While the people in general were ready to acknowledge Saul as their king, there was a large party in opposition. For a monarch to be chosen from Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes of Israel - and that to the neglect of both Judah and Ephraim, the largest and most powerful - was a slight which they could not take. They refused to profess allegiance to Saul or to bring him the customary presents. Those who had been most urgent in their demand for a king were the very ones that refused to accept with gratitude the man of God's appointment. The members of each faction had their favorite, whom they wished to see placed on the throne, and several among the leaders had desired the honor for themselves. Envy and jealousy burned in the hearts of many. The efforts of pride and ambition had resulted in disappointment and discontent.

Saul had the physical appearance that helped him to be chosen king over Israel. At first he acted like one who wanted to stand up to the high calling he had received, which showed itself when he was tested by those despising him, yet Saul continued his usual work unphased, 1.Sam. 10:27.

In this condition of affairs Saul did not see fit to assume the royal dignity given him. Leaving Samuel to administer the government as formerly, he returned to Gibeah. He was honorably escorted there by a company, who, seeing the divine choice in his selection, were determined to support him. But he made no attempt to maintain by force his right to the throne. In his home among the uplands of Benjamin he quietly occupied himself in the duties of a husbandman, leaving the establishment of his authority entirely to God.

Soon after Saul's appointment the Ammonites, under their king Nahash invaded the territory of the tribes east of Jordan and threatened the city of Jabesh-gilead (1Sam 11). The inhabitants tried to secure terms of peace by offering to become tributary to the Ammonites. To this the cruel Ammonite king would not consent. He let it be known to them that only on condition that he might put out the right eye of every one of them, that way making them abiding witnesses to his power, would he consider such a covenant.

Before the actions of Nahash and since the overthrow by Jephthah (Judges 11:4ff), Israel appears to have had a period of peace with those of Jabeshgilead east of Jordan; however enmity had existed for quite some time before the siege of Jabesh, 1.Sam. 12:12. It appears that the citizens had not yet any knowledge of Israel having a king rule over them, Judges 21:8.

At the threat that was coming over them, the Ephraimites of Jabesgilead were greatly vexed. They contacted the Israelites in the west. The people of the besieged city begged from Nahash a respite of seven days. To this the Ammonites consented, thinking that way to heighten the honor of their expected triumph. Messengers were at once dispatched from Jabesh, to seek help from the tribes west of Jordan. They carried the news to Gibeah, creating widespread terror in the process. Saul, returning at night from following the oxen in the field, heard the loud wail that told of some great calamity. He said, "What aileth the people that they weep?" When the shameful story was repeated, all his dormant powers were roused. "The Spirit of God came upon Saul. . . . And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen." 1.Sam. 11:6,7, KJV.

Three hundred and thirty thousand men gathered on the plain of Bezek, under the command of Saul. Messengers were immediately sent to the besieged city with the assurance that they might expect help on the morrow, the very day on which they were to submit to the Ammonites. By a rapid night march Saul and his army crossed the Jordan and arrived before Jabesh in "the morning watch." Like Gideon, dividing his force into three companies, he fell upon the Ammonite camp at that early hour, when, not suspecting danger, they were least secure. In the panic that followed they were routed with great slaughter. And "they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together," 1.Sam. 11:11.

The promptness and bravery of Saul, as well as the generalship shown in the successful conduct of so large a force, were qualities which the people of Israel had desired in a monarch, that they might be able to cope with other nations. They now greeted him as their king, attributing the honor of the victory to human agencies and forgetting that without God's special blessing all their efforts would have been in vain.

Samuel now proposed that a national assembly should be convoked at Gilgal, that the kingdom might there be publicly confirmed to Saul. It was done; "and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly." 1.Sam. 11:15.

However, in time Saul's attitudes changed from quietly waiting upon the Lord and his actions tended to leave something to be desired. He became impulsive and he acted before he thought things out. It took not long and he encountered a challenging problem.

After defeating Nahash, the Philistines saw the Lord was with Israel like of old and they considered their own situation. They did not like having lost cities to Israel and they brought up their army of 30,000 and 6,000 cavalry and camped at Mich'mash (1.Sam. 13:5) and all Israel went and hid themselves wherever they could.

Saul, this time, became weak and afraid and remained in Gilead. He who was a great leader just before, was now unsure, afraid and had no spirit to tackle the new threat.

What had happened to Saul?

