Focusing on People | The Fall of King Saul
God choose Saul from an insignificant family belonging to a small tribe of Israel i.e, Benjamin. Saul who came looking for his father’s donkeys, ended up being the anointed King of Israel. We can see his timidness as when Samuel called for him to shew unto the people, he was hiding under the supplies.(1 Sam 10:22)
Anyways he had a great beginning as he showed his strength and valor by rallying people to a war against the Ammonites and being successful. But after that incident, it was his step by step downfall which had only one reason- Focusing more on people rather than God.
Downfall#1
Firstly Saul had a golden opportunity to establish his kingdom FOREVER(1Sam13:13). All he had to do was just wait for 7 days until prophet Samuel arrived to offer the sacrifices. It was a test that caught Saul unawares. But at the same time, we have to remember that Saul was under pressure as Philistines had lined up their huge army to fight the Israelites and they couldn’t proceed without the sacrifice. But even after tarrying for seven days, Samuel did not arrive which caused the Israelites to leave one by one.
Finally Saul offered the sacrifices himself and just as he was about to finish, Samuel came. Notice the response given by Saul as to why he didn’t obey Samuel; He says, “THE PEOPLE were scattered from me and therefore I forced myself”.(1 Sam13:11)
Saul had made a poor bargain. He lost the right to have his kingdom forever by a matter of hours.
Downfall#2
As if this wasn’t enough, Saul swiftly proceeded to his second downfall. Prophet Samuel commanded Saul to completely annihilate the Amalekites- their people, animals and spoils. Saul partially did as he was told and he brought back their king, their flock and their spoils. Listen to his response when he was questioned by Samuel, “ I obeyed the voice of the Lord but THE PEOPLE took of the spoil…” (1Sam 15:21).
When Samuel said that Saul was rejected as King of Israel by the Lord because of his act of disobedience, this is what he had to say, ”I feared THE PEOPLE and obeyed their voice.” He pleaded Samuel to go along with him to worship the Lord. When Samuel refused, Saul said,”I have sinned: yet honor me now…. before the elders of MY PEOPLE” to which Samuel relented.
His single act of disobedience caused him to be rejected by the Lord as King of Israel making him an illegitimate king. But remember only 2 years had passed since he took the crown which means that he spent the majority of his reign as a wicked king.
What can we learn from this?
By analyzing just the above two stories, it is obvious that Saul was a puppet king- A puppet OF THE PEOPLE and not of God. He feared the people, held them in high esteem even to a point of disobeying the word of God. That was definitely not the quality that God was looking in a king for his people.
We as Christians are also susceptible to such downfalls. God has chosen us with the Royal Priesthood calling which by the way is no ordinary calling. We are his chosen generation elected to be a holy nation and peculiar(special) people. In other words, we are to be Strangers and Pilgrims in this world(2Pet2:9-11). This calling is perfected only when we yield ourselves completely to God and serve only HIM.
Yet when we analyze our lives, how many of us can truly say that we have followed the Lord with our whole heart not focusing on the people around us- our friends, contemporaries and society.
We often don’t realize just how dangerous it is to focus on people in our christian journey. It catches us silently, unawares. Many servants of God who started low key, began to get recognized or uplifted and slowly turned their attention from pleasing God to pleasing people.
Many have run after recognition, fame and honour of the world. Just contemplate on the condition of modern day christians and church fellowships. One doesn't take too long to realize that we have actually gone way too far in following the people; we have bathed ourselves in the desires of the world.
How has the worship music been modified to reflect the culture around us, Preachers forfeiting Sound doctrine to go with the prosperity gospel in order attract more people, christian youths subjecting to the vain rudiments of this world in order to please their peers. We see more of the world penetrating into the churches in order to pacify the carnal people within rather than reaching out and to be separate.
All these are nothing short of FOLLOWING THE PEOPLE AND NOT GOD just as in the case of King Saul.
Sometimes I wonder why many youngsters spent their precious young age to please people by artificial beautification, adorning of fashionable clothing and imitating the reckless lifestyle only to realize that at the end of life, nobody remains except God who never changes.
Remember that as Priests, we are called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices- holy and acceptable to God and not to be conformed to the patterns of this world but rather be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Rom 12:1,2)
Dear brothers and sisters, its time that we revive and rejuvenate. We need people who would stand up for God in this wicked and corrupt generation- walking with integrity and sincerity, we need to see a generation of prayer warriors springing forth. I believe COVID-19 is a wake-up call for this. Let us make use of the God given opportunity to isolate ourselves from THE PEOPLE and serve and honor God moving according to his will alone so that we will not be rejected by God and that we fight until we obtain eternity. Amen!!
