Do you still serve a Saul?

When Israel begged God for a king He – in His patience – gave them Saul.  Literally head and shoulders above the others he seemed the right choice.  His initial response was a good one when Samuel told Him that the Lord had chosen him.

“And Saul answered and said, [Am] not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?” 1 Samuel 9:21

Sounds like a humble guy right?  Not only does God honor him but God even gave him people to follow him…

“And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.” 1 Samuel 10:26

God honors humility… and He provides those needed to sustain the ones He anoints.

But then Saul goes and thinks that because God gave him one position, he could take another.

Saul was meant to be the king.  Samuel the priest.  Samuel was meant to sacrifice to God.  Saul to sacrifice for the people.

But Saul got impatient and thought, “I’m the king, I can do what I want.”

And he sinned against God.  And God rejected him.

And Samuel was mourning this.  But God had a message for Samuel…

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” 1 Samuel 16:1

Interestingly, Saul still had people following him.  Maybe out of fear.  Maybe out of pride… whatever it was, he still had an army.

Men still served Saul.  They were thinking of themselves.  What could Saul do for them?  What could being a general or a soldier or a servant of Saul get them in life? 

Maybe they were waiting to see if they would get his spot.   Maybe they were waiting to see who might come in next and they wanted to be found as “good” government men.

Either way… they still served Saul.  God had rejected him… but they accepted him.

Do you?

Are there “Sauls” in your life that you still serve?  Things that God has rejected… but that you accept?  Have you raised up idols and continue to worship them hoping you will get something from them?

Your job?

Your money?

Men who you think are “going somewhere?”

A company?

Your pride?

A position?

Search your heart and see if there is still a Saul sitting there…

How long will you mourn what you might have lost…

Look upon the Life that was given freely so that you might gain!

SDG