Saul had attributed the victory over the Ammonites as his own forgetting that without the Lord he could not do anything. This became now the trend in his life and the people realized that their king they had clamored for was afraid and unable to lead them.

What would the Lord do now?

"In their calamity they repented that they had chosen a king. They had possessed greater courage and confidence while they had God-fearing rulers to instruct and lead them, for they obtained counsel direct from God, and it was like being led by God himself. Now, they realized that they were commanded by an erring king, who could not save them in their distress. God let them reap the consequences of their erring ways, yet not completely abandon them because He loved Israel.

What would Saul do - while still in his battle dress?

"Saul had not a high and exalted sense of the excellence and terrible majesty of God. He had not a sacred regard for his appointed ordinances. With an impetuous spirit because Samuel did not appear at the appointed time, he rushed before God presumptuously, and undertook the sacred work of sacrifice. While equipped for war, he built the altar and officiated for himself and the people. This work was sacredly given to those appointed for the purpose. This act was a crime in Saul, and such an example would lead the people to have a low estimate of the religious ceremonies and ordinances sanctified and appointed of God, prefiguring the sinless offering of his dear Son. God would have his people have a holy regard and sacred reverence for the sacrificial work of the priests, which pointed to the sacrifice of his Son." {4aSG 69.1}

"Saul had failed to bear the test of faith in the trying situation at Gilgal, and had brought dishonor upon the service of God; but his errors were not yet irretrievable, and the Lord would grant him another opportunity to learn the lesson of unquestioning faith in His word and obedience to His commands." {PP 627.1}

What was Saul's frame of mind now?

Could he see the sin he committed in doing that sacrifice?

Was he treated unjustly?

Was he image conscious?

How did Saul look upon Samuel now?

"When reproved by the prophet at Gilgal, Saul saw no great sin in the course he had pursued. He felt that he had been treated unjustly, and endeavored to vindicate his actions and offered excuses for his error. From that time he had little intercourse with the prophet. Samuel loved Saul as his own son, while Saul, bold and ardent in temper, had held the prophet in high regard; but he resented Samuel's rebuke, and thenceforth avoided him so far as possible." {PP 627.2}

What would the Lord do now?

Would Saul get another chance?

What does Samuel say to Saul to get?

Would Saul realize his need to heed all the words of God?

Saul should have known that only an anointed priest dressed in priestly garb could offer such sacrifices before the Lord.[15] The Lord forever honors man's power of choice. The government of God is based on the free will of all His citizen beings. Saul's rash action would continue the trend to separate him from divine influence and guidance which runs its course as the story unfolds. It demonstrates the outworking of a free will which is not subject to God's divine assistance.

"We do not know what great interests may be at stake in the proving of God. There is no safety except in strict obedience to the word of God. All His promises are made upon condition of faith and obedience, and a failure to comply with His commands cuts off the fulfillment to us of the rich provisions of the Scriptures. We should not follow impulse, nor rely on the judgment of men; we should look to the revealed will of God and walk according to His definite commandment, no matter what circumstances may surround us. God will take care of the results; by faithfulness to His word we may in time of trial prove before men and angels that the Lord can trust us in difficult places to carry out His will, honor His name, and bless His people." {PP, 621.5}

"And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering." 1.Sam. 13:10-12.

Saul's emerging, domineering character became more and more apparent in the ensuing events.

During the day's battle against the Philistines, Jonathan had not heard of the king, his father's, command not to eat anything. Unwittingly Jonathan offended the king by eating a little honey as he passed through a wood. Saul learned of this at evening. He had declared that the violation of his edict should be punished with death; and though Jonathan had not been guilty of a willful sin, though God had miraculously preserved his life and had wrought deliverance through him, the king declared that the sentence must be executed. To spare the life of his son would have been an acknowledgment on the part of Saul that he had sinned in making so rash a vow. This would have been humiliating to his pride. "God do so, and more also," was his terrible sentence: "thou shalt surely die, Jonathan."

Saul could not claim the honor of the victory, but he hoped to be honored for his zeal in maintaining the sacredness of his oath. Even at the sacrifice of his son, he would impress upon his subjects the fact that the royal authority must be maintained. At Gilgal, but a short time before, Saul had presumed to officiate as priest, contrary to the command of God. When reproved by Samuel, he had stubbornly justified himself. Now, when his own command was disobeyed - though the command was unreasonable and had been violated through ignorance - the king and father sentenced his son to death.

