Expedience Versus Obedience.

Today we'll continue gleaning from this past Sunday's sermon.

Pastor Benji said, "Relativism is an enemy of righteousness". And the saying is true. We see in the life of Saul an interesting saga of internal spiritual struggle, a conflict between expedience and obedience, and it might be good to reflect on the details. We'll do a telescopic look today, and a microscopic look tomorrow.

First Samuel 10

God did His part. He sent Samuel to anoint Saul as king; and in spite of Saul's attempt to hide, the anointing was accomplished. God renewed Saul's heart. God sent His Spirit, and Saul prophesied under the power of the Holy Spirit. Saul went home accompanied by comrades whose hearts had also been touched by God.

First Samuel 11

Saul, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, was victorious in battle over the Ammonites. The people confirmed Saul as God's choice, and gave to God with a joyful heart.

First Samuel 12

Samuel warned the people with words and with the prophetic sign of a rainstorm during the wheat harvesting season. It's interesting to note that Scripture does not record a response from Saul or from the people- a sharp contrast from the "what the LORD says we will do" from the days of their ancestors.

First Samuel 13

Here we see the first wave of Saul's opposition to God: Saul offers sacrifices- a task that he is not authorized to do. Saul justifies his sin by claiming a need to boost the morale of the people. The result is that Samuel prophesies that Saul has already been replaced.

I wonder, what happened to those valiant men we met in chapter 10? Why were soldiers fleeing the battlefield in chapter 13? Perhaps the answer lies in the leadership of Saul. We'll look at that tomorrow.