The majority of us have grown up thinking that Satan is a loose cannon. Many believe that Satan and all the other evil angels are at war with God, as if he’s a threat to God. Let’s take a look at this example about Saul, an Israelite from the Tribe of Benjamin of the 12 Tribes of Israel. This is the beginning and end of Saul ruling as King of Israel. He started out Ok, yet by his continuing in disobedience, the Lord sent an evil angel upon him.
1 Samuel 9:15-16
15. Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16. To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
((Okay, Saul was chosen by God to lead, and deliver the children of Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. Let’s continue.))
1 Samuel 10:1
1. Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
(((Okay let’s fast forward and look at some of Saul’s errors in displeasing God.)))
1st error: Saul was impatient, so he forced himself to offer a burnt offering unto the Lord, but it was Samuel’s job to do that.
1 Samuel 13:8-9
8. And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
9. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
Skip to 11
11. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
skip to 13-14
13. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
14. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
(((2nd error: Saul didn’t obey the commandment of the Lord.)))
1 Samuel 15:1-3
1. Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
2. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3. 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.
(((Let’s continue and find out how much he didn’t obey. We’re gonna skip to verse 9.)))
9. But 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.
(((God didn’t say if there were good sheep, oxen, fatlings, and lambs keep them. He said destroy all, that means whether good or bad, kill’em. Saul broke another commandment by disobeying, (ref. Romans 7:7, Exodus 20:17.))))
Romans 7:7
7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Saul lusted after those sheep, ect.
Exodus 20:17
17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
(((He even saved Agag, the King of the Amalekites. Isn’t he one of the men of the Amalekites? Who cares if he’s a King, by the commandment of the Lord, this dude supposed to be dead.)))
(((This is why he took the best sheep, oxen, ect.)))
1 Samuel 15:21
21. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
(((Saul leaned unto his own understanding, in his mind he thought to do good unto the Lord by not killing the best sheep, oxen, etc., but offer them as sacrifices unto the Lord. Remember Proverbs 3: 5)))
Proverb 3:5
5. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
((Let’s continue.))
1 Samuel 15:22
22. And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.
(((To obey is better than sacrifice. Obey what? The commandments that are within the laws of God. “And to hearken than the fat of rams.” Hearken to who? To God, not a man or woman that’s teaching, or speaking lies and trying to persuade us to go along with deception, lies, what feels good, but wrong, or what we can get away with in the eyes of man. At the end, God has all our works written whether good or evil, no one escapes or is hidden from the eyes of God (ref. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14))))
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
((Okay, let’s continue and read what rebellion is compared to.))
1 Samuel 15:23
23. For 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.
(((People who are rebellious are just as worst as those who practice witchcraft. A person who rebel against the commandment “Thou shalt not steal,” yet point the finger at people who practice witchcraft, are no better. Their sin in the eyes of God is equally bad. The Lord eventually rejected Saul from being King. I hear this quote often “I’m saved.” My questions are “Saved from what and how long?” Saul was called, but didn’t maintain his position. Was he saved forever? Verse 23 answered these questions. (Ref. Matthew 22:14)))
Matthew 22:14
14. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 24:13
13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
((Okay, with that being mentioned, let’s look at another reason why he took the best sheep, oxen, ect.))
1 Samuel 15:24
24. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
(((In verse 24, Saul mentioned that he sinned by transgressing (breaking the commandment), because he feared the people (congregation or members) and obeyed their voice. Isn’t that similar to most of the churches in our modern day society? The Pastors go along with, preach, or teach what the congregation want to hear, and not what’s needed to get eternal life and how to love thy neighbor as thyself. (ref. Matthew 22:35-40, Revelation 14:12)))
((The Lord rejected Saul from being King over Israel and anointed David to be the next King of Israel. Soon.. after David was anointed, look at what happened to Saul.
1 Samuel 16:14-15
14. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15. And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
(((Okay, are all angels whether good or evil controlled and dispatched by God? Yes, Satan or any other evil angel don’t kill, destroy, or trouble any thing without God’s permission. The Lord God the creator of heaven and earth commanded the Holy Spirit (Holy Angel) to depart from leading and protecting Saul. Then that same Lord sent an evil spirit (Evil Angel) to trouble or mess with Saul. Who has all power? Food for thought for all who’ve been called, or consider themselves Christians, beware, don’t get to comfortable. I’m not excluded myself.
((I have to maintain and continue living and pursuing righteousness. Although I’m not sin free, when I notice it, I strive not to do it again, and not put it on the back burner. I will consider myself saved when or if I take part in the first resurrection or step foot into the Father’s Kingdom.)))
Note: This is why Saul died
1 Chronicles 10:13
13. So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
until again
Grace and Peace