Over the past weeks, the Holy Spirit has repeatedly led our church to the idea of cycles. Which, oddly enough, is in and of itself a cycle. There may be cycles of sin, desperation, anger, frustration, or addiction. Potential cycles are as numerous as the stars in the heavens.
King Saul’s life was marked by cycles. It was how he lived: cycle after cycle, day after day, through his choices: cycles of anger, jealousy, fits of rage, and revenge. While all these things are bad, they are symptoms of the broader problem: sin. This was how Saul lived.
The Prophet Samuel said these words in his farewell address to Israel. 1 Sam 12:14-15, “Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God. But if you rebel against the Lord’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.”
Samuel gives King Saul and Israel the formula for living a Godly life. Saul failed at this time and time again. Let me list a few occurrences for you: he failed to accept his call, sacrificed when it was not his duty, tried to kill David, made a rash oath that almost cost him his son, sought advice from a witch, and failed to be obedient in dealing with the Amalekites.
I would encourage you to read 1 Sam 15:24-31for context.
Saul lived a life of sinful cycles. God wants you to live a life of freedom. The Holman Bible Dictionary says this of Saul, “a tragic figure, Saul’s heart was initially changed, he even prophesied.” At some point, the Spirit that came upon Saul eventually left him.
So why did Saul continue to sin? In verse 24, we see Saul sinned because he feared the people. He obeyed the people’s voice rather than God’s. He lived a life of disobedience. God wants us to live a life of obedience.
In verse 26, we see Samuel walking away from his relationship with Saul because of his disobedience. Though he relents in this portion and does accompany Saul to worship the Lord, verse 35 says, “Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.”
Every time he sinned, he had an excuse: “It was not my fault,” “You were late,” “What else was I supposed to do?” “The Devil made me do it.” Repentance requires us to own our sins and seek forgiveness.
In verse 28, we see Saul kneeling, pleading with Samuel. He now reaches out and grabs the hem of Samule’s robe. It rips in Saul’s hand. Samuel then pronounces this judgment: As the rob ripped, so would the kingdom be ripped from him. Saul’s sin did not cause God to reject him as a person but as the king. Forgiveness for Saul’s sins was available, but God desired a righteous leader on the throne of Israel.
In verse 35, we see one of the saddest phrases in Scripture, “And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.” In Hebrew, this phrase says, “And YHWH regretted that He made him king.” How, then, do we ensure we live as God wants?
First, Live a Life in relationship with God.
Second, Live a Life of obedience to God.
Third, Live a Life that seeks to bring glory to God rather than yourself.
Fourth, Live a Life that focuses on things eternal rather than temporal.
There are many ways we can live our lives. Perhaps God is leading you to break the cycle and Live A Life for Him.
Through Time 