Who Is Your Saul?
by Robin Alcala
In 1 Samuel, we find details regarding the life of King Saul, how he made comprises throughout his life. Unfortunately, Saul was more interested in looking right than actually doing right. The opinion of others mattered more to him than God’s opinion. When he first became king he had a more of a humble estimation of himself.
Another chink in his armor was that Saul made decisions as he exalted his own reasoning as the king in his life. Therefore, he did not commit and entrust the details of his life to God. Saul did what he thought, what he felt, and what he wanted regardless of what God desired him to do. Though Saul was a man who made religion his god, he did not have a relationship with God.
In the war against Amalek God had directed Saul to put everything connected with Amalek under the holy ban. The Israelites would often destroy part or all of the city or country along with its people, animals, and possessions. This practice, known as “the ban,” meant devoting or setting aside the spoils of war for God. No Israelite was permitted to take anything as a souvenir of war or to capture enemies and make them their slaves once a town had been put under a ban. And anyone who did so was severely punished. In light of that, Saul did not destroy some of the best livestock, nor King Agag.
Saul’s rationale was that he obediently saved them in order to offer them as a sacrifice to God. Always remember, just because something or someone is good, doesn’t necessarily make it a God thing. Especially when he has instructed you quite the contrary.
Seriously now, you really do not have to be much smarter than a 5-year old, to know whether or not you have obeyed. When a person lies and makes excuses to themselves, there isn’t anyone they will not lie to, including God Himself.
A person can lie to themselves for so long that their lie will become their reality. Many times liars can open the door to a spirit of deception. A lying spirit will influence them, and others through them.
1 Samuel 15:10, we find some of the saddest words in the whole bible when God spoke to Samuel: “I’m sorry I ever made Saul king. He’s turned his back on me. He refuses to do what I tell him.” Samuel was angry when he heard this. He prayed al through the night regarding his anger and disappointment.
Then God addressed Samuel: “So, how long are you going to mope over Saul? You know I’ve rejected him as king over Israel. (1 Samuel 16:1) In other words, “Samuel why are you still grieving?” God is indicating here that Samuel should have already been through the grieving process. Most often, people will grieve for a long time, even years, and even forever. People often feel they are expressing their authenticity and the full depth of their love by never letting go. Sometimes as well, people tend to grieve an over extended length of time; in an effort to make up for any deficiency of care or concern they failed to express while they still had the opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, others will grieve over a loss in a prolonged fashion in a quest to punish themselves. Their misery is their sacrifice to the deceased, which they seek to offer up on the altar of their life.
Whether it is people or things, which may have hurt and disappointed you; how long should you actually grieve? Possibly, you need to get over someone else’s poor choices and mistakes. Be it a parent, a child, a spouse, or perhaps a church leader. People are going to disappoint you.
Some of the hardest disappointments come when you have to watch someone with great potential simply go down the drain. Remember, you are not responsible for their decisions. Sadly, and similar to Saul, their choices could end up being the end for them. But you must get over it. Stop it before it stops you. You cannot let your love for someone or something, be the death of you. God may be asking you as he did Samuel “Why are you till moping over Saul?” Ask yourself, “Who or what is my Saul?”
Samuel was Saul’s pastor and mentor, he desired to assist and see Saul fulfill his God given purpose. Samuel supported him from the very beginning. He remembered him as a young man, a man full of potential. He remembered the good about Saul. Keep in mind, when you choose only to remember the good things and forget the bad things, you are choosing to believe a partial truth? Possibly unknowingly, yet you are still embracing a lie. It’s understandable that you would desire the memory to be a good one. But the truth is always far more beneficial than a lie is.
To secure an accurate and truthful memorial in your heart, you must choose to acknowledge, the good, the bad, and the ugly of whoever or whatever may be your Saul. It could be the loss of some of the blessings of God, possibly it’s a marriage, a business opportunity, a dream that was thwarted, the great loss of a loved one; well how long is too long for you to mourn? Too long is simply too long. In essence, God was conveying to Samuel, “Get over it and move on and without Saul.”
It can hurt deeply, when you see the potential in someone or something, only to see it die and come to nothing. But, if you don’t get over it, and move on, you may sit there until you die right along with your Saul. Like Samuel did, you still have a life, you still have a ministry, you still have a dream, and you still have a purpose……now move on and fulfill it!