June 19, 2005 Summit PM
Spiritual
Defeat Of King Saul
Introduction
A. Text – 1 Sam.15:5-26
B. Last lesson – Saul given the order to destroy the Amalekites
1. God has had enough – sin has reached its limit
2. God using Israel to eliminate them
3. Saul given complete victory – spoken as if not much of a battle
C. Yet this physical victory resulted in his spiritual defeat
1. Instead of becoming stronger - weakened
2. Now see him rejected by God – kingdom stripped from him
3. Just a matter of time & totally defeated
D. Pray
A. God’s expectations
1. For king to listen to God
& obey Him
a. Deut.17:18-20 – obey the Law fully
b. Rom.6:11-14 – do not allow sin to reign
2. God grieves over mans rebellion
a. Vs.10,11- cut to the heart; broken hearted; full of regret
b. Emotionally broken & regrets making Saul king
1) Before Saul humble
2) Position went to his head – destroyed himself
3. Notice Samuel’s reaction – prays all night
a. Realizes the damage Saul has done to himself
b. Fulfills his vow to Israel – 1
Sam.12:21
c. Beseeching God for mercy in judgment
B. Saul’s
sins
1. Allowing greed to influence
his judgment
a. Men’s greed as well as his own
b. Just couldn’t destroy such good merchandise
c. Warning – Lk.12:15 – beware of all kinds of greed
Col.3:5 – greed is idolatry
2. Willingness to compromise the word of God
a. Not sense its importance
Deut.17:18-20 – not swerve to right or left
2 Tim.3:16,17 – inspired & profitable
b. Felt free to use his own judgment
Before = offered sacrifice himself
Never learned – still his decision, not submit to God
3. Not take God seriously
a. He was the king – one in charge
b. Not see himself as God’s representative
c. 1 Cor.4:6,7 – never go beyond what written
A. Warning
1. Num.32:23 – be sure sin will find you out (be detected & recognized)
2. Gen.4:7 – sin desires to rule you
3. Rom.6:15,16 – become slave to one obey
B. Sins
allowed in heart
1. Pride & arrogance
a. Vs.12 – builds a memorial to himself
b. Vs.13 – boasting about his accomplishments
(not consider God in his victory)
2. Deceitfulness
a. Vs.14,15 – blaming others for his actions
b. Only saved them so could have fantastic worship
3. Independent spirit
a. Disobedience is allowed – free to make up own mind
b. Argumentative attitude even after rebuked (had obeyed)
4. Covetousness
a. Allowed greed to rule – line own pockets
b. Couldn’t give it all to the Lord
A. Jn.14:15,21 – love Me = obey My commands
1. Nothing proves our love & dedication like obedience
2. Anything less is just words
B. Lesson
1. Better to obey than to sacrifice
a. Sacrifice unacceptable unless heart devoted to Him
b. Choicest gift is nothing without obedience
2. Rebellion is as witchcraft (allowing evil one to guide life)
3. Pride & stubbornness are equal to idolatry
a. Someone or something else is your god
b. Making self god – doing our own thing
C. Saul is rejected as king
1. Rejected God’s word & leadership – honor taken from him
2. In God’s mind – Saul is dethroned (allow rule & kingdom to diminish)
A. What Saul allowed in his heart has brought him to spiritual destruction
1. Never really got serious about following God - obeying
2. Allowed his position to get to him – do as he wanted
B. What are we allowing in our heart?
1. Prov.4:23 – above all else guard heart
2. Prov.11:20 – Lord detests a man with a perverse heart