The Fall of a Great Man

When I read the story of Saul, I am struck with the incredible contrast between Saul in his youth, and early days as Israel’s leader, and his later actions and behaviour. It becomes a classic tale of “if anything CAN go wrong, it WILL”!

Saul’s changes serve as a reminder of our own humanity. Regardless of how good and upright we are today, we need to be vigilant that we do not become a person whose back has been turned on God.

Our introduction to Saul is found in 1 Samuel 9:1 ... a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

Saul almost seemed to be genetically modified, so much taller was he than all of the other men of his community. Yet more than his physical characteristics, Saul manifested other qualities that any man or woman would desire to have in their life. Yet, over the years, these positive characteristics were lost, only to be replaced by an opposing trait. My prayer for my own life and each one who endeavours to serve the Lord is that we would never permit the good qualities we posses to ever be replaced by the very thing we are struggling to overcome.

HUMBLE:

1Sa 10:21-22 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

When his time came to be presented before the nation, Saul was found hiding. Both he and Samuel knew of his calling, and his anointing. This action was not a surprise. Yet, he had no eagerness to get out in front of the people.

Humility is a great characteristic in greatness. Some of the greatest CEO’s in the largest corporations are not noted for their strong-handedness but rather their down to earth nature. While maintaining discipline, they are seen among their employees as “one of them” and someone who is just like us.

Saul began this way, and yet great was the downfall of this man. Before long he is eyeing those around him in suspicion. Ultimately anyone who casts a shadow on his fame and stature is viewed as a threat. Even the potential in his own family is seen as a menace that must be removed.

INDIFFERENT TO OPPOSITION

1 Samuel 10:27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

Saul began so well. When those wicked men opposed his rule, Saul turned a deaf ear to these voices.

However, in the downfall of this great man, we see a tragic transformation. No longer does Saul remain silent at cries of his critics. Soon even those closest to him fall victim of raging jealousies. No one will stand against me! No one dare oppose me! I am in charge here! I will fight tooth and nail to hold on to what’s mine, even if God HIMSELF has taken it away from me.

NOT INTIMIDATED BY HIS CRITICS

1 Samuel 11:12-13 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

Here we see a man not intimidated by his critics. One not influenced by the naysayer. Soon all of this is about to change.

In the not to distant future we read of a man ready to seek, kill and destroy any hint of opposition to his rule.

When the woman sang of David’s exploits being greater than his own, he sought for and took advantage of every plot and ploy to destroy him.

When his own son appeared to be against him he threw the same javelin at him that he had used against David.

QUICK TO ENGAGE IN THE BATTLE

Nahash the Ammonite comes with his army against Israel threatening to gouge out the right eye of everyone in return for peace. During the 7 day decision period messengers are sent with this word to the entire nation.

1 Sam 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Saul, upon hearing this, slaughters his team of oxen and sends word that any man who does not rise up and follow him will be treated in the same way. With the nation rallied around him in fervent zeal, they defeat the enemy.

And yet. after becoming king, this giant of a man was too cowardly to engage the fight with another giant of a man, Goliath. Many days passed as this giant repeatedly challenged Israel to produce a man willing to fight. Saul, once a courageous man and one quick to respond to the needs of his nation cowers in fear until another, a young man named David, came along.

SURROUNDED BY GODLY MEN

1 Samuel 10:26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

Those that gathered around Saul were men sensitive to God, mindful of His holiness. By the end of Saul’s life, he was surrounded by men more than willing to attack the anointed of God:

1 Samuel 22:18-19 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

Even the ministry is no longer sacred to Saul. Anyone and everyone who hints of opposition is suspect. Anyone who even aids those on the “other side” are considered anathema.

SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY GHOST
1 Samuel 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

Oh, that we would all be prophets, with the Spirit of the Lord mightily upon us, enabling us to speak forth the Word of God in boldness.
When did the page turn? When did the heart grow cold?
When did he stop praying?
When did he stop fasting?
When did he stop seeking the counsel of the man of God in his life?
When did he stop seeking the melodies of worship?

I do not know…

But there was a moment when the prayers ceased…
There was a moment when the sweet fellowship stopped…
There was a moment when the songs of praise were exchanged for another melody…

I do not know when that moment was, but I do know the result: Saul ends up consulting witches and dead spirits for advice!

BUILT AN ALTAR

1 Samuel 14:35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

As Saul grew in stature, in fame and away from the fear of God we see the change.

Rather than seeking the counsel of God, he presumes to know the mind of the Lord at Gilgal when he presumptuously offers sacrifice to God. A task that only a priest was entitled to do.

His lack of reverence for all things holy is also seen in his slaying of Ahimelech the priest, all of his household and even Nob, the city of the priests.

The ultimate contrast is found in 1 Samuel 15:22. In the beginning of his life, Saul built an altar to honour the Lord. Now, already well down the slippery slope to his personal demise we see another monument being built.

1 Samuel 15:12 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 rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal. (ESV)

Saul established a monument to commemorate his victory. Rather than building an altar to glorify God, he built a monument to glorify Himself, and His achievements.

But Samuel was informed that Saul had set up a triumphal arch, or some monument of his victory, at Carmel, a city in the mountains of Judah, seeking his own honour more than the honour of God, for he set up this place (or hand, as the word is) for himself (he had more need to have been repenting of his sin and making his peace with God than boasting of his victory), (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

FAITHFULNESS TO FAMILY

Before there was greatness in the life of Saul, Before there was anointing, Before there was a crown and throne, there was a humble young man, out on an errand for his father.

In fact Saul’s story does not begin with Saul at all. It begins:

1 Samuel 9:1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

Saul’s story commences with a tale of a great man, the leader of a great family, who was raising a great son, an obedient son, a hard working son.

Family took precedence in the beginning. Saul wanted to do nothing more than to please God through pleasing his father.

Yet in the end, we see a depraved man prepared to sacrifice even his own family for the sake of guarding his fame and position:

Taking the credit for the exploits of his son Jonathon.
Threatening to kill his son Jonathan over a taste of honey.
Offering one daughter as a prize in a giant-slaying contest.
Using another daughter as bait to get David onto the battlefield to get killed by the Philistines.
Attempting to murder his own son Jonathon.

Here is a man ready to sacrifice his family and home to maintain his image.
Here is a man ready to sacrifice his family and home to maintain his prestige.
Here is a man ready to sacrifice his family and home to maintain his position and status.

CONCLUSION

In the life of Saul we find only a tragic tale of what “could have been”.

While it is true that no man is perfect, we can note several things from the course of Saul’s life:

Many try to justify their actions, but let us note the following 3 points:

1. IT IS EVIDENT THAT A PROFESSEDLY GOOD OR CREDITABLE INTENTION WILL NOT JUSTIFY A BAD ACT.
2. NOR CAN GOD BE HONOURED IN ONE WAY AT THE COST OF DISHONOURING HIM IN ANOTHER
3. SO, ALSO, ARE WE TO LEARN THAT OFFERINGS TO GOD ARE ABOMINATION IF THEY DO NOT EXPRESS OBEDIENT LOVE.

(from The Biblical Illustrator Copyright © 2002, 2003 Ages Software, Inc. and Biblesoft, Inc.)

Let us learn from the fall of this great man.