"The people refused to allow the sentence to be executed. Braving the anger of the king, they declared, "Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day." The proud monarch dared not disregard this unanimous verdict, and the life of Jonathan was preserved." {PP, 625.2}

Looking back at these events Jesus draws the lessons to be learned by His people even today. He said,

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matth. 20:25-28.

Is the Lord ready now to give up on His appointed? Would He give up on Saul because of the fact that "Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall"? Prov. 16:18.

The Amalekites

"Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore Saul, listen to the voice of the words of the Lord." 1.Sam. 15:1.

What is the first thing Samuel tells Saul to do? To listen to God!

What else did Samuel remind Saul of? Who it was who made him king!

Samuel's response was,

25:17 "Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;
25:18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou [wast] faint and weary; and he feared not God.
25:19 Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, [that] thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it." Deut. 25:17-19.

Ah, the Amalekite problem needed to be addressed.

They also stole women and children.

"And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?" Numbers 14:3.

They were herdsmen like the Israelites were.

"And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; . . .
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel." Judges 6:3,33.

The Amalekites had city fortresses. One was at Auaris.

"Saul went to the city of Amalek (of the Amalekites) and set an ambush in the ravine ..." 1.Samuel 15:5-7.

The Jewish historian Josephus quoting one named Manetho says that a people he calls the `Hyksos' occupied Egypt for 511 years. "I shall begin with the writings of the Egyptians; not indeed of those that have written in the Egyptian language, which it is impossible for me to do. But Manetho was a man who was by birth an Egyptian, yet had he made himself master of the Greek learning, as is very evident; for he wrote the history of his own country in the Greek tongue, by translating it, as he saith himself, out of their sacred records: . . . This whole nation styled Hyksos, that is Shepherd-kings; . . . but some say that these people were Arabians. . . . their descendants ... "kept possession of Egypt for 511 years". After these ... the kings of Thebes and of the other parts of Egypt made an insurrection against the shepherds, and . . . a terrible long was made between them. He (Manetho) says, `That under a king, whose name was Alisphragmuthosis, the shepherds were subdued by him, and were indeed driven out of other parts of Egypt, but were shut up in a place that contained 10,000 acres: this place was named Avaris (at El Arish)" Manetho says, "That the shepherds built a wall around this place, which was a large and strong wall, and this in order to keep all their possessions and their prey within a place of strength, but that Thummosis the son of Alisphragmuthosis made an attempt to take them by force and by siege with 480,000 men to lie round about them; but that, upon his despair of taking the place by that siege, they came to a composition with them, that they should leave Egypt, and go without any harm to be done to them, withersoever they would; and that, after this composition was made, they went away with their whole families and effects, not fewer in number then 240,000, and took their journey from Egypt, through the wilderness, for Syria: but that, as they were in fear of the Assyrians, who had then the country which is called now Judea, and that large enough to contain this great number of men, and called it Jerusalem." [Josephus, Against Apion, Bk. I, Sec. 14, p. 611.; Thutmoses I lived in the days of King David.]

We learn here some of the confused history transmitted by Manetho (active ca. 250 BC) and retold by Josephus (Joseph ben Matthias, born 37 AD lived to ca. 100 AD plus some additional time). Therefore, Manetho was in his days far removed from the time of the Hyksos occupation of Egypt. Historical knowledge, in those days, could become confused easily for there was no systematic record keeping or schooling going on over the centuries, except perhaps sporadically. What the Bible has to say about the shepherd kings is found here.

Before their demise at the hands of Saul, who helped the native Egyptians in their effort to rid themselves of these foreigners ruling over them, the Hyksos/Amalekites kept coming into the land from the south just about harvest time to steal the harvest and kill the field hands or drive them away. (Judges 6&7; 1.Sam. 14:48)

That King Saul had relations with Egypt can be seen by the fact that he had married an Egyptian woman named `Ahinoam', and no doubt she was of royal descent.

Continuing our theme on the life of King Saul, we read about what Samuel told Saul to do,

"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." 1.Sam. 15:3.

So Saul did what he was told to do.

15:4 "And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
15:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
15:6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt."

Here then we have a parallel account of what we read in Josephus about the Egyptians letting those of the fortress of Avaris go for their siege of the fortress was underway for at least 3 years, while others read 6 years in the Egyptian records.

