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Introduction
We have been looking at the life of David over these last couple of weeks; his being chosen by God because of his heart and not his looks, and the event that propelled him to fame; his spectacular defeat of the giant Goliath.
For about two months, we’re going to be looking at David through the prism of his relationships with others. David and Goliath. David and Jonathan. David and Abigail. David and Bath Sheba. David and Absalom. David and Jesus.
But there is one relationship that dominates the 1st Book of Samuel. The story spans 24 chapters and it’s David’s complex relationship with Saul.
So because there’s so much to say, we’re going to cover David and Saul in two weeks; the first week (today) I’m going to mostly look at things from Saul’s point of view and then, next week, we’ll see look at the narrative more from David’s.
Back in the early 1970s, a Canadian Bible teacher with a prophetic edge to his ministry called Ern Baxter spoke about David and Saul as representing, if you like, two kinds of churches, and what he said had a significant impact in this country at the time.
He said that David reflected the new, vibrant, charismatic, Spirit-filled churches that were just beginning to emerge in those days, mostly meeting in living rooms and small rented facilities.
And, by contrast, Saul mirrored a more institutional expression of church that, Ern Baxter predicted, would soon begin to experience stagnation and decline before eventually fading altogether from the scene.
In much the same way that Saul’s kingdom began to crumble as David’s emerged, we would see, he said, a changing of the guard at the end of the 20th century and the start of the 21st.
Just as Saul was head and shoulders taller than anyone else, the kind of church his life epitomised was all about the head; cerebral, intellectual, academic, and governed by human wisdom.
So, for example, seminaries for training ministers would openly question aspects of God’s word that the modern mind does not accept. Miracles, spiritual gifts, the presence of God in worship, the reality of the demonic, even standard Christian doctrine like the virgin birth and the resurrection would be disparaged in some theological colleges.
The kind of church that Saul embodied was not only about the head, it was also all about the shoulders, representing human strength and ability.
So instead of emphasising the David-like features of charismatic ministry, passionate worship and anointed leadership, Saul-like churches preferred to put their faith in expertise, democracy, and to rely on things like management techniques and market research.
In sharp contrast to Saul, David was a man - not of the head and shoulders - but of the heart. He had a heart for God. God looked into his heart and saw a flame for God and a zeal for his honour.
And Ern Baxter’s word was that we would see Saul-type Christianity begin to fade and, at the same time, David-type Christianity would rapidly become more prominent. In the 50 years or so since that conference, that is exactly what has happened.
About 20 years ago, Terry Virgo picked this up and spoke on it at a New Frontiers conference called Together on a Mission. And what I’m going to do this week and next is give echo to that teaching here, adapting it for our context and adding a few of my own thoughts.
So basically, anything good this Sunday and next you can credit to Ern Baxter and Terry Virgo. Anything a bit off – that’ll no doubt be all my own work.
Background
Who is Saul? He’s the first king of Israel. He is only mentioned once in the New Testament and, tellingly, it's about how he contrasts unfavourably with the one who succeeded him on the throne; David.
Here’s what it says about Saul in Acts 13.21-22: “Then the people asked for a king, and [God] gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. After, removing Saul, [God] made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’”
David, incidentally, is mentioned over 50 times in the New Testament and in addition the Psalms he wrote are quoted over 30 times.
Clearly, Saul’s reign is just a minor footnote in God’s eternal purposes, whereas David left an enduring legacy.
Spoiler alert; before we tell the stories of these two men, I am going to summarise them in this way: Saul started relatively well and finished very badly. David started very well and finished relatively badly. So, both men showed promise at first and ended their lives in disappointment, under a cloud.
The pattern is the same, but Saul is dismissed as one of Israel’s worst kings, and David is almost idealised as one of the best, if not the best.
Why, when both started well and finished badly, was David God’s man and Saul wasn’t? We’re going to get to the bottom of why that is over the next couple of weeks.
1) Faulty Foundations (8.1-21)
Saul’s story starts in 1 Samuel, chapter 8 which doesn’t even mention him.
The nation at that time is being led by a prophet called Samuel. But he’s getting on a bit and there is no obvious candidate to pass the baton to in his family, so the people get together and initiate that awkward conversation you sometimes need to have with people who stay in a job too long.
And in v4 they tell him straight. “You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king over us to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
In other words, they see correctly that they need change, but they want the wrong kind of change. They say, “We want to be indistinguishable from the surrounding pagan nations. We’re fed up with being different. We’re had enough of being God’s special people. God can choose someone else for a bit. We want to blend in now."
The first time I sailed a boat on my own, at the age of about 8 (I should add in my defence, having had no instruction from my dad), I capsized it within about a minute. Thankfully, in relatively shallow water. I quickly learned that boats are great as long as the water stays outside. But if a lot of water gets in the boat, it's a matter of time before it is no more!
