The history of King Saul is set as a lighthouse
-- in the midst of our journey across the tumultuous sea of our Christian walk of life. --
In 1CO 9:24 the Apostle Paul likens our Christian life unto a race. "Know ye not that
they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain
[or in such a manner that you may win]."
The Lord told King Saul by the mouth of His prophet Samuel, "I remember that which
Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 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-SA 15:1-2.
However, King Saul rendered only partial obedience -- "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," V:8-9.
This was very displeasing unto the Lord -- therefore He sent Samuel to tell King Saul,
in V:23 "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."
The Apostle Paul gives some very specific guidelines to follow in our Christian lives
-- lest we should stumble and fall short. He says in 1CO 9:25 "every man that
striveth for the mastery is temperate [or i.e., must exercises self control]
in all things. [Next we are admonished of the gravity of the matter.] Now they do
it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
We are not only admonished earnestly of the need of self control to be assured of
winning against the powers of Satan and sin -- but see how the apostle uses himself as an
example!!
1CO 9:26-27 says, "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so
fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it
into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to
others,
, and believeth on him that sent me,
hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from
death unto life."
As we see from the history of King Saul -- partial obedience is not acceptable
with our Lord -- He will only accept unconditional surrender unto His will. When Abraham's
obedience of faith was put to the test -- He obeyed -- and he was called the friend of
God.
JAM 2:20-22 says, "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is
dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son
upon the altar? Seest thou how
? Amen.
And what can wash me clean
But Jesus precious blood?
This only purgeth sin,
And bringeth near to God;
Lord wash my sores, and heal them too,
And all my spiritual leprosy subdue.
Thy heavenly image draw
Upon my panting heart,
And well engrave Thy law of love
Upon my inward part;
My soul in mercy upward raise,
And teach me how to love and praise.
