In the nineteenth century, as Søren Kierkegaard saw the church around him simply playing in the midst of a great time of need, he wrote: “We all know what it is to play warfare in mock battle, that it means to imitate everything just as it is war. The troops are drawn up, they march into the field, seriousness is evident in every eye, but also courage and enthusiasm, the orderlies rush back and forth intrepidly, the commander’s voice is heard, the signals, the battle cry, the volley of musketry, the thunder of cannon – everything exactly as in war, lacking only one thing … the danger. So it is with playing Christianity, that is, imitating Christian preaching in such a way that everything, absolutely everything is included in as deceptive a form as possible – only one thing is lacking … the danger.”¹

Kierkegaard’s words serve as a great rebuke to any in our day who simply want to play Christianity and use the pulpit to say all kinds of things that people like to hear without ever teaching the Scripture so that men are convicted and their lives changed. Indeed, there is much deception in our day that is intentional. Men know what people want to hear, and even though they know it is not Scriptural, they love the attention and applause from tickling the ears of the masses.

I don’t think that is a great danger in your lives today. I honestly believe that you all eagerly long to proclaim God’s Word and to hear it proclaimed. I believe that were I simply to begin talking about all kinds of things instead of what the Bible itself proclaims I would be rightly rebuked and exhorted toward a more excellent way. I don’t think we’re in danger of the intentional deception Kierkegaard spoke of in proclaiming to the world, “Peace, peace” when they are in danger.

However, I do think we can be prone to a less intentional form of deception, namely, self-deception. In fact, maybe I shouldn’t say it is less intentional because oftentimes we choose to allow ourselves to be deceived as we walk toward sin, and yet it leads to a continual walk in which we are now allowing ourselves to be deceived unintentionally. I think this is the kind of thing we see happening in our text this morning.

In 1 Samuel 13-15, we find that Saul’s reign is has been given to us in three chapters. For even though Saul remains king until his death, his reign in so many ways comes to an end at the end of chapter 15. After the events of chapter 15 Saul does not see Samuel again until his death, and the book itself now turns its focus onto David. Again, Saul’s reign is summarized briefly in these three chapters.

So what is it then that our narrator chooses for us to see in Saul’s reign? The answer, in short, is his failures. 1 Samuel 13-15 is filled with the failures and sins of Saul. We might ask how this happens when the previous section ends with Saul laboring admirably and humbly and seemingly ready to walk in obedience. But the answer seems to be that Saul chooses to allow himself to be deceived so that he might disobey the Lord. He chooses to do what he wants over what he has been commanded, and allows himself to think it’s okay. The problem, however, is that this becomes a pattern in his reign, which we see highlighted in these three chapters.

Therefore, what I want us to do this morning is to look at Saul’s life and see how he allowed himself to be deceived in order that we might not walk as he did. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul speaks of Israel’s sin in the wilderness and writes in verses11-12, “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” I think the same can be said of Saul’s actions in his reign. The events and actions of these three chapters have been written down for our instruction in order that we who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Therefore, let me point out a few warnings about self-deception as we look at the text this morning. First, we can see from the text that …

We deceive ourselves if we think we can please God while ignoring his Word and his commands (13:1-15a)

As we begin chapter 13, we see a summary statement of Saul’s reign, cluing us into the fact that these chapters will give us a summary of his reign, but then verse 2 throws us right into one incident in Saul’s reign. The chapter begins with some good news. Saul has 3,000 Israelites ready for battle, 2,000 are with him and 1,000 with Jonathan when Jonathan defeats a garrison of Philistines and word goes throughout Israel that Saul has defeated the Philistines and that Israel has become a stench to them. Then, word is sent out and more Israelites are gathered.

The problem is, however, that the Philistines gather with many more chariots, horsemen, and infantry. Verse 5 tells us that they had thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore. And they encamp in Michmash, threatening the Israelite troops so that many Israelites hid themselves in caves and holes or had fled, while a few followed Saul. But they were trembling as they went.

Now, Samuel had told Saul in 1 Samuel 10:8 to wait for seven days at which time he would come, offer sacrifices, and tell Saul what to do. While Saul sits there, however, anxiety builds. Te Philistines are pressing in on him in great number, the Israelite troops are scattering before him, and Samuel seems to be waiting till the eleventh hour to arrive. Therefore, Saul hurries and offers the sacrifice himself without Samuel, disobeying his command in 10:8 and functioning in the role of a priest, a role that was never given to him.

The text tells us, however, in verse 10 that “as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering” Samuel arrived, asking Saul had done. We read their dialogue and the events that followed in verses 11-15, “Samuel said, \"What have you done?\" And Saul said, \"When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.' So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.\" And Samuel said to Saul, \"You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.\" And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.

