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Was It Humility or Fear? By John Duvall In In Remembrance, Royal Wisdom, Sermon Series (2016) On January 17, 2016 I used to see the story of King Saul as a story of a humble man becoming arrogant and too big for his own good. However, as I have studied the story through the years, I am beginning to wonder if Saul was neither humble nor arrogant, but timid and fearful. Most Bible students are familiar with King Saul, the first king over Israel. The nation of Israel had rejected God as their leader. To answer their request for a king, God chose Saul, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin to be their king. However, over the course of time, Saul would end up disobeying the Lord. Because of Saul’s disobedience, God took the kingdom away from Saul and his sons. Saul met his end in death on the battle field. There are several incidents and statements which lead me to think Saul was more of a fearful man, not a humble man. When Samuel first showed honor towards Saul, Saul asked, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?” Admittedly, Saul appeared humble, feeling undeserving of the honor which Samuel showed towards him. However, the second incident took place when Samuel was attempting to present Saul to the nation of Israel. Samuel records the following, “When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found. Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, ‘Has the man come here yet?’ And the Lord answered, ‘There he is, hidden among the equipment’” (1 Samuel 10:21-22). While the account does not say Saul was hiding because of fear, it would be a distinct possibility. After Samuel anointed Saul as king, Saul does not take the throne until after the Ammonites came up against the city of Jabesh Gilead. Once Saul received word of the Ammonites actions, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and Saul led the men of Israel against the Ammonites and rescued Jabesh Gilead (1 Samuel 11:1-13). After this event, Samuel placed Saul in the roll as king and the people accepted Saul as their king (1 Samuel 11:14 – 12:25). A couple of years after Saul began reigning as king, he transgressed the law of the Lord. The transgression involved Saul offering an offering and a sacrifice because he feared the Philistine army. (Saul was waiting on Samuel to arrive and to offer the offering and sacrifice. However, Saul, out of fear, grew impatient and offered the offering himself.) The problem with Saul’s offering was his lack of authority. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin and, therefore, could not offer the offering and sacrifice to the Lord. Here is Saul and Samuel’s conversation once Samuel finally arrived: “And Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ Saul said, ‘When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.’ And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever’” (1 Samuel 13:11-13). Take notice in Saul excusing himself due to the fear he seemingly felt. Saul saw the people scattering from him and he also saw the Philistines gathering their forces at Michmash. Saul seemed to be very afraid at this point and did not trust Samuel to arrive in time to offer the offerings to the Lord. Saul’s second transgression initially does not appear to be motivated by fear. In 1 Samuel 15:1-9, we see the Lord commanding Saul to destroy Agag and the Amalekites and all of their belongings. However, instead, Saul “and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed” (1 Samuel 15:9). This disobedience greatly angered the Lord. When Samuel confronted Saul, Saul blamed the people, saying, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed” (1 Samuel 15:15, also see verse 21). However, Saul finally accepted responsibility for his actions saying, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:24). Take notice of Saul’s statement, “because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” Is it possible this is what actually took place and Saul is finally admitting it? In other words did the people pressure Saul into disobeying the Lord and Saul, fearing the people, gave in? If Saul is telling the truth, then yes, he finally admitted the problem: He feared the people, just as he also had feared the Philistine army. There is a strong possibility my assessment may be off. We do not have enough details from Saul’s life to say for certain if Saul’s failure was fear or arrogance. However, let’s consider for a moment the position that his failure was in his fear. How many times have we been faced with situations which challenge our obedience but, due to fear, we fail to obey God? When it comes to obedience, we should never fear what man may do to us. Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28, ESV). Those who fear man over God will never faithfully serve the Lord. While much of their life may be spent in service, when those moments of challenge arise, they will buckle under and disobey the Lord. Learn this lesson from King Saul’s life: Choose to fear and obey the Lord and do not fear those who would oppose your faithfulness to the Lord.
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1 शमूएल अध्याय 28 त्यस बेला पलिश्तीहरूले इस्राएलमाथि आक्रमण गर्न सेनाहरू भेला गराए। आकीशले दाऊदलाई भने, “तपाईंले त्यो जान्नु पर्छ तपाईं र तपाईंका मानिसहरू इस्राएलको विरूद्ध युद्धमा मसँग जानुपर्छ।” 2 दाऊदले जवाफ दिए, “निश्चय! तपाईंले देख्नुहुन्छ म के गर्नु सक्छु।” आकीशले भने, “राम्रो, म तपाईंलाई मेरो अंगरक्षक बनाउँछु। सधैं मेरो रक्षा गर्नुहोस्।” 3 शमूएल मरे। शमूएलको मृत्युमा सम्पूर्ण इस्राएलीहरूले दुःख प्रकट गरे। तिनीहरूले शमूएललाई उनकै शहर रामामा गाडे। पहिला शाऊलले भुतप्रेत खेलाउनेहरू र ज्योतिषीहरूलाई इस्राएल छोड्न वाध्य गरेका थिए। 4 पलिश्तीहरू युद्धको निम्ति तयार थिए। तिनीहरू शूनेममा आएर त्यहीं छाउनी बनाए। शाऊलले पनि सबै इस्राएलीहरूलाई भेला गराएर गिल्बोमा छाउनी हाल्न लगाए। 5 शाऊल पलिश्ती सेनाहरू देखेर डराए। तिनको मुटु नै काम्यो। 6 शाऊलले परमप्रभुमा प्रार्थना गरे तर परमप्रभुले जवाफ दिनुभएन। परमप्रभु परमेश्वरले दर्शनमा पनि केही उत्तर दिनुभएन। परमेश्वरले न त उरीम न ता अगमवक्ताद्वारा नै शाऊललाई जवाफ दिनुभयो। 