06.29.2025 | Saul Disobeyed God
1 Samuel 14-15
In 1964, Jim Marshall, a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, made history for the wrong reasons. The opposing team fumbled the football, which Jim picked up and ran 66-yards into the end zone! The problem was that Jim had run the wrong way! Instead of 6 points for his team, Jim’s mistake gave 2 points to the other team!
Like Jim, we all make mistakes, and mistakes have consequences. For King Saul, his mistake was disobeying God, and it cost him his kingship. After defeating the Amalekites, Saul’s army took the sheep, goats, and cattle for themselves. God’s instructions were to destroy everything and take nothing, but the men were hungry and did not obey God’s commands. Because of Saul’s disobedience, Samuel told Saul that God was disappointed and would soon replace him with another king.
Even though Saul was king, he was not perfect. Saul sinned against God, and his sin had consequences. Our sin has consequences too—the biggest of which is to be separated from God for all eternity. Our only hope is found in Jesus—the perfect King! Opossums are known for “playing dead” when a predator attacks. When threatened, the animal’s body goes limp, its tongue comes out of its mouth, and a pungent odor is released to make it smell like the animal has been dead for a while. Talk about a stinky situation!
Saul disobeyed God’s commands and was rejected as king. We all disobey God’s commands when we sin. Only Jesus perfectly obeyed God at all times. When we believe in Jesus, we are made right with God and accepted by Him.