Saul had sinned, and now he would not have a line of kings reigning on the throne. Not even his immediate son would follow him as king. He had sinned and there were grave consequences. However, at first, we might be tempted to sympathize with Saul. After all, what else could he have done? The Philistines were encamped against him, his troops were scattering, and Samuel hadn’t shown up yet. What else could he do? After all, isn’t it at least good that he wanted so badly to offer sacrifices before going into war?

But it is here that we learn a valuable lesson? We do not live lives that are pleasing to God when we ignore his Word and his commands. Yes, from one perspective Saul was in a tough spot. But from another perspective he was in the easiest of spots. Samuel, God’s prophet (i.e. the mouthpiece of God) had told him to wait seven days and that at the end of seven days he would come to him. In fact, he would not only come, but he would offer sacrifices and tell Saul what to do. Saul was in many ways in the easiest of positions because he did not have to figure out how in the world he was going to get himself out of the mess that was developing around him. He simply had to listen to God’s Word, delivered through Samuel, and obey. It was all on God’s shoulders to deliver.

So, though it might look like Saul was just trying to do what’s right, and though he might have convinced himself that it was the right thing to do, it is a reminder to us that we are only deceiving ourselves if we believe we can please God while ignoring his Word and his commands.

And I believe this can hit home to all of us. For isn’t it easy for all of us to go through times when we think we’re really serving God, while unbeknownst to those around us we have been ignoring his Word and the commands to meditate on it? How many of you as students have allowed a continuing cycle to continue where each semester when you come back, things mount up on your schedule (many of them being ‘ministry’ functions), and you neglect meditating on God’s Word so that it is sown into your heart? Do not think you are walking in a pleasing manner before God while ignoring his Word or being convinced (like Saul) that there are more pressing things than your need for God’s Word.

But this is not just a warning for students, but for all of us. Brothers and sisters, we need God’s Word. We need it for our life. Man does not live by bread alone, but by God’s Word. We need to hear it preached, we need to read it ourselves, and we need to meditate on it. It is our nourishment. So, if you’ve convinced yourself that you’re fine without those things for this season of your life, stop and repent. Look at Saul in this text, and allow this event to be written for your instruction so that you do not fall like him.

Second, we see that …

We deceive ourselves if we equate outward success or man’s praise with God’s approval (13:15b-14:52)

The next section of our text (13:15b-14:52) is a bit confusing in some ways. Within this chapter and a half we see what looks like praise for Saul and what looks like utter failure. But I believe this is intentional so that we might learn from it.

As we saw at the end of our last section, Samuel’s rebuke to Saul and news that he would have no descendant had left Saul in a horrible place. He had just heard news that he would never have a son reigning on the throne, and he was still in the same position with the Philistines mounting against him and his troops scattering.

So, he gathers about six hundred men (quite a few less than the Philistines), and because there is no blacksmith in Israel, they are not able to fashion any weapons. In fact, according to 13:22, Saul and Jonathan are the only ones who have a sword or a spear. And Saul is sitting in a cave, with Ahijah with a priest related to Ichabod (14:2-3). So, there’s a king whose dynasty has been rejected, next to a priest whose line has been rejected, with six hundred trembling soldiers who do not have swords, and God’s prophet has just left him. I would say the odds makers would have had Israel as a heavy underdog against the Philistines.

Yet we also read that something is happening in the midst of this scene. Jonathan leaves the camp with his armor-bearer and heads toward the Philistines, saying to his armor-bearer, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few” (14:6). And his armor-bearer agrees, and they go.

And Jonathan has a plan. He tells his armor-bearer that they will go up to the Philistines, and if the Philistines say to them to wait until they come to them, then they will stay where they are. But if they say, “Come to us,” then it will be a sign that the Lord has given them into their hands.

Thus, we read in 14:11-15, “So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, \"Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.\" And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, \"Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.\" And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, \"Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.\" Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land. And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.”

And as the Israelites hear of this panic in the Philistine camp their ears are perked up a bit. So they begin counting everyone to see if any had gone. And they find out that Jonathan and his armor-bearer are gone. Therefore, Saul calls for the ark, and as it arrives dismay in the Philistine camp can be heard clearer and clearer. So then Saul leads the troops into battle, with even the Israelites who had fled and hidden coming out of the caves and they defeated the Philistines who had been encamped against them. They had been hard-pressed by the Philistines, but now they had conquered them.

However, when we pick up with the verse after the battle (14:24), we read that the Israelites are still hard-pressed. But this time it is not because of the Philistines. It’s because Saul had put them under an oath not to eat anything until the Philistines were defeated. So the Israelites were weary as they came back into camp.