7 अन्त्यमा शाऊलले आफ्ना अधिकारीहरूलाई भने, “मलाई एउटी तंत्र-मंत्र गर्ने महिला ल्याइदेऊ, म त्यसलाई सोध्छु यो युद्धको फल के हुन्छ।”तिनका अधिकारीहरूले जवाफ दिए, “एन्दोरमा त्यस्ती एउटी स्त्री छे।” 8 शाऊलले भेष बद्लाउनको निम्ति भिन्नै लुगा लगाए यसकारण उसलाई नचिनोसू। त्यो रात शाऊल दुइजना मानिस लिएर त्यस स्त्रीलाई भेट्न गए। शाऊलले त्यस स्त्रीलाई भने, “म तिमीलाई भन्नेछु मेरो भविष्य बताउने आत्मा बोलाऊ। म जसको नाउँ दिन्छु त्यसैको आत्मा जगाउनु।” 9 तर त्यस स्त्रीले भनी, “तिमी जान्दछौ शाऊलले के गर्यो। सबै झाँक्री र ज्योतिषीहरूलाई उसले इस्राएलबाट धपायो। तिमीले मलाई अप्ठेरोमा पारेर ज्यान लिन चाहान्छौ।” 10 शाऊलले परमप्रभुको नाउँमा शपथ खाएर त्यसलाई भने, “तिमीले कुनै दण्ड सामना गर्नु पर्ने छैन।” 11 स्त्रीले सोधी, “तिमीले कसलाई बोलाउनु लाउँछौ?” शाऊलले भने, “शमूएलको आत्मालाई बोलाऊ।” 12 शमूएलको आत्मा तिनको अघि देखा पर्यो। शमूएललाई देखेर त्यो स्त्रीले जोडले चिच्याई। तिनले शाऊललाई भनिन्, “मलाई धोखा दिनुभयो! तपाईं नै शाऊल हुनुहुन्छ।” 13 राजाले स्त्रीलाई भने, “नडराऊ। तिमीले के देख्यौ?”स्त्रीले भनी, “मैले आत्मा भुइँबाट निस्किएको देखे।” 14 शाऊलले सोधे, “को जस्तो देखिन्छ?”स्त्रीले जवाफ दिइ, “खास किसिमको लबेदा ओढेको एउटा वृद्ध मानिस जस्तो देखिन्छ।”त्यसपछि शाऊलले थाहा पाए शमूएल नै हो भनेर। शाऊलले भूइँतिर शिर झुकाए उसलाई अभिवादन गरे। 15 शमूएलले शाऊललाई भने, “मलाई किन दुखः दिएको? मलाई किन बोलाएको?”शाऊलले भने, “म संकटमा छु। पलिश्तीहरू म सँग युद्ध गर्न आउँदैछन्, अब परमेश्वर मसित हुनु हुन्न। परमेश्वरले मलाई केही दिनुहुन्न। न त उहाँले कुनै अगमवक्ता न सपनामा केही भन्नु हुन्छ। यसकारण तपाईंलाई बोलाएको छु मलाई भन्नुहोस् म के गरौ?” 16 शमूएलले भने, “परमप्रभु तिमीसित हुनुहुन्न। उहाँ तिम्रो छिमेकी दाऊदसँग हुनुहुन्छ। यसकारण मलाई किन झन्झट दिएको? 17 परमप्रभुले के गर्नु हुनेछ त्यो भन्न उहाँले मलाई एकपटक आज्ञा गर्नुभयो। अहिले परमप्रभुले त्यही गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ। परमप्रभुले तिम्रो हातबाट राजधानी खोस्दै हुनुहुन्छ। अनि उहाँले तिम्रो छिमेकीको हातमा सुम्पिदिनुहुनेछ। त्यो छिमेकी चाहिं दाऊद हो। 18 तिमीले परमप्रभुको आज्ञा पालन गरेनौ। तिमीले अमालेकीहरूलाई पूर्ण नष्ट गरेनौ तिनीहरूलाई यो कुरा देखाउन कि तिनीहरूसंग परमेश्वर कति क्रोधित हुनुहुन्थ्यो। यसकारण आज परमप्रभुले तिमीलाई यसो गर्नु हुँदैछ। 19 परमप्रभुले पलिश्तीहरूद्वारा तिमीलाई र इस्राएलका सेनालाई आज हराउनु हुन्छ। अनि भोलि, तिमी र तिम्रा छोरा मसित हुनेछौ।” 20 शाऊल तत्कालै लडे र भूइँमा पसारिए। शमूएलको कुरा सुनेर शाऊल साह्रै डराए। शाऊल कमजोर भइसकेका थिए कारण हिजो देखि रात-दिन उनले केही खाएकै थिएनन्। 21 स्त्री शाऊलको छेउमा आईन। शाऊल साह्रै डराएको देखी। तिनले भनी, “हेर्नुहोस् म तपाईंकी सेविका। मैले तपाईंको आज्ञापालन गरें। मैले मेरो ज्यानलाई जोखिममा हाले र तपाईंले भने झैं गरें। 22 अब मेरो कुरा सुन्नुहोस्। म तपाईंलाई खाने कुरा दिन्छु। तपाईंले खानैपर्छ। त्यसपछि आफ्नो कार्य गर्न शक्ति पाउनु हुनेछ।” 23 तर शाऊलले मानेनन्। तिनले भने, “मलाई खान चाहींदैन।” शाऊलका अधिकारीहरूले पनि स्त्रीसँगै केही खानु भनी अनुरोध गरे। अन्त्यमा शाऊलले तिनीहरूका कुरा माने। भुइँबाट उठेर बिस्तरामा बसे। 24 त्यस स्त्रीले आफूसँग भएको बलियो बाच्छो मारी। त्यस स्त्रीले अलिकति पिठो मुछी र खमीर बिनाको रोटी पकाई। 25 र त्यस स्त्रीले भोजन शाऊल र तिनका अधिकारीहरूलाई पस्कि। तिनीहरूले भोजन खाए र त्यही रात तिनीहरू उठेर गए।