Word...
The first one, 13.1-15, Saul ignores God’s Word b/c of a lack of faith and in doing so suffers a horrible consequence
The second one 13.16-14.46, Saul adds to God’s Word b/c of a lack of a faith and is made out a fool for doing so by his own people and almost takes the life of his own son in the process
If you need a Bible, they are in the back…
A Man of No Faith Ignores God’s Word
A Man of No Faith Ignores God’s Word
(1 Samuel 13:1-15) In these 15 verses we read of the event that leads to Saul losing his kingship...
But before we dive in let’s deal with a textual issue in verse 1, dealing with the number of years Saul lived and reigned 1 Samuel 13:1
Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel,
This reading doesn’t make sense and I am sure some of your translations have something different… some translations have it as 30 years old, and a reign of 40 years, or a reign of 42 years… while there is much debate on how to understand verse 1, there is little debate that this verse in the original text has been corrupted during transmission. Meaning at some point during the process of copying a number was dropped.
This is one of the many instances in the OT where the current number in the Hebrew is most likely not original.
Saul gathers a small contingent of men to act as a small standing army...
Jonathan oversees a small portion of it and uses his men to defeat the Philistines at Geba (3)
And all of Israel heard about the victory and how they have become a stench to the Philistines so they gathered with Saul
This action of course infuriates the Philistines, after all they are still technically ruling over Israel in some capacity...
So while the Israelites gather with Saul at Gilgal… the Philistines form an army for a counter-attack
This force of the Philistines (v. 5) includes 30k chariots, 6k horsemen, plus an unaccountable number of foot soldiers (largest Philistine force recorded)
This force moves to strike Israel but before they can even attack the men of Israel flee in terror (v. 6) and hide among the caves, the tombs, and even in the cisterns
Saul seeing and hearing about all of this takes matters into his own hands (8)...
Saul is in Gilgal still and he is supposed to wait the appointed time by Samuel for the sacrifice. Most likely the 7 days mentioned back in 1 Samuel 10:8 (DON’T READ)
Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.”
Rather than being faithful, rather than being obedient to the Word of God as delivered by Samuel… Saul does things his way...
Saul goes ahead with the sacrifice… seeking the Lord’s favor through an act of disobedience… an act of unfaithfulness...
As soon as Saul finishes the offering Samuel walks up...
Saul, like a typical depraved faithless man, makes excuses...
There is no indication of repentance… or acknowledgement of the sin he has committed...
Like Adam, who blamed the woman and blamed God for giving him the woman… Saul blames everything and everyone but himself
Saul blamed the people scattering
For Samuel taking too long
And for the Philistines gathering...
Samuel speaks plainly, calls Saul a fool (v. 13)...
No excuse, no circumstance, no reason ever justifies disobeying the Lord… to ignore the clear teaching of His Word
We have moments when you and I sin… when our faith fails and we cave… but when we are confronted about our sin, either by His Word or by another...
How we respond matters…
If we confess and take responsibility and seek forgiveness, then we shall have forgiveness...
But if we don’t… we won’t… and we must be careful, for there are sins being committed by many so-called “Christians” of which no forgiveness is being sought for… consider some of these examples...
The unmarried couple sleeping together seeking God to bless their relationship while they willfully engage in open sin
Or a pastor officiating a gay wedding seeking the Lord’s blessing on a union that God condemns… or “Christians” who attend a gay wedding, acting as witnesses of God’s supposed affirmation of such a union...
Or a church that ignores God’s teaching on roles of men and women, allowing women to be in positions of authority over-ruling the husbands of the households, to include their own husbands… thus upending the ordained order given at creation...
All of these examples go against the clear teaching of Scripture… yet, many do it… why?
B/c everyone else is doing it?
B/c they don’t know the Word of God? Perhaps...
Or maybe they think it’s not that big of a deal… again, thinking that way comes from ignoring the Word of God.
To allow any of these sins, for any reason, is to be in the same boat as Saul here...
To ignore what God teaches and to allow circumstances and the culture to dictate our behavior is to be a man or woman who lacks faith and ignores the Word of God
Again, we all slip up, but what we do in response is significant… actively participating in open sin absent of repentance is to act like a fool and to live a life that is a lie
Thankfully though, if that’s been you… if you’re the fool, God’s grace is for still there for you, as it is for me… you can repent today, now, you can stop living in sin… you just need to confess your sin, and seek God’s forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ as you give your live to Christ as your Lord and Savior… and if you have questions about that… please ask...
There’s no shame for a repentant heart… shame only remains on those who refuse God’s mercy
As such Saul, through this act suffers a serious consequence...
He will lose the throne and his offspring will not sit on it...