To add to the problem, Jonathan had not heard his father put the people under that oath. So, as he is coming back and sees some honey, he eats it and is energized. So the people tell him that he has defied his father, and he responds, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great” (14:29-30).

Saul had rallied the troops only after Jonathan had sparked the victory, had put his people under undo stress, and now had led his son to be put under his judgment. For Saul was willing to kill anyone who disobeyed his command. And to make matters worse, as the people were hungry, they begin killing the sheep, oxen, and calves around them and eating them with the blood, something God had forbidden.

So, Saul commands them to stop sinning and he builds an altar to the Lord so that the people may slaughter the animals there. However, Saul then gets the idea to go and continue plundering the Philistines when the priest tells him they should seek God to see if they should go. Saul agrees, but God is silent.

Now Saul knows something is wrong. So he seeks to find out the person who has disobeyed his command and finds out it is Jonathan. And as he is about to kill Jonathan, the people cry out, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day” (14:45). So, Jonathan is spared, despite Saul’s poor judgment.

Then, chapter 14 ends with these words, “When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. And he did valiantly and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them. Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahima-az. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.”

After a chapter in which every move Saul makes seems to be bad, hindering his people’s ability to fight and putting his son’s life at risk, and in which we clearly see that behind Saul’s apparent success is really Jonathan’s victory, the chapter ends by telling us that Saul had success at every turn in battle. Why would the chapter end by telling us this?

I think the chapter ends telling us this because it’s true. History will tell us that Saul was victorious in battle. In fact, history would tell us that Saul had been victorious here over the Philistines and would be victorious over the Amelikites, even as we will see in the next chapter. But this comes right on the heels of showing us that appearances can be deceiving. What looked like Saul leading them into a position of no longer being hard-pressed (i.e. being victorious over the Philistines) is actually a victory by Jonathan which is followed by Saul leading the people into another situation in which they are hard-pressed (i.e. by denying them food). And what looks like success in battle, even as we will see in the next chapter against the Amelikites is actually filled with sin on Saul’s part.

Therefore, I think this chapter tells us that we deceive ourselves if we equate the appearance of success and man’s praise with God’s approval. What can look like success to so many and receive their praise can actually lack the approval of God. Saul might have been fooled into thinking he was doing great by reading his own press releases, but a careful reading of 13:15-14:52 allows us to see something different.

So, let this be a reminder to us that we should not deceive ourselves into thinking the appearance of success and the praise of man shows us that God approves of what we are doing. Again, to the students, one great temptation you will have in school is to think that good grades are an indicator that you are walking in obedience before God in regards to your schoolwork. A’s will draw the applause of your classmates and the approval of your professors, but you alone may know whether you are really laboring with all your might as unto the Lord. Grades therefore may give the appearance of success and draw man’s praise, but it is not necessary an indicator that God is approved with what you are doing.

And we can apply this in so many other areas. This room might be full of people who draw the applause of those around us. But only we know if we are walking in obedience during those times when no one sees us, or whether we are laboring with diligence, or whether we are living holy in those areas where only we know what’s going on – as with our thoughts, for example. Therefore, again, let us be instructed by Saul’s actions and not allow ourselves to be deceived any more. Rather, let us repent this morning and begin seeking to live in a manner pleasing to God, regardless of what those around us may think.

Finally, this text reminds us that …

We deceive ourselves if we think that formal acts of worship can substitute for absolute obedience to God (15:1-35)

In chapter 15, Samuel comes back to Saul with a word. In many ways, this is an act of grace. He who had ignored God’s Word was getting to hear it again, and Samuel speaks clearly. He tells Saul that God had noted what Amalek did to Israel when they came out of Egypt. The Amalekites had made a dirty attack on Israel as they were coming out of Egypt, and so now God was going to judge them. Therefore, Samuel commands Saul very clearly to go and wipe out all of the Amalekites, including man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey. He is to spare nothing but to devote everything to destruction. This is a demonstration that God’s enemies will be totally judged. And though it may seem harsh to us, it is a gracious reminder that in a world where Satan, sin, and death reign, they will one day be absolutely done away with and spared in no way so that we might be completely redeemed.

It was a straightforward command, and Saul starts out looking good. He gathered over 200,000 men, tells the Kenites to get out of his way lest they get killed, and goes off to destroy the Amalekies. And Saul destroyed the Amalekites. But he decides to spare their king as well as the best of the sheep, oxen, calves, and lambs.