It may be possible that the Kenites were the Medianites, the descendants of Midian (Gen. 25:1,2), the later line of Raguel the Midianite, Moses Father in Law, Num. 10:29. This identification would support the Arabic origin of the Amalekites, assimilating the Arabic Midianites from the area where Moses spent 40 years before the Exodus. However, the Biblical record recalls the sin of Saul in dealing with the Hyksos-Amalekites as follows,

8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
8:12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
8:13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God." Eccl. 8:11-13.

After more than 400 years, from ca. 1445/44 to ca. 1045 BC, the Amalekites were unrepentive. People can arrive at a place were their continued existence is a detriment to God and man, and so, for the good of all destruction is rendered.

"And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites." 1.Sam. 15:6.

What follows is shown next,

"And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword." 1.Sam. 15:7,8.

The word `Agag' probably just means king; likely it was not a personal name of this king but we find it in the Egyptian papyrus sources (as Apop or Apophis) as well as in the Bible.

Why did Saul take Agag alive?

Likely, he imitated his neighbors in that. He wanted greater glory for the victory he brought.

"But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly." 1.Sam. 15:8.

Why would Israel save that which was of value?

They saved the livestock because they did not want to sacrifice their own animals for the offerings in the Temple of the Lord.

They said in effect, `We use these animals.'

But God does not accept gambling money. He does not accept disobedience to His commands. He does not overlook man's incomprehension to His clear commands - He who knows the future.

The sacrifices Israel planned to bring were not acceptable to God, they were devoted for another purpose. They were Israel's gambling money. The king and the people corroborated in a great sin against the Most High.

Actually, the people wanted now to determine what types of sacrifices were acceptable unto God.

"God did not wish His people to possess anything which belonged to the Amalekites, for His curse rested upon them and their possessions. He designed that they should have an end, and that His people should not preserve anything for themselves which He had cursed. He also wished the nations to see the end of that people who had defied Him, and to mark that they were destroyed by the very people they had despised. They were not to destroy them to add to their own possessions, or to get glory to themselves, but to fulfill the Word of the Lord spoken in regard to Amalek." {1SP 364; 2BC 1016.3}

How did Samuel find out what Saul did?

"Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night." 1.Sam. 15:10,11.

Did Samuel now show some righteous indignation?

No! Samuel had begun to love Saul and tried for God to change His mind about Saul.

Saul would provide Samuel all the evidence he needed to know.

"And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord." 1.Sam. 15:12,13.

Would Samuel fall for the lie Saul told him?

No, he hears the animals in the background make their sounds.

"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." 1.Sam. 15:14,15.

Will Saul be able to placate the situation in his favor?

15:16 "Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?
15:18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?" 1.Sam. 15:16-19.

How does Saul react now?

"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.
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." 1.Sam. 15:20,21.

Will Saul be held responsible for what he did?

It was Saul's excuse that he just followed the peoples orders. He hides behind his people's actions.

"The Maker of mind possesses in himself alone the principles of life and action that must regulate and govern inferior minds. The natural, selfish mind, as it exists in its carnal state, acts without reference to God, and is evil, and only evil, continually. The soul cannot be in a state of peace or safety unless it is waiting upon God and receiving instruction from him. Saul's heart was estranged from God; and when he was reproved by Samuel, he stubbornly refused to admit that he had disobeyed God, although the lowing of the oxen, and the bleating of the sheep, sounded in the ears of the king and the prophet, and the king of the Amalekites, who, with all his nation and their possessions, was devoted to utter destruction, was preserved alive in the camp of Israel. While Saul persisted in self-justification, he knew in his heart that he had decidedly transgressed the commandment of the Lord. He was displeased that the Lord did not recognize his judgment, and approve of the victory he had gained, which was the most brilliant of his successes. But the Lord does not look upon successes as men do. Obedience to his word is counted as of more value than the most brilliant conquest that is gained in opposition to his will. In heart and act, Saul was decidedly opposed to the will of God. He flattered himself that in sparing Agag he was manifesting more mercy than the Judge of all the earth. And he told the prophet that the sheep and oxen, which God had ordered to be slain, were to be presented before him as sacrifices in Gilgal." {ST, June 22, 1888 par. 8}

King Saul had a big problem now. Check out the following comments as to the nature of that problem.

