King Saul
“King Saul, Ely Cathedral” Stained glass window in Ely Cathedral, depicting episodes form the story of King Saul of Israel. Photo by Steve Day; flickr
Meditation
The Twenty-Second Day of Lent puts people on the hot seat. King Saul in the Old Testament lesson in Samuel attempts to cover up his disobedience. He clearly read his press reports and believed in them more than the words of the prophet. Tall, handsome, regal Saul. Loved by David and so many. Yet, he did the very thing that God despises. Disobeyed, with an unrelenting heart.
God calls us to obedience. We’ve seen the difficulties arising out of disobedience from Adam and Eve forward. The Bible is full of flawed individuals who fail to do what God asks. The Westminster catechism says, “Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God.” Q14. Disobedience to God is sin.
But everyone sins. Everyone disobeys. So why does King Saul anger God so much? Why is the prophet so upset? Because when Samuel confronts Saul with the truth, Saul says that he defeated the King of Amalekites just as instructed. Then he went to Gilgal and built a monument—to himself. He was honoring himself. Furthermore, when Samuel challenged his ‘following instructions’ (which were to destroy the whole of them, animals and all), he asked Saul, “What is it that I hear—sheep and cattle sounds?”
Saul FBF—fixes blame fast—on his ‘soldiers.’ It reminds me of the movie, A Few Good Men, where the General lies about having a ‘code Red’ ordered on a young Marine, leading to his death. Cover up. Never admit your mistake. Cover up.
I’ve been following politics a lot lately. Scandals? Too many to count. But almost all of them say that the original ‘mistake’ doesn’t bring people down. It’s the cover up. President Nixon might have walked away with a blight, but not disgrace, had he admitted to the break-ins of the Watergate etc. instead of trying to cover it up. All those, who were convicted, were involved in covering it up.
Saul tried to cover up his failure to do what God asked. He took credit and built a monument to himself. And he lied to his prophet, Samuel. As a chaplain, many, many, MANY people have lied to me. “It’s not my fault.” “I didn’t do it.” “Those drugs weren’t mine.”
I was never more ashamed of the U.S. Navy as when the “Tailhook” scandal broke. I sat with several naval officers after the 1991 scandal and investigation said RADM Kelso, who was Chief of Naval Operations, was not there for inappropriate treatment of women. They laughed about being across from Kelso, with a woman between them, while shaving her legs. The admiral claimed he had nothing to do with any of it and the good ole network supported him.
I was never more proud of the U.S. Navy as when, Commander Scott Waddle, skipper of the USS Greenville (SSN-772) took full responsibility for his mistake. His sub surfaced and struck a Japanese fishing ship, Ehime Maru, killing a nine crew (including 4 high school students). A subordinate had made a mistake and not given him the information he needed. But he took responsibility and said, if his crew failed to give him the correct information, then he had failed to train the crew properly. His fault, not the kid’s. CDR Waddle apologized formally and personally to the Japanese. They respected his humility and integrity—even at a certain loss of his status on the fast track to becoming an Admiral.
The New Testament lesson in Ephesians states it simply, Tell the “truth to your neighbor.” Treat each other with respect. Be kind. Be loving. Do good. Allow the Holy Spirit to work through you, so there isn’t maliciousness, and harm in your words. Otherwise, the Holy Spirit would be ‘sad.’
King Saul disappointed God by disobeying (failure to kill all the animals). King David disappointed God by disobeying (adultery and murder) but David was loved by God and Saul lost that affection. The difference? Cover-up versus no-cover up. When God confronts us, we are to say “I’m sorry.” Confess our sins. God forgives. Saul didn’t confess. He blamed. David tried to cover things up, but when Nathan confronted him, he confessed and put on external garments of sorrow and confession—sack cloth. King Saul built himself a monument.
We must self-examine. We can’t change politicians (except by voting them out of office), but we can change ourselves. When that nudge in the conscience says, “Wrong!” –what do we do? Confess.
And we are to treat others as God treats us. Just as God forgives us, we must forgive others. Very tough. A former colleague, Lew Smedes, wrote one of the best books on forgiveness, Forgive and Forget, Healing the Hurts We Don’t Deserve says that no one ever forgets, but forgiveness can change our own history, by changing the way we look at others. We no longer hold an infraction against someone.
Christians are supposed to forgive—it is an act of love and kindness, resembling God’s treatment of us. If we make the Holy Spirit sad, we must ask forgiveness. And when others ask forgiveness of us, we are asked to forgive. That doesn’t make it easy, but with time and effort, it is doable. Especially when we call upon the help of the Holy Spirit to fill in the areas that we fail. We can fail. We must confess (sincerely) or else we would be like King Saul—with everything going for him—but his actions and attitude resulted in God withdrawing the blessing.
Let us do good. Be kind. Be loving. Be fair and confess when we fail and forgive others when they fail. As Christians, we are to unite in a common love for each other, coming out of God’s love for us.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for this Season of Lent.
Lenten Music
Blest Be the Tie that Binds – Dallas Christian Adult Concert Choir
Map of Israel (Carmel to Gilgal—King Saul’s Transit)
Israel–The Divided Kingdoms; including the area Samuel met up with King Saul and monument erected; photo by New World Encyclopedia.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Lent Art
King Saul
“Israel Postage Stamp: Saul” Photo by Karen Horton; flickr
All Creatures of Our God and King – Maranatha Music
Season of Lent Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023;1%20Samuel%2015:10-21;Ephesians%204:25-32&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV
(multiple versions)
Twenty-Second Day of Lent
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
The “Shepherd’s Psalm” is worth memorizing in its whole, but at least verses 1 -3.
Psalm 23
King James Version (KJV)
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Season of Lent Music
God the Spirit Guide and Guardian – Goingtheway of Understanding
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
“Sun Setting” Labrador Park, Singapore, photo by Choo Yut Shing; flickr
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Homeless, Hungry, I need a Job, God Bless You; “HOMELESS (2014) …item 3.. Local Organizations Prepare To Hit The Streets (Jan 26, 2014) — Leon County Homeless Point-In-Time Count …item 4.. Claude VonStroke – Can’t Wait …” Photo by marsmett tallahassee; flickr
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
“integrity” bench, photo by Glenda Sims; flickr
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Dear God, we thank you for your forgiveness and love that covers all our sins. Help us to do good, be kind, be loving and fair in all we do. We ask forgiveness for our sins and failures; help us to be forgiving. In Jesus name. Amen.
Season of Lent Music
Jesu Jesu Fill Us with Your Love – The Sound of Perfect Love
We Would See Jesus – First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir
Season of Lent Humor
Don’t Let Sun Go Down on Anger
What if you get angry right before sundown?
Jeff Larson. the backpew.com Used by permission
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in this Season of Lent.
Conclusion
The Twenty-Second Day of Lent shines the light on our attempts to ‘cover up’ our sins. We can’t escape God seeing our actions any more than King Saul or King David did. We are to be truthful and fair to each other. We are to exemplify the way Christ showed us. Be loving. Do good and be generous with our forgiveness, even as God has forgiven us. That brings a freedom that can’t be matched. God empowers.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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