Then, God speaks to Samuel about this. We read of this in verses 10-11, “The word of the Lord came to Samuel: \"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.\" And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.” Simply because God knows Saul will sin doesn’t make him any less angry over his sin, for God is holy. And Samuel is angry as well. So, Samuel sets off to meet Saul in the morning and Saul runs out to meet him happily.

The problem is, Saul should not have been so happy, for Samuel knew he had disobeyed. So, when Saul said to Samuel that he had obeyed, Samuel asks him why he then hears the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen. And after Saul’s defense of his actions Samuel tells him to stop, for he is going to tell him what the Lord has told him.

We read his words in 17-23, “And Samuel said, \"Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, 'Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?\" And Saul said to Samuel, \"I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.\" And Samuel said,\"Has 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 listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”

Saul had sinned again, and now not only would he not have any of his descendants reigning on the throne, but he himself would no longer have God’s blessing as king. So, Saul pleads with Samuel, grabs his robe, and it tears. But even this serves simply as an opportunity for Samuel to remind Saul that the kingdom will be torn from him. God may have had regret over Saul being king, but he would not have regret about this. Saul was not going to be king.

Then, Samuel had Agag, king of the Amalekites brought to him, and he kills him, even as Saul should have done. And the chapter ends, “Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel” (15:34-35).

Again, Saul had sinned, and he sinned because he feared man more than he wanted to obey God. That’s what Saul tells Samuel in 15:24. And yet as he speaks to Samuel, yet again, it all sounds good. He was just wanting to preserve the best of the animals to sacrifice. But in the end such acts of formal worship can never substitute for simple obedience. That’s what Saul had told him in verses 22-23.

And this too is a lesson for us. Do not let formal acts of worship substitute for obedience. Maybe you thought earlier, “Hey, I am reading my Bible and attending church.” But at the same time you’re walking in clear disobedience to God’s Word. I had a friend in college who told me that back in high school he and his girlfriend would spend time memorizing Scripture on their dates before they would then involve themselves together in immorality.

Don’t think you can simply ignore outright disobedience to God’s Word in your life just because you’re practicing a number of other formal acts of worship. Rather, repent.

Again Saul was deceived himself again and again so that he sinned against the Lord. That’s what the narrator of our text wants us to see from his reign. And I believe it’s so that we might be instructed so as not to allow ourselves to be deceived in the same way. So, if today you’ve seen this in your own life, repent and obey.

“But, is there is any hope?” you might ask, because your sin has been great. And the answer to that is, “Yes.” And it is yes because of something else to which Saul’s reign points us.

The narrative of Saul’s reign ultimately points us to our need for Christ and God’s grace in sending him to be our King

Ultimately this tragic story of Saul’s demise and the kingdom being stripped from his hand reminds us that God never intended him to be the king and savior of his people. He had always intended another. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin, but there was another coming from the tribe of Judah – Jesus of Nazareth. And remarkably, in some aspects his life appears to resemble Saul’s. He too appeared great before the people with his marvelous feat. Imagine how unbeatable Jesus would have appeared to some. Were Israel attacked so that her supplies were cut off, he could multiply fish and loves. Were they inhibited by natural disasters, he could calm the sea and walk on water. Were they to be killed, they had even seen him raise the dead. To some, it no doubt appeared that the one had finally come. The unbeatable King and Savior had arrived. And yet, like Saul, he appeared to fail before the people and to come under God’s condemnation. The unbeatable Messiah looked quite defeated as he was hanging on a cross drowning in his own blood. The powerful King looked quite powerless as he did nothing to stop those seeking to take his life. The Anointed One of God looked anything but anointed as he hanged on a tree, obviously under the curse and condemnation of God. In many ways, his story seems to parallel that of Saul.

But there are key differences as well. For unlike Saul and unbeknownst to those watching Jesus being crucified, Jesus was not under God’s condemnation for his own sins but for the sins of his people. The people had sinned and their King had to “be swept away” so that their sins could be atoned for in his sacrifice. And unlike Saul, God clearly showed of this King that he was not and had never been in the wrong. For three days after his death God overturned the verdict of the Sanhedrin by raising Jesus from the dead and declaring him to be both Lord and Christ. God vindicated his King and showed that he was (and is) indeed the promised Savior and King of his people. Therefore, as we look at Saul this morning and see his failure, may it push us to look to another King who never failed but atoned for our sins in his death and was vindicated by his resurrection. He alone is our hope. He alone is our King and Savior. Therefore, let us today celebrate the true King, Jesus of Nazareth and the fact that we have forgiveness because of his death, burial, and resurrection for us. Let us celebrate his grace to us as we come to the table. Amen.

¹Attack Upon Christendom, trans. Walter Lowrie (1944; reprint, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1968), 180.

SAUL's SIN AND OUR NEED FOR THE SAVIOR