Saul's Foolishness

Intro: Have you ever made a foolish decision?

Toe story

I made a rash decision because I just wanted to get it done.

This story is filled with examples of Saul making foolish and rash decisions.

Act with Wisdom (24-30)

Saul made a foolish decision. He had his people avoid eating before a battle, when they had enormous caloric needs

Saul seemingly had no rational reason to do this. God didn’t tell him to, he seemed to just make the decision to set a strange standard of holiness that God never encouraged.

Have you ever done something like this? Have you ever invented a standard of holiness that God doesn’t require?

No secular music, no masks, etc.

Don’t invent a standard of holiness that God doesn’t require

Saul seemed to want to get God on His side, but, if you’ll look at 24, he makes it clear that he’s just looking for prideful vengeance

Use the wisdom that God provides

Proverbs 2:6 NASB95

For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Our God is wise, and He gives wisdom, so use it!

You have a brain in your head instead of rocks, so use it!

Don’t make rash decisions

Think about what you’re going to do before you do it.

Talk to someone else about it

Search the Bible for wisdom

Proverbs 9:10 NASB95

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Act with Faith (30-37)

After Saul makes a dumb call, he does something that, on paper, looks like a tactical decision. He wants to capitalize on the momentum of the victory and attack the Philistines. But, he does something wrong

He didn’t consult God!

He was just going to make a rash decision

It took the son of a disgraced priest (Ahijah) to say, maybe we should ask God.

This is another strike on Saul’s relationship with God.

It seems like he might have presided over the affairs in 31-5 when the people broke the law, then he builds his first altar (a bad sign) and then this.

Saul makes his choices separate from God completely. He thinks that he can make a decision and then God will deal with it because he is the master of his own life.

And how often do we do that? How often do we make an important decision without seeking God? And we expect everything to go well even though we don’t care to ask the Creator of the universe!

Ask God when making a decision. Act in faith!

Pray when making a decision

Read God’s Word for what to do

Don’t make a decision that doesn’t line up with God.

The Consequences of Foolishness

Trouble (v. 29)

Saul “made trouble” for the land, he caused problems for everyone that his decision touched.

“Made trouble” is also used in Josh. 7:25 with Achan

You will cause problems for everyone around you with foolish decisions.

Failure (46)

Saul wanted to rid that land of the Philistines, instead, he failed because he couldn’t put himself under the authority of God.

Reaping the fruit of foolishness (43)

His son received the curse that Saul rashly enacted

Proverbs 12:18 NASB95

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Even though the Israelites didn’t kill him then, he died horribly in 1 Sam. 31.

Don’t let your stubbornness and foolishness keep you from God.

The irony that a God as infinitely high up as He is, got down to our level because of His love.

· Application: Take time this week to think about your decisions, and pray that God would give you wisdom in those decisions. Just see what happens!