"To obey is better than sacrifice." The sacrificial offerings were in themselves of no value in the sight of God. They were designed to express on the part of the offerer penitence for sin and faith in Christ and to pledge future obedience to the law of God. But without penitence, faith, and an obedient heart, the offerings were worthless. When, in direct violation of God's command, Saul proposed to present a sacrifice of that which God had devoted to destruction, open contempt was shown for the divine authority. The service would have been an insult to Heaven. Yet with the sin of Saul and its result before us, how many are pursuing a similar course. While they refuse to believe and obey some requirement of the Lord, they persevere in offering up to God their formal services of religion. There is no response of the Spirit of God to such service. No matter how zealous men may be in their observance of religious ceremonies, the Lord cannot accept them if they persist in willful violation of one of His commands." {PP 634.3}

Are these words of value even today?

Yes, they are, for there are some who want to start sacrificing animals to the Lord even today.

But on the local level, is God content with the services rendered in churches today?

Are church services of the quality which pleases the Lord?

"Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." (1.Sam. 15:23) Rebellion originated with Satan, and all rebellion against God is directly due to satanic influence. Those who set themselves against the government of God have entered into an alliance with the archapostate, and he will exercise his power and cunning to captivate the senses and mislead the understanding. He will cause everything to appear in a false light. Like our first parents, those who are under his bewitching spell see only the great benefits to be received by transgression." {PP 635.1}

"And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king." 1. Sam. 15:22,23.

Would Saul, now humiliated, finally confess his sin?

15:24 "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.
15:25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.
15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent." 1.Sam. 15:24-29.

Samuel does go back with Saul but he does not bless him anymore.

Saul lost his kingship for he thought more of himself than the Lord. The Lord gave him everything, including the Holy Spirit.

"Yet the Lord, having placed on Saul the responsibility of the kingdom, did not leave him to himself. He caused the Holy Spirit to rest upon Saul to reveal to him his own weakness and his need of divine grace; and had Saul relied upon God, God would have been with him. So long as his will was controlled by the will of God, so long as he yielded to the discipline of His Spirit, God could crown his efforts with success. But when Saul chose to act independently of God, the Lord could no longer be his guide, and was forced to set him aside. Then He called to the throne "a man after His own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14), not one who was faultless in character, but who, instead of trusting to himself, would rely upon God, and be guided by His Spirit; who, when he sinned, would submit to reproof and correction." {PP 636.2}

But Saul wanted to be somebody. He wanted to be emulated and validated - and Israel watched all of this - the result of their wanting a king rule over them instead of the Lord.

"Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you." 1.Sam. 12:13.

What do we learn?

1. When man repents he turns from regarding self, the sin of selfishness, to regard only God.
   
2. When God repents man's circumstances and reactions change.

What do we see in Saul?

Do we see many Sauls in our churches today?

We see that Saul coveted honor and recognition. He thought that he was the man for Israel. He rather did what looked good then follow the Lord's will. He hated rebuke and checking up on his faith. He had excuses for all his failures.

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love." Proverbs 27:5, ESV.

"Do not reproof a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man and he will love you." Prov. 9:8.

"A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke." Prov. 13:1.

When circumstances are so shaped that character is tested and developed, you should seek fervently for the help of God that you may be delivered from evil. If you walk humbly before God, you will not follow your own will, but will have a teachable spirit, and will submit to instruction and correction. If you steadfastly adhere to the word of God and follow in his way, you will not imperil others nor in the least degree seek to turn their minds away from the warnings, reproofs, and instructions which God sends through his servants; but if you fail to obey the word of God, even in the most perplexing circumstances, you make it manifest that you cannot be trusted in times of peril. Like Saul, you will follow your own judgment. You will not humble your soul before God, and make supplication, and lead those connected with you to look to God with all their hearts for the help he has promised to give in times of need. {ST, May 25, 1888 par. 7}

It was Saul's ambition to make a name for himself.