Always beware when a church wants to look just like the world, and adopt its standards and values and worldview and morals. Keep the seawater out of the boat.
We’ve been talking this year about our non-negotiable foundations. God’s word, prayer, the ministry of the Spirit, evangelism, discipleship, mission… These are not things you find in secular society. Don’t let the world’s values get inside you and take you down.
But Israel says, “No. We want to be like the godless, pagan nations with all their idols. We don’t care if it means national service and higher taxes; just give us a king.” Three times they say it and, in the end, they get what they want.
Saul is on a flawed foundation from the start. He is man’s choice, democratically elected on the basis of his looks. He was never God’s choice.
2) Bright Beginnings (9.1 - 12.25)
In chapters 9-12, considering what I have just been saying, you would be surprised to see that Saul starts petty well.
As we’ve seen, Saul is tall and good looking. That’s not all. He seems to have a servant-heart, dutifully helping his father by undertaking a fairly unexciting mission of searching for some lost donkeys. And he seems to do it in an uncomplaining way. It’s promising.
There’s a suggestion from a servant that they should enquire of the prophet Samuel, see if God has a word about where these animals might be, and Saul says, “all right, let’s do that,” so he’s not above taking advice from one of his junior staff; in fact, he is very willing to do so.
When Saul speaks to Samuel, in 9.21 he seems to show real humility. He doesn’t strut around like the Great I Am. “Well, I’m just a nobody from an insignificant family of a minor clan of the smallest tribe” he says. And Samuel anoints him to be king there and then.
And even after that anointing, just as Samuel is about to make a public announcement about it, no one knows where he is. They eventually find him hiding amidst the supplies. Saul is obviously reserved, self-effacing and modest… These are impressive qualities.
At the end of chapter 10, a bunch of troublemakers despise him and criticise him. And Saul doesn’t fly off the handle; he just rises above and ignores it. So he seems magnanimous and secure.
In chapter 11, he saves a city besieged by an enemy. The Spirit comes on him in power and he rallies his troops, winning a great victory. People say to him “Let’s put to death those who challenged your authority and rubbished your leadership" and Saul says, “No, no, this is a day of celebration. God has delivered us, no one should die today.”
Look, it's a flying start. Saul shows a lot of grace. On the surface he appears to be a great choice. But tragically, it doesn’t last. How is his track record after a couple of years, after facing bigger problems and challenges? That, it turns out, is a different story.
With Saul, because the foundations are faulty, once the pressure comes on him, the cracks begin to show and his entire kingdom starts to disintegrate.
3) Defective Devotion (13.1 – 15.11)
Saul comes across as impressive on the surface. But underneath, it is a different story.
In chapter 13 there is a conflict with the Philistines - an enemy with a fierce reputation and daunting capability - and they strike real terror in the Israelite camp. It says they were quaking with fear. This enemy army is numerous and advanced and it looks like a bigger problem than any king can cope with.
It’s a test of Saul’s faith and leadership. Is he going to trust in God and inspire his troops like David did against Goliath? It’s not going to work doing it man’s way. It has to be God’s way. So Saul is told that before he can engage the Philistines in battle, he has to wait for Samuel, the man of God. But Samuel doesn’t arrive until the last minute.
In the meantime,
Saul caves in to pressure. He doesn’t really have faith in God, so he goes for
ritual instead, thinking “that’ll do.”
He thinks, “I can’t wait and trust any more. I’ll just do this religious thing myself and hope for the best”, but he doesn’t really understand how things work spiritually.
Saul takes the priestly duties upon himself, which is outside his sphere of authority and anointing. He panics and messes it all up.
And here’s the crucial thing; God is not in it and Saul doesn’t even notice.
Finally, Samuel turns up and says, “What are you doing?” Saul says, “Well, the men were getting nervous and starting to leave, and you were getting a bit late, and I was worried about the Philistines, and I just felt I should do something."
Saul is led by the crowd and he yields to the pressure. David, against Goliath had said, “The Lord delivered me from the paw of the lion and bear. This man has defied the armies of the living God.”
With Saul, there’s no trace of “The Lord led me…” or “God said…” “The people told me…” he says.
He’s found out. Samuel catches him with his trousers down. He doesn’t have any real relationship with God.
In chapter 15 Saul is given a command to go and utterly destroy an enemy. That is disturbing to read, let's not pretend otherwise, and it raises all kinds of issues that unfortunately we don’t have time to go into this morning.
All I will say for now is that very often what is literal and physical in the Old Testament is figurative and spiritual in the New.
For example, in the New Testament it says our warfare is not against flesh and blood; it is against principalities and powers and spiritual forces of evil. So we have no mandate to wage holy wars or visit violence on anyone, however badly they have wronged us. The only putting to death and showing no mercy in the New Testament, for us as Christians, is of our own sinful impulses.