Yahweh, verse 14, is now seeking a man after His own heart… which as most of us know ends up being David...
Let us now look at Saul’s second example of lacking faith starting in v. 16
A Man of No Faith Adds to God’s Word
A Man of No Faith Adds to God’s Word
Raiders from the Philistines come out in 3 companies
Israelites woefully ill-equipped no blacksmiths to make weapons, the Philistine civilians were overcharging the Israelites to sharpen their farming tools… only Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear (v. 22)
Situation is hopeless...Israel is vastly outnumbered… they are scattered and divided…
Saul has already offended God by his disobedience in ignoring the Word of God
Yet, just like in Exodus 14, with Pharoah and the Israelites, no situation is ever hopeless when God is with you… something that Saul’s son clearly understood as demonstrated by his actions and his own words in verse 6
Jonathan who defeated the Philistines once before at Geba… takes his armorer to the Philistine garrison on a daring mission… didn’t tell his dad
Saul is back at higher headquarters, and we read about the company he keeps in verse 3… of note is Ahijah who is wearing an ephod, a priestly garment), is a descendant of Phinehas… son of Eli (chapter 1-4)
Jonathan and his armor make their way to the garrison and Jonathan tells the young man with him of his daring plans to attack the “uncircumcised”
A term of contempt… to highlight the fact the Philistines were outside of the covenant faith with Yahweh
His armorer being an example to us of faithfulness and loyalty tells Jonathan in verse 7 that he his all in… whatever Jonathan decides… literally in the Hebrew - “I am with you like your heart is with you”
When a man of God leads boldly, faithfully, courageously, it will inspire others to do so… God will gather His sheep to shepherds that follow Him…
And if we didn’t know the rest of the story, we might think that Jonathan is the man of whom Samuel spoke of in chapter 13 of being after God’s heart… but rather Jonathan is a prototype of David… and perhaps Jonathan would have been a great king if his dad had not lost the throne in his disobedience.
Jonathan’s life verses very well could have been Deut. 20:1, Deut 28:7…
“When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
“The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
Jonathan lays out the plan in detail (v. 9-10) which hinges on how the Philistines respond to their presence…
If they decided to scale down the cliff, wearing themselves out and abandon their position of advantage Jonathan can avoid a skirmish
If they decide to challenge Jonathan by having him scale the cliff then fight them.... well then God has handed them over, despite Jonathan having to climb up to them
Absurd right?
After climbing up, hands & feet (v. 13), they kill 20 men in the space of about half an acre (v. 14)...
Jonathan did so by knocking the men in some fashion and his armor bearer behind him thrusting fatal blows into the men… with some form of farming implementation...
Panic ensues… and God shakes the earth to further the panic of the Philistines
Saul and the Israelite army notice the panic and figure out that it was Jonathan and his armor bearer who are missing and thus must be involved in whatever is causing the Philistines to panic
But before Israel is to march into the battle to join Jonathan their priest needs to speak with them in accordance to Deut. 20 (v. 18-19) But as usual, Saul’s spiritual insensitivity shows itself again and he cuts the consultation short.
Saul was consumed with his circumstances and like a little child didn’t want to miss out on this opportunity to route his enemy… for the panic in the Philistine camp was growing
Again, Saul is clearly a man of the world… people of this world have their actions dictated by the circumstances of this world
This epic reversal of Israel’s situation causes the Hebrews who had defected to the Philistines to turn back again to their own nation and fight with alongside Saul and Jonathan (v. 21)…
A lesson recalled by Philistines later in 1 Samuel 29…
And likewise all the men who had hidden themselves once before now are part of the fight and as such God delivers his people
This victory, secured by God (v. 23), not by the might of Israel nor by the leadership of Saul… emboldens Saul that he now adds to the Word of God
Before… he ignored it and allowed circumstance to dictate his actions and how he understood the Word...
Now, again, circumstance is causing him to be rash… and he makes a vow up, not found in Scripture… (v. 24)
Cursed is any man who eats before evening and before Saul is avenged on his enemies.
A tired army already… and now they pursue the Philistines, some 15 miles and can’t eat.... it’s foolishness...
This is often the spectrum of human behavior in regard to the Word of God...
One end we ignore it… don’t believe there are consequences, a form of nominalism
On the other end… we need to do more, so we add to it… legalism
Despite the work already having been accomplished by God… Saul wants more and tries to squeeze more out of this opportunity by works rather than by faith...
This is the price of legalism...
Putting undue burden on oneself or upon others for the sake of control
Often in regards to our faith, legalism is about being in control of either others or in control of our salvation...
