Pastor Saul has a Problem
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And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
Introduction.
The life of Saul the son of Kish is a study that reveals much about humanity, and is relevant today as a cautionary tale, to Pastors and Laity alike.
Bro. Branham identifies Saul as a “Pastor”. The kings of Israel were “Pastors” or Shepherds.
For the pastors are become brutish, And have not sought the Lord: Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered.
21 For the shepherds [of the people] have become like brutes, irrational and stupid, and have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him or required Him [by necessity and by right of His word]. Therefore they have not dealt prudently and have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered. AMP
What was Saul’s problem?
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
1 Samuel Chapter 18
Saul had brooded over his disappointment, and cherished feelings of discontent at his own lot and of envy at the good of others to such an extent that his mind gave way before the diseased workings of his imagination. And so he lost all control over himself, and prophesied. The conjugation employed here (Hithpahel) is never used of real, true prophecy (which is always the Niphal), but of a bastard imitation of it. Really Saul was in a state of frenzy, unable to master himself, speaking words of which he knew not the meaning, and acting like a man possessed. In all this there was something akin to the powerful emotions which agitated the true prophet, only it was not a holy influence, but one springing from violent passions and a disturbed state of the mind.
What would make Pastor Saul attempt murder from his own pulpit?
349 And you people with these saw-blade tempers, that’s always spouting off in the mouth at somebody, can’t put up, and things like that. Be careful. You’re guilty if you speak a word against your brother that’s not right, not just, go around and tear down it. You don’t have to stick a knife in a man’s back to kill him. You can break his character and kill him, kill his influence. Speak against your pastor here, say something bad about him, you just might as well as shot him. Told something that wasn’t right about him, well, it’ll kill his influence with the people and things like that, and you’re guilty of it. What Jesus said.
57-0922E - Hebrews, Chapter Seven #2
Saul was Backslid.
But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
19 They went on back down, and the Spirit departed from Saul. He’d backslid and went so far away from God until the Spirit had left him, and a evil spirit took His place, come on Saul. And Saul was all moody and in a bad humor, and kicking things around, all out of sorts like some people gets on Monday morning. So they—he was out of sorts all the time. Did you know that’s a evil spirit? That’s exactly.
55-0118 - This Great Warrior, David
90 Now, on your question, you’re talking about the evil spirit that went out from God to torment Saul. He was in a moody, broke-down shape—condition, because, first place, he was backslid. And when you backslide, an evil spirit—God will permit an evil spirit to torment you.
59-1219 - Questions And Answers On The Holy Ghost
How does he backslide?
Saul was not a usurper to the throne, he had been elected by the people, was physically qualified, and had been anointed by the Prophet.
And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
He showed a tendency towards denominationalism early in his ministry.
And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
92 So then when they did that, when the great defeat come, then Saul cut up two great ox and sent them to all the people. And I wish you would notice here, when Saul sent the pieces of the ox to all Israel, and said, “Let every man that will not follow Samuel and Saul, let him, this ox, be as this.” Do you see how deceitful he tried to represent himself with the man of God? How unchristian it was! The fear of the people was because of Samuel. But Saul got them all to follow him because that the people feared Samuel. “Let them come after Samuel and Saul.”
93 And how many times, today, have we heard it! “We are the great Church. We are the Church of Christ. We are the Church of God. We are the so-and-so.” It makes the people get a fear, and think that that really is where God is a working. And they don’t want the leadership of the Holy Spirit. They’d rather follow men like that, because they like to live their own individual life. They like to believe what they want to believe.
94 Do you see? The Holy Spirit is our Judge. God never give us a pope, or a bishop, or anybody, to be a Judge. The Holy Spirit, the Person of God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, is our Judge and our Guide.
60-0515M - The Rejected King
I’ve been told that if I fellowship with a certain group I won’t preach for someone else. This is the same evil spirit.
Look at this tendency.
And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
Striking!
And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
Why did they transgress? Because of Pastor Saul’s personal vendetta.
2. He had rejected the Leading of the Holy Spirit, and lost Confidence in the Prophet to the Age.
And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
60 Now, we find out then, when a man rejects the leading of the Holy Spirit…You know what God did for Saul? He give him an evil spirit to lead him. Now, how about that? He give him an evil spirit; God gave him an evil spirit to lead him. So when a man rejects the leading of the Holy Spirit, or any person rejects the leading of the Holy Spirit, you got a devil on you to lead you. That’s exactly the Bible.
60-0610 - The Rejected King
3. He was Jealous of David’s Popularity, and Obsessed with Remaining King.
And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.
And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
4. He believe he had been wronged, and refused to forgive, or surrender himself to God’s will.