In Saul, God had given to Israel a king after their own heart, as Samuel said when the kingdom was confirmed to Saul at Gilgal, "Behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired." 1 Samuel 12:13. Comely in person, of noble stature and princely bearing, his appearance accorded with their conceptions of royal dignity; and his personal valor and his ability in the conduct of armies were the qualities which they regarded as best calculated to secure respect and honor from other nations. They felt little solicitude that their king should possess those higher qualities which alone could fit him to rule with justice and equity. They did not ask for one who had true nobility of character, who possessed the love and fear of God. They had not sought counsel from God as to the qualities a ruler should possess, in order to preserve their distinctive, holy character as His chosen people. They were not seeking God's way, but their own way. Therefore God gave them such a king as they desired - one whose character was a reflection of their own. Their hearts were not in submission to God, and their king also was unsubdued by divine grace. Under the rule of this king they would obtain the experience necessary in order that they might see their error, and return to their allegiance to God. {PP 636.1}[200]

Saul's attitude towards others displayed his proud spirit. Even though God had given him all he needed for success, what path did Saul decide to follow?

And Samuel told Saul what he would encounter on his way, saying,

"Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these things meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do. - When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these things came to pass that day." 1.Sam. 10:6-9. ESV.

Again and again the Lord through Samuel would remind the king of His holy Sabbath in various ways.

Yet the Lord, having placed on Saul the responsibility of the kingdom, did not leave him to himself. He caused the Holy Spirit to rest upon Saul to reveal to him his own weakness and his need of divine grace; and had Saul relied upon God, God would have been with him. So long as his will was controlled by the will of God, so long as he yielded to the discipline of His Spirit, God could crown his efforts with success. But when Saul chose to act independently of God, the Lord could no longer be his guide, and was forced to set him aside. Then He called to the throne "a man after His own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14) - not one who was faultless in character, but who, instead of trusting to himself, would rely upon God, and be guided by His Spirit; who, when he sinned, would submit to reproof and correction. {PP 636.2}

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Prov. 16:18, ESV.

"One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor." Prov. 29:23, ESV.

Saul was cutting his own throat.

Even in the days of the apostles the history of Saul was a lesson they reminded the people of. Therefore, today we too should study these lessons for the principles are still at work even as we speak.

"Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, `I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.' Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised." Acts 13:21-23, ESV.

"And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons." 1.Sam. 16:1, KJV.

Samuel has a problem. He is being asked to go to Saul to announce that he was rejected of God and that God has found another one to be king in his stead. Samuel was afraid that Saul would kill him.

"And Samuel said, `How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.'" 1.Sam. 16:2a, ESV.

What is the Lord's counsel to Samuel?

"And the Lord said, `Take a heifer with you and say, I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.'" 1.Sam. 16:2b,3.

Samuel accomplishes the task by embarking on his normal course of actions. He did nothing out of the ordinary to accomplish the Lord's will. There was no change in manner or deportment.

"Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, `Do you come peacably?' And he said, `Peacably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.' And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to come to the sacrifice." 1.Sam. 16:4,5.

Samuel had been privy to the knowledge of the character of Saul, yet, even though he knew the history, he began to get ready to choose the wrong man for a king. He looked on outward appearance. Therefore, knowing something is different from drawing lessons from it and acting upon the right aspects of those lessons.

"When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, `Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.' But the Lord said to Samuel, `Do not look upon his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as a man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'" 1.Sam. 16:6,7.

So Samuel asks Jesse to see his other sons. One by one they come, yet no confirmation from the Lord. - At last Samuel asks Jesse,

". . . `are all your sons here?' And he said, `There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.' And Samuel said to Jesse, `Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.' And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, `Arise, anoint him, for this is he.' Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward." 1.Sam. 16:11-13.

When God called David from his father's sheepfold to anoint him king of Israel, He saw in him one to whom He could impart His Spirit. David was susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord in His providence trained him for His service, preparing him to carry out His purposes. Christ was the Master-builder of his character. {MS 163, 1902; 2BC 1018.3}

How would Saul react to David?

"And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer." 1.Sam. 16:21.

But Saul experienced stress and mental conflicts.

We read,

"Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him." 1.Sam. 16:14.

How are we to understand that? Does the Lord cause harmful spirits to torment people?

Hardly. God will not violate a person's free choice. Once Saul had himself chosen which path to follow in his capacity as king, that he would rely on strength and his own accomplishments, he rejected the counsels of the Lord and was now left to his own devices. Since he over estimated his abilities, he would experience set backs and stressful situations.

Now, that Saul was hearing that he would loose his kingship, his distress increased his preoccupation with his situation. He had completely forgotten that the Lord once had led him. Now those days seemed to him all his own doing.

He had wandered far from God.

"And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him." 1.Sam. 16:5-8, KJV.

