by: Kevin Townsend
In part one of this article, we saw David and Jonathan, through trust and faith, overcome the enemies of God’s people. Using the wisdom of men, their actions were unimaginable and impossible; yet, with God all things are possible. Now we turn to the negative attributes of the faithless as an example of how we are NOT to act. Again, the examples will involve physical warfare. These principles apply to the spiritual warfare each Christian must engage in today (John 18:36; 1Timothy 6:12).
Jehovah selected Saul to be king for a specific task, to save His people, especially from the Philistines (1Samuel 9:15-16). God, through the prophet Samuel, gave Saul three, highly detailed, intricate, prophetic signs of future events to ensure that Saul knew that God would be with him in his task of defending Israel. 1Samuel 10:2-6 KJV “When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, ‘The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?’ Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” All happened exactly as prophesied and was intended to confirm Saul’s faith.
When Jehovah selected Saul, he had the ability to complete the task God gave him, IF he had put his faith and trust in Jehovah. For the most part, that did not happen. Overall, Saul was an unfaithful king. He was often a fearful, indecisive, opportunist, but most of his problems came from his lack of obedience to and faith in Jehovah. Saul was given the task to utterly destroy Amalek by Jehovah, through the prophet Samuel: 1Samuel 15:1-3 KJV “Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, …. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” Saul defied the word of the Lord and did not destroy ALL that Amalek had (1Samuel 15:7-9).
When Saul is held accountable for his defiance by God, through Samuel, Saul twice lies and claims obedience to Jehovah: 1Samuel 15:13, 20 KJV “And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD… And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.” Saul then blames the people for any sins that happened: 1Samuel 15:14-15, 21 KJV (14) And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? “And Saul said, THEY have brought them from the Amalekites: for THE PEOPLE SPARED the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed… But THE PEOPLE TOOK of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.”
Only when God removes Saul’s kingdom from him does this finally bring Saul to speak the truth: 1Samuel 15:24 KJV “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I FEARED the people, and obeyed their voice.” We are warned: Revelation 21:8 KJV “But THE FEARFUL, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Saul did not fear God; he feared men. Saul did not obey Jehovah’s voice; he feared the voice of men more than the voice of God. Saul was a liar, not a leader. Saul was a coward with a crown.
Now compare Saul to David and Jonathan. Saul received his appointment and task directly from God. God did not direct David and Jonathan to do anything; they volunteered. Saul received miraculous confirmation, via accurate, completed prophecy, that God was with him. David and Jonathan fought without divine confirmation, supported only by their faith in God’s help. Saul had an army of 210,000 men to face Amalek. David and Jonathan physically fought alone, faithfully knowing that an unseen God fought for them and with them. Saul was fearful. David and Jonathan were giants of faith who fought fearlessly. Saul blamed others for his defiance and sin. David and Jonathan were humble, giving God the glory for their actions and victories. Saul was UNFAITHFUL to his God. David and Jonathan demonstrated FAITHFULNESS that should inspire us today.
As we consider the comparison and contrast between these men, we must remember Samuel’s words when he speaks to Saul, words that should warn and edify us today: 1Samuel 15:23a KJV “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…” The faith typified by David and Jonathan should inspire us today: Heb 11:6 KJV “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”