As part of my Bible project, I aim to read the Bible from beginning to end. I am now in 2 Samuel and I’ve realized I missed out one key character in the prior book (1 Samuel): Saul.
This makes me feel guilty because I’ve focused so much on David and everything that is right with him. But as my supervisor always say, we can make good out of the bad by learning from them.
Saul was the first king of Israel. He was from the smallest tribe, Benjamin. His physical features are fit for a king; It was as if he was destined to become one. I think God really intended to choose someone that would please the Hebrews, someone who would fit their idea of king.
But before this, God is really their king. Yet the period of the Judges was tainted with blood, violence, pride and sin so they thought a King would solve their problem. Samuel repeatedly asked them if they really wanted it. He reminded them that they would have to give up rights and freedom to a king but they were persistent.
God was really hurt because the people rejected Him. But He respects free will so He accepted their decision. We can make some formula which has been taught to me even back in High School:
Free, Informed Choice = Free Will + Knowledge
The Israelites had freedom and also complete knowledge on the circumstances of their choice. So really, this decision to reject God is Israelite’s free, informed choice and God raised up Saul to be king.
Aside from being a good-looking Benjamite, Saul, at first, was a very unassuming man. He hid when Samuel looked for him as he wants to avoid being king. GOD RAISES UP THE LOW & HUMBLE, THOSE WE’LL NEVER EXPECT TO BE SUPERIOR AND POWERFUL. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOD REPEATEDLY DOES IN HISTORY TO PROVE THAT HE IS GOD. Remember, we are saved not by our own strengths, skills and actions but because we are deeply loved.
So, it was confusing to me how come a very unassuming man became evil?
Saul’s fall started with a slight disobedience. He did not kill all the Amalekites and everything they owned. He spared the King and also the finest animals which he intended to be burnt offering to God. Samuel rebuked him, saying that obedience is better than sacrifice.
But he didn’t listen to it. His heart grew harder and colder to correction. He eventually committed more grievous sins such as jealousy, hate, murder, and consulting witches & spirit mediums.
Like how an athlete trains his body for tournaments, he has also trained his spirit in this way, up to the point that his faulty, foreign conscience (for the lack of a better term) became natural and right. He should have allowed correction to shape his conscience.
He still tried to reconnect with God a couple of times. He was asking God for advice but God didn’t answer him and he grieved. Yet, despite this, he never really understood that he should genuinely accept his mistakes and learn from them. Relationship is two-way so Saul should learn to give and not just take.
It is the same with us. We think we are right, that everything we feel is valid. It is hard to accept we are wrong but if we are, then we should accept correction so that we can grow. No one is perfect. We are not the center of everything. The world doesn’t revolve around us.
If Saul was just humbled himself, God might have given him another chance. But it was too late. He was consumed with his self-righteousness. The former unassuming king has self-destructed by committing suicide.