SAUL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Introduction
William Penn said "....Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." Such is the case with the Nation of Israel recorded in 1 Samuel 8:7. Israel is referred to as a “peculiar people” in the Bible, and they would have to be, in order to give up a commonwealth system in which God is the ruler for a Monarchy in which a man is the ruler. A wise Preacher once said “God gives a nation the rulers it deserves”. If you read on in 1 Samuel you will see that Saul is the ruler that Israel deserves. I spent the first eight years of my adult life in the military. Every six months or so you had to be evaluated by your section leader. This evaluation was based on your performance on the job. There were many factors involved. Now, a perfect evaluation was a 4.0. The saying was “4-0 good to go!” Well, lets take a look at Saul as if we were evaluating him according to the military’s standard. The evaluation will be divided into three categories.

I. The ability to be at the appointed place of duty on time.
A. King Saul demonstrated a lack of initiative, discipline, and

responsibility in that he failed to appear at his first appointed place of

duty. 1 Sam 10:21-22
1. First impressions are lasting impressions. If your going to mess up

don’t mess up on your first day. In the military first impressions

are everything. My entire tour of duty at a specific post could be

ruined on the first day that I reported for duty. I made sure that I

was squared away that day. Remember as Christians we are a

testimony for Jesus.

a. Tit 2:7-8 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good

works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness,ravity, sincerity,

Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of

the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to

say of you.”
2. Set a good example. Remember, if people know you are a Christian

then they will be watching you closely, looking for any mistake.

Set the standard wherever you are in life.
a. Mt 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see

your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
II. The ability to complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision.
A. King Saul demonstrates the inability to follow orders. 1 Sam 13:9-14
1. Saul takes it upon himself to have burnt offerings. God made him

King not priest. At this point God rejects Saul. What he should

have done was inquire of the Lord as to what to do when Samuel

didn’t show.
a. Pr 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not

unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge

him, and he shall direct thy paths.
B. King Saul demonstrates a lack of attention to detail. 1 Sam 15:1-9
1. Notice how Saul spared Agag and some animals after being told

not. The common phrase in the army was “by the numbers”. When

the Lord wants something done, it must be done His way.
a. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and

the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
b. Col 3:22 “Servants, obey in all things your masters according

to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in

singleness of heart, fearing God:”

III. Leadership ability.
A. King Saul demonstrates an inability lead from the front. 1 Sam 17:41-49
1. Saul is such a poor leader that he sent a boy to do a man’s job.

Remember, Saul was head and shoulders above all the people. To

send David in his stead shows just what a coward he was. Thank

God in the new testament that our weapons are not carnal, and

Jesus Christ fights our Battles for us!
a. 2Co 10:4-6 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,

but mighty through God to the pulling down of

strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high

thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and

bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of

Christ;"
b. Php 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which

strengtheneth me.”
B. King Saul demonstrates an inability to maintain a professional

attitude towards subordinates.(specifically David)
1. Just imagine sitting in your boss’s office trying to help and all of

the sudden here come a spear flying at your head! Notice how

Saul acts just like Cain when he realizes that David has been

accepted by God. Instead of getting right with God, what does he

do? He tries to kill David. (1 Sam 18-11; 19:10) That is just how we

act sometimes when we realize we are wrong. The best thing to do

is humble yourself and confess that sin.
a. Mt 7:3 “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy

brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in
thine own eye?”
b. Ro 2:1 “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man,

whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest
another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest

doest the same things.”

Conclusion
Well, not a very good eval if you are looking to get promoted. We must remember that God chose Saul to be King. And that God doesn’t make mistakes. I truly believe that Israel got the leadership that it deserved. If you look deeper into 1 Samuel you will see another picture. One of a future evil ruler called the “man of sin” the “son of perdition” (Saul) that is persecuting a Jew (David) during “Jacob’s Trouble”. The antichrist will make Saul look like Mr. Rogers. Thank God the Holy Spirit cant be taken away from us like it was from Saul. (Eph 4:30) We can rest assured that our next King will be perfect and his Kingdom will be forever. .