Saul: A Lifetime for The King?

Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons--Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. (1 Samuel 31:1-2 NLT)

Yesterday, we watched as Saul consulted a medium.  This is something that was clearly forbidden earlier in the Levitical Law.  This act of rebellion against God will turn out to be his last.  The LORD told him that his children would die in this battle.  The prophecy came true.  Now, the next part of the prophecy will come true as well:  Saul will die in battle.

The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely. Saul groaned to his armor bearer, "Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me." But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king. So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day. (1 Samuel 31:3-6 NLT)

Earlier this week we began with the death of Samuel, the prophet and judge.  We asked ourselves the question, “Did Samuel live his lifetime serving God, The King?”  The answer was a resounding, “Yes!”  Now, with Saul’s death, we can take a step back and review the life of Israel’s first human king.

• Saul Anointed as Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 9:1-10:1)
• Saul Given Prophetic Proof and The Spirit (1 Samuel 10:2-10:12)
• Saul Hides, but Declared King. (1 Samuel 10:13-25)
• Saul Defeats the Ammonites - Victorious King. (1 Samuel 11)
• Saul Disobeys The LORD, Loses Legacy (1 Samuel 13:1-14)
• The LORD Saves Israel through Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:1-23)
• Saul Makes Rash Rules (1 Samuel 14:24-46)
• Saul Fought Philistines His Whole Life (1 Samuel 14:47-52)
• Saul Defeats Amalekites, Disobeys The LORD (1 Sam. 15:1-35)
• Saul’s Tormenting Spirit Against David (1 Samuel 16,18-24)
• David Spares Saul Again (1 Samuel 26:1-15)
• Saul Consults the Medium of En-dor (1 Samuel 28)
• Saul Dies in Battle (1 Samuel 31)

We can ask the same question: “Did Saul spend a lifetime for The King?”  The answer, unfortunately, needs to be, “Not so much.”  Saul had the potential, yes.  Saul was even given the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower him to be king.  With all the potential, wisdom, and power from God, though, Saul did not do the one thing he needed to do to be a good king:  He didn’t let The LORD be his King.

How about you?  Do you see your God-given potential?  Do you have God’s Spirit ready to give you all the wisdom and power you need to fulfill that potential?  More than all of that, do you allow God to be your King?  Will you live a lifetime for The King?