It makes something that is not tangible, seem tangible… but it is a great offense to God
To hear the Word of God and to know Christ said “It is finished” on the Cross, and to know that He has accomplished all that is necessary for salvation, but then to add to it… is a grave sin.
To say or think that other things must be done in order for salvation to occur is to add to God’s Word…
It’s an act borne out of selfishness, out of depravity, an act, that if not repented of leads to damnation… for no longer are you trusting in the Son of God, but you are trusting in self or in something else other than God
Saul here wanted more… Saul wanted to be in control… Saul wanted the glory… Saul wanted to be certain… so he foolishly creates a vow for God’s people, putting a burden on them God never wanted them to bear...
Trusting God is not always easy… it takes faith… not much faith… just a little in the right direction… this is why we pray when we struggle… this is why we pray continually… B/c we need help…
It is also why we gather… and are willing to take risks if necessary to gather… b/c we need each other.
So after the vow is made... Jonathan having come across honey on the forest floor (v. 21) eats some in ignorance… not aware of his father’s vow until another tells him after the fact....
Jonathan, the good man he is, recognizes the error of his father and exclaims what trouble his father has caused… the language here in verse 29 “made trouble” used by Jonathan is the same for Achan, in Joshua 7… the second time Saul has been connected with Achan, a man who died, along with his family, under the judgment of God… Saul is clearly on the path to a similar destiny.
Beyond that Jonathan points out how his father’s actions has robbed Israel of a greater victory....
When evening had finally come, the army, being famished, “pounced” on the sheep and oxen (v. 32)… and slaughtered them so quickly, most likely due to their hunger that was unnecessarily caused by Saul’s foolish vow, that they failed to eat the animals in accordance to their law....
By slaughtering the animals on the ground instead of on a stone the blood was unable to drain out so they consumed the animals with the blood still in them.
Upon Saul being aware of this, he condemns the action and then he corrects it… he provides a place for the slaughtering and doing so he constructs an altar for the Lord
Saul then was ready to continue with the fight… always a man seeking gain
But the priest interjects and reminds Saul… he may be king, but he needs to consult Yahweh first… (v. 36)
So he inquires of God and God does not answer…
And silence from God is just as good as God saying no… but why though? Saul desires to find out the sin that is hindering the battle...
Through a process of lots with Urim and Thummim, particular type of marked stones, it comes out that Jonathan is the guilty one...
Jonathan confesses his act of consuming honey… and even though Jonathan knows the vow was foolish, Jonathan, is willing to die… even though he did the act ignorantly...
Saul was willing to slay his own son, but the people redeemed Jonathan, they ransomed him so that he would not die...
And they rescued him simply by standing up to the king...
For on that day, Saul’s authority was rebuked by the people for its foolishness
A lesson many congregations should follow in dealing with foolish and abusive pastors
Pastors and elders, are called to be above reproach, but that does not mean that they are above reproach
A man’s position may give him power, but any power absent of faith is limited… whereas a man with faith, like Jonathan, can with two people, cause a force far greater in size to scatter… a faith rooted in the nature and knowledge of God
Our lives, if they are of faith, must be marked by the Word of God...
Lives that know the Word and lives that obey the Word
They also must be lives that trust the Word in all things… not adding to or taking away
We must learn to walk by faith and know that Jesus is enough
We must learn to not let society or culture to dictate how to understand or how to apply the teaching of Christ… Christ alone must teach us that through His Word.
Jesus did not suffer and die on the Cross for you to think that baptism, or even communion, or confessing to a priest, or praying to his dead mother Mary, will secure your place with Him… faith in Christ alone is enough
This is why we do communion… b/c we of faith, trust God’s Word...
We do communion weekly b/c we don’t ignore the clear teaching of Scripture… we worship Him as He commands us to worship Him
We partake of the bread and juice so that we may consider what God has done, specifically what Christ has done for us… how He has secured our salvation for us by the shedding of His blood for our sins, granting us forgiveness with His Father...
In considering His works, we are reminded of the promises that come forth out of His works, and we gave our eyes up to the unseen as we anxiously await the fulfillment of those promises at His second coming...
In observing communion we are careful not to add to God’s Word as well… in faith and knowledge of God’s Word we understand communion to be a gift, an act of worship, an act of obedience, that blesses us by reminding us of the Gospel, giving us a literal taste of the Good News...
While refraining from adding any power of salvation to it...
Nor do we allow culture or the pace of life dictate how we observe communion… we take the time, the effort, necessary to do so…
So, that we may be a people of the faith, a people of God’s Word…
A simple act, to set our minds, our hearts, and our eyes, on the unseen and the eternal that we pray will help mold our behavior the rest of the week...
SANITIZE HANDS...
PRAY
Instructions