1 Chronicles 10:13: “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance.”

August 29th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The people of God wanted to change their image. All the surrounding nations had human kings but they did not. They wanted someone they could point to and brag about. Finally God gave in to their constant request and gave them someone who fit their idea of a human king. But their idea was a bad one, fatally flawed from its very inception. They were more concerned with outward appearances than the real issues of life. Such an attitude always leaves us with upside-down priorities.

Saul was a terrible king because he stepped outside of obedience to God, and his life was barren because of it. The blessings of God are ready to be poured out on any believer who walks in obedience. However, disobedience only leads to blessings withheld and an unfruitful life. Saul’s disobedience to the word of God robbed both him and God’s people of God’s blessings. Obedience to the word of God would have done just the opposite, opening heaven’s floodgates of blessings.

An old sailor wrote of his experience with obedience:

I have stood on the deck of a ship while she was toiling up stream, with wind and water against her, and I have gone up to the man at the wheel and said: “Jack, why don’t you ease her off a point or two? You see how it would relieve her.”

But the answer was: “No, I can’t; that is the point of the compass the captain gave me, and I must keep her to it.”

“But man,” I remonstrated, “if you keep her as she is, soon the bulwarks will be stove in, and there is every chance that under this fearful strain she may spring a leak.”

“That is none of my business; it is the captain’s lookout. All I have to do is to obey his orders,” was the man’s answer.

The captain, however, understood his business, and we arrived safe in harbor.

If we will simply remember to do as God commands, even though it seems that the obedience is getting us into more trouble, we will also reach our heavenly harbor safe and sound, with great blessings along the way.

“LORD, please keep us under Your command this day, in Jesus’ name.”

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1 Chronicles 10 KJV

¹ Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.  ² And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.  ³ And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.   ⁴ Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.  ⁵ And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died. ⁶ So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together. ⁷ And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. ⁸ And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa. ⁹ And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people. ¹⁰ And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. ¹¹ And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. ¹³ So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;  ¹⁴ And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.