When King Saul realized that he had been rejected by God, and when he felt the force of the words of denunciation that had been addressed to him by the prophet, he was filled with bitter rebellion and despair. It was not true repentance that had bowed the proud head of the king. He had no clear perception of the offensive character of his sin, and did not arouse to the work of reforming his life, but brooded over what he thought was the injustice of God in depriving him of the throne of Israel and in taking the succession away from his posterity. He was ever occupied in anticipating the ruin that had been brought upon his house. He felt that the valor which he had displayed in encountering his enemies should offset his sin of disobedience. He did not accept with meekness the chastisement of God; but his haughty spirit became desperate, until he was on the verge of losing his reason. His counselors advised him to seek for the services of a skillful musician, in the hope that the soothing notes of a sweet instrument might calm his troubled spirit. In the providence of God, David, as a skillful performer upon the harp, was brought before the king. His lofty and heaven-inspired strains had the desired effect. The brooding melancholy that had settled like a dark cloud over the mind of Saul was charmed away. {PP 643.1}

Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin, had no thoughts about the fact that the prophets had slated the line of Judah to be the one of which ultimately Shiloh, the son of promise, would be born, (Gen. 49:10; Matth. 1:2). He had no concept that, therefore, his family line would play no part in the longterm rulership of Israel.

But

". . .whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him." 1.Sam. 16:23, ESV.

But eventually we read,

"Disguising himself, Saul went forth by night with but two attendants, to seek the retreat of the sorceress. Oh, pitiable sight! the king of Israel led captive by Satan at his will! What path so dark for human feet to tread as that chosen by one who has persisted in having his own way, resisting the holy influences of the Spirit of God! What bondage so terrible as that of him who is given over to the control of the worst of tyrants--himself! Trust in God and obedience to His will were the only conditions upon which Saul could be king of Israel. Had he complied with these conditions throughout his reign, his kingdom would have been secure; God would have been his guide, the Omnipotent his shield. God had borne long with Saul; and although his rebellion and obstinacy had well-nigh silenced the divine voice in the soul, there was still opportunity for repentance. But when in his peril he turned from God to obtain light from a confederate of Satan, he had cut the last tie that bound him to his Maker; he had placed himself fully under the control of that demoniac power which for years had been exercised upon him, and which had brought him to the verge of destruction. {PP 676.3}

God's forbearance with Saul was in place for those 40 years of his reign. Yet Saul, looking upon himself as his own master, was oblivious to his continuing need of it. He became a lame duck king because of his self-idolatry.

Samuel, having anointed David as king, was ministering to the present king. That left Saul out of touch.. Yet, how are we to understand God's providential working?

Why are we led into difficult circumstances in life?

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28, KJV.

Saul's sin caused him to lose his mind. David ministered before him with his music for God wants to win Saul still back from his downward slide, and the following words may come into mind,

"If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster." Prov. 1:23-33, ESV.

God lets us know that complacency is the opposite of being fervent. The difference between Saul and David was that Saul became so set in his ways that he was not teachable anymore. He pursued his own personal life. He had drifted far apart from placing his faith and trust in the Lord. To say it in terms we understand today, Saul was not even anymore a `fair-weather' Christian.

"The badge of Christianity is not an outward sign, not the wearing of a cross or a crown, but it is that which reveals the union of man with God. By the power of His grace manifested in the transformation of character the world is to be convinced that God has sent His Son as its Redeemer. No other influence that can surround the human soul has such power as the influence of an unselfish life. The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.
To live such a life, to exert such an influence, costs at every step effort, self-sacrifice, discipline. It is because they do not understand this that many are so easily discouraged in the Christian life. Many who sincerely consecrate their lives to God's service are surprised and disappointed to find themselves, as never before, confronted by obstacles and beset by trials and perplexities. They pray for Christlikeness of character, for a fitness for the Lord's work, and they are placed in circumstances that seem to call forth all the evil of their nature. Faults are revealed of which they did not even suspect the existence. Like Israel of old they question, "If God is leading us, why do all these things come upon us?" {MH, p. 470.1.2}

At this stage, who is now represented as the one leading Israel - Saul or David?

"So then, my brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to live as our human nature wants us to. For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live. Those who are led by God's Spirit are God's sons. For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God's children, and by the Spirit's power we cry out to God, `Father! My Father!' God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children. Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory." Romans 8:12-18, GNB.

What caused Saul's downfall?

