God has been known to do things and say things, (or refrain from doing and saying things)... at the risk of being misunderstood by His creation. But who are we to try and ‘call Him out’ for what can often strike us as ‘PR blunders’ on His part? Are not His ways above our ways, and His thoughts above ours? (Isa. 55:8-9) Should the ‘clay be correcting the potter’? (Rom. 9:19-21). Does God not claim to ‘use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise? (1 Cor. 1:27)

I often come across passages and stories in my Bible that leave me scratching my head and mumbling lame statements of admission that I ‘don’t get it’. But that’s just me. So when I read those examples where God seemingly refuses to extend mercy and forgiveness to someone who appears to be ‘repenting’...I have to defer to the One who does not look at people as we do, on their exterior...but looks at their hearts. (1 Sam. 16:7)

There’s a reference in Heb. 12:17 about how Esau ‘found no place for repentance though he sought it diligently with tears’; but upon closer look at this passage, it seems it was the ‘blessing’ he really was seeking, and not true forgiveness. How often do we fall prey to that temptation...where we express ‘worldly sorrow’, as opposed to ‘godly sorrow’. (2 Cor. 7:10). In other words, we can be sorry for the wrong reasons.

It would appear that King Saul fell into this same trap when confronted by Samuel the prophet, which we’ve been studying the past few days. As you’ll recall, Saul was instructed by God to completely eradicate the Amalekites, including all their livestock. Saul did not do this, but he wanted to think he did. (1 Sam. 15:9,13-14). When confronted with the evidence of his failure, he continued to insist that he had indeed fully obeyed the Lord (20).

When was the last time you had a disagreement with God...and He was wrong and you were right?

So after all the song and dance and offering up excuses, Saul finally ‘fesses up and admits: “I have sinned and transgressed the commandment of the Lord”, even explaining why- “I feared the people and obeyed their voice”.(24). That happens more often that we care to admit (John 12:43). Take a look at his follow up statement in the next verse: “Now please pardon my sin and return with me so I may worship the Lord.” (25)

I know I have personal memories as both a child and as a parent, where ‘corrective action’ was taken to punish for some misdoings at home, which may have included being sent to our room or having a ‘time out’. Then, there was a ‘fast turnaround’ or attitude change, that usually was followed by a quick exit from the room (or place of ‘timeout’) thinking all was good in the world again and we wanted to resume our life and daily activities. That’s when the brakes were applied, and this statement followed...”Not so fast; I want you to take some time and think about what you did.”

Friends...God is no different when it comes to disciplining those whom He loves. Hebrews 12:5-11 spells this out clearly when it comes to chastening a child, and how it can be unpleasant and even painful at times...but for good reason. Again, God has His reasons.

When Samuel told Saul that he had been rejected by God from being king over Israel (26), Saul seems to throw a tantrum, even grabbing Samuel’s robe and ripping it, lamenting and begging Samuel...to basically help him save face before the people (27-20). Shortly after this story plays out, a young shepherd boy by the name of David is anointed to be the next king of Israel (1 Sam. 16:1-13). It is unclear that Saul was even aware of this since he was not ‘removed from office’ but continued to serve as king until he dies in battle.

And so continues Saul’s downward spiral. We read in vs. 14-15 that “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a ‘distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him’”. And it was quite evident to Saul’s servants as to what was happening. You can use any translation of the Bible you desire, but one thing is clear, this ‘spirit’ that God ‘sent’ to Saul was not a ‘good spirit’ at all. And this is very important to make note of for reasons we have discussed often here. God uses the ‘enemy’ to both ‘correct and judge’ us. (Hab. 1:12) And who is our ‘enemy’ today? (1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:12)

What was Paul’s counsel to the church at Corinth in how to deal with this man who was called out for his sexual sins? If you are unsure, take a look at 1 Cor. 5:5 since it really can’t get more plain that that; and also make note of 1 Tim. 1:20. What were the words of warning given by Jesus to that man whom He healed after 38 years of suffering, in John 5:14? What insight do we gain from the lesson Jesus gave in Matt. 12:43-45? Do you think there might have been good reason for Paul advising us to ‘give no place to the devil’, in Eph. 4:27? And let’s not forget what happened to Ananias and his wife, in Acts 5.

What is my point in bringing up all those examples? Honestly friends...I don’t know that we really understand nor appreciate the gravity and seriousness of what is found in our Bibles when it comes to not taking God seriously at His word. We are not told to simply ‘work out our salvation’ in Phil. 2:12, but we are to do so with ‘fear and trembling’! Do you have that one underlined in your Bible?

When God ‘allows’...the enemy to come in to ‘steal, kill, and yes, even destroy’, as an ‘instrument of His indignation’ (John 10:10; Isa. 13:5; Ps. 78:49; Jer. 50:25), it usually is for one reason alone, and that is to humble us and bring us to repentance. It is not...God’s will nor desire for us to ‘perish, but to come to repentance’ (2 Pet. 3:9), and if/when we do...we can and will find Him ready to lift us up, renew us, and yes...even ‘heal’ us. (James 4:7-10; 5:13-16; Acts 3:19). Tragically, that is not how God’s judgments always play out with His people, as we will see in King Saul’s life. By the way, are you familiar with 1 Cor. 11:30-32? Give that a read and ask God to give you more insight.

We will finish up with Saul’s story tomorrow, Lord willing. But as we begin to catch on and ‘see’ how God operates ....one thing becomes clear: we are either going to be broken, changed and made new, or we are going to shrivel up and waste away...and be ‘utterly destroyed’ (Acts 3:22-23). We’re either going to grow more bitter...or become better.