“The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers.” ~ I Chronicles 10:3
REFERENCE:
Nothing pleases God more than to be obeyed, and nothing displeases Him more than to be disobeyed. Obedience to God tells Him that we trust His good intentions and plans for our lives; it shows Him that there is only one Lord, and it is Him and not me. We often go against God’s word and counsel because we are ignorant of the dangers of disobedience.
Disobedience to God will cost a man more than he is willing to pay, delay him longer than he is willing to wait and take from him more than he is willing to give. God chose Saul, an unknown young man who was a herder of animals and ran his father’s errands, to be king. In his humility, he hid behind equipment on the day of his ordination; he felt unworthy of the crown.
How could such a king who began so well die miserably, as we can see in our text? Disobedience. Saul violated almost all the laws of God. He dishonored Samuel, disobeyed God’s instructions, hunted David to kill him for nothing, consulted a witch, killed God’s prophets, etc. His death reveals the dangers of disobedience; we can trace how he died due to his disobedience/sin.
a. Twice, Saul tried to pin David to the wall with a spear twice but missed him. Now, archers shot at him, and he was wounded.
b. Saul commanded Doeg to kill the Lord’s priests. Now, in anguish, he commands his armorbearer to draw his sword and thrust him through.
c. Just as Saul disobeyed God’s command in not destroying the Amalekites, his armorbearer now disobeys him in not destroying him, hence leaving him in his anguish.
d. Saul murdered the priests; he will now be murdered by the same hands that signed their death warrant.
Saul lost his sons and family on the same day; they became victims of his disobedience. The dangers of disobedience are often not as drastic as these. Still, they remind us that obedience is better than sacrifice. We need not live in fear of the dangers of disobedience but in the prospect of the blessings of obedience. Choose to walk with God in obedience and know true peace.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
I Samuel 15:22, Isaiah 48:18, and Isaiah 1:19
PRAYER:
Lord, I repent of the sin of disobedience in my life. Where I have gone against Your word, I ask that You forgive me. Deliver me from the penalties of my disobedience; let me not keep paying for what I did wrong. I receive grace for obedience now; as I obey You, Lord, I will spend my days in pleasure and my years in prosperity; I will eat of the land’s goodness, in Jesus’ name.