"In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him. But even though he was God's Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient. When he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him, and God declared him to be high priest, in the priestly order of Melchizedek." Hebr. 5:7-9, GNB.

Essentially we are being told that we are princes and princesses in training under the watchcare of the Lord of Lord's. We do not have to fight for it, but experience it.

When we are told, we are joint-heirs with Christ, what are we to do?

As time went on and Saul became jealous of David, knowing he had been anointed to be king, Saul tried to kill David and David fled from the royal court.

Besides those problems, other problems also can be discerned to have vexed Saul.

It was not long before David was joined by others who desired to escape the exaction of the king. There were many who had lost their confidence in the ruler of Israel, for he no longer seemed to be guided by the Spirit of the Lord. "And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them; and there were with them about four hundred men." Here David had a little kingdom of his own, over which he ruled, and he enforced perfect order and discipline. But even in his retreat in the mountains, he was far from feeling secure; for he received continual evidence that the king had not relinquished his murderous purpose. The spirit of evil was upon Saul. He felt that his doom had been sealed by the solemn message of his rejection from the throne of Israel. His departure from the plain requirements of God was bringing its sure results. He did not turn, and repent, and humble his heart before God, but opened it to receive every suggestion of the enemy. He listened to every false witness, eagerly receiving anything that was detrimental to the character of David, hoping that he might find an excuse for manifesting his increasing envy and hatred of him who had been anointed to the throne of Israel. Every rumor was credited, no matter how inconsistent and irreconcilable it was with the former character and custom of David. {ST, September 7, 1888 par. 3}

The future of Saul went down and down - most of his 40 years as monarch in Israel - while the king in waiting equipped himself with needed characteristics to rule over Israel.

Even today, there are many Saul's in the churches. Studying his life we can learn and avoid such personality problems which potentially separate us from what? From family, friends, reality and most of all from God. We ought not to read all we can from the SoP because if we have in the smallest characteristics like Saul, would we fare any better? Would be we safe to be saved?

[10] Abbreviations used mean the following: PP, `Patriarchs and Prophets' by Ellen White; Volume 4a of `Spiritual Gifts' by Ellen White; ST, `Signs of the Times'; KJV, King James Version of the Bible; GNB, Good News Bible; ESV, English Standard Version of the Bible; MH, `Ministry of Healing' by Ellen White.

[15] The wearing of priestly garb is presented in Exodus 28:4-43. The wearing of linen on the Day of Atonement, the day of judgment, is presented in Ex. 28:38,39 ("fine linen"); Hes. 9:1,2 which parallels Rev. 7:1,2; See also Isa. 59:17 ("garments of vengeance").

[20] Please be advised that some links lead to pages which explain the ancient history of the Bible lands according to revised chronology. We believe we can show definitely that this history has been spoiled by archaeologists and historians who believed in the humanistic millions of years and overextended what was closer to our time. Their history forever tries to connect some culture to some Neanderthal like culture via pottery, tools and so on, where as we use written history to tell the story. Examples you find particularly from the El Amarna Period, from the time of the Queen of Sheba, from the time of Pharaoh Tutmoses, from the time of King Ahab and Jezebel, from the time of Ben-Hadad, from the time of Pharaoh Ramses II and his battle against Kadesh to name a few. Bible history did not occur in a vaccum and must align with the history of their neighbors. Only a revised chronology based on written records rather than on pottery can do that.

[200] Governments today too seem often not to know where many of the problems come from with which they have to deal with. So far we have learned this, when a nation, the sum of its people, by en large do not keep the law of God and the nation, as far as their laws do not fight God's laws, many are far away from where God can help them to not commit gross sins. That means when churches in a nation do not preach that God's law is binding, that love of our neighbor is the sum of part of the law and our love for God the other part, then those churches represent false Christianity. The history of false Christianity is tragic indeed but we find frequently that people love it that way since they love their sins. Entire churches, actually most churches, are based upon the premise that we do not need to keep the law of God. That imbedded believe is a large part of the cause why the nations and their people suffer, yet their is so little interest and/or utter incomprehension that this is the true cause of affairs. Educated men have spoken against it because they do not know God and do not believe in God for they love other things more than the Almighty Creator God. As a result they demonize those who call attention to these things in order to vindicate their own errors. Soon we may provide a chapter of a book of the religious wars in France which shows some of the base wickedness vexing nations and the powers behind them. These wars were spiritual in nature as well as physical.