But for Saul, it is a real war against a guerrilla terrorist enemy who lives by attacking other nations and carrying off their wealth and families. As an expression of God’s judgement, and to ensure absolutely that none of their idolatry could take hold in Israel, he is told to leave no survivors.
But Saul is not willing to obey fully. God gives a clear command but because the mood of the people is for something else, he gives in to them. He is product of people.
The New Testament makes it very clear that God has entrusted the gospel to us, to guard it and defend it from error. We have no more right to alter its content than a postman has to open and alter our mail.
God gives Saul a command and he just does his own thing. He’s actually so pleased with a partial victory, leaving survivors, that in v12 he goes off to build a monument to himself. He is more concerned about his image and reputation than he is to obey God’s word.
Finally, Samuel catches up with him and Saul says, “Ah, Samuel! Great! I feel like seeing a prophet today. The Lord bless you!” He can talk the talk. He can trot off the liturgy without thinking.
“I carried out the Lord’s instructions” he says. It’s a lie. And Samuel knows it. “No, you didn’t,” he says.
4) Reluctant Repentance (15.12-31)
Instead of repenting Saul makes excuses. “Alright, I have sinned” he says, “but, well, the people said… and you know how it is… but I did obey. Sort of. Albeit not exactly.”
Sorry, not sorry. Once again, “I went with the flow. I feared the people. I have to keep everyone happy.” Saul is a people pleaser. He is a blueprint for Christian leaders and churches who feel they need to appease the congregation and tell it whatever it wants to hear.
That is disastrous. “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” says Paul in Galatians 1.10.
Even Jesus’ enemies came to him in Mark 12.14 and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” Even his opponents who hated him had to acknowledge that.
There’s no trace in Saul of any real repentance. Of taking responsibility for what he did, or failed to do, before God.
The disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker wrote an autobiography from prison called “I Was Wrong.” It was a publishing disaster because it ran to 600 pages, which was simply not marketable. No one has the time or inclination to read a book that thick. When people asked him, “Why did I Was Wrong run to so many pages?” Bakker simply replied, “I was that wrong.”
Saul, by contrast, head and shoulders, not the heart, doesn’t know how to repent. “Look, I sinned,” he says to Samuel in v30. “All right, fair enough, but please honour me now. Let me walk with you so people can see me with you.” It’s pathetic. “What will other people think of me? How will this affect my image?” That’s all he can think about.
Samuel has just said, “Your kingdom will not endure” but he doesn’t take it seriously or take it to heart. He thinks he can keep winging it and get away with it.
Ending
In stark contrast to David, as we shall see next week, Saul started off on faulty foundations, in spite of initial surface success, his devotion to God was never from the heart and his repentance wasn’t real.
We’ll see next Sunday how Saul becomes frightened of the authentic, anointed new thing that God was bringing through. He becomes paranoid that David’s success was eclipsing his own. And he ends up opposing and even persecuting the new work of God.
As I come towards the end, what of Saul do you see in yourself?
Are you, unlike Saul, on a good foundation? Are you aware that God, in his grace, before you were ever interested in him, before you had done anything, good or bad, chose you to be his son or daughter?
Or do you feel a bit pleased with yourself that you’ve made your way to God under your own steam?
Do you feel deep down that you’re more impressive on the surface than you know you are underneath?
How does your faith stand up when it comes under strain in times of testing? Are you having to trust God for something right now or do you keep coming back to self-reliance?
Are you able to turn to God in repentance when, as we all do, you get things wrong or do you make excuses? The wonderful thing is that God is so ready to cleanse you and make you new.
Last week, I was reading about a man called Paul Cowley who was brought up on one of the roughest estates in Manchester. His father was an alcoholic. He left school at fifteen. He ran away from home. He lived on the streets. He joined a gang. He got involved in crime and ended up in prison. When he came out, he joined the army. He went through two divorces
One day, he walked into a church and decided to go to an Alpha course. Unlike Saul, he admitted the error of his ways, gave his life to Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit. He started visiting prisoners. He joined the church staff to head up the work in prisons. He started an organisation to care for ex-offenders. He set up a homeless project. He started a course to help those with addictions and courses to help those struggling with depression and debt.
Under his leadership, Alpha for Prisons has spread through the prisons in the UK and dozens of countries around the world. Thousands have come to faith in Jesus Christ. Hundreds of men and women have been placed in churches through the ministry of Caring for Ex-Offenders. That one life has the potential to change millions of lives around the world.
With all his background, natural ability, opportunities and position, Saul could have been a great king, like David eventually was.
Don’t settle for Saul. Like Ern Baxter and Terry Virgo said, churches – and Christians – who reflect his personality always fade and amount to little.
Aim for David, the one with a heart for God, who one day looked back at all the blessing in his life and said, “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant!”
God has a hope and a future for you. Seize it today by faith.
Sermon preached at King's Church Darlington, 30 April 2023.
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