Saul, a Benjamite son, the tribe listed last among the twelve tribes of Israel, was chosen to be the first King of Israel. The people clamored, begged, and pleaded with God to give them a king to rule over them. God advised through his prophets that His people knew not what they are doing for a king would bring on them more troubles.  But still they pleaded so God gave them a king.  Saul was a humble herder of donkeys, living in a remote area.  Saul knew God and revered Him—until he didn’t.

God stepped in and chose Saul to be anointed by Samuel as the first king God’s people longed for, thinking a king would solve all their problems.  God was with Saul and helped him win the battles necessary to secure the land and freedom for God’s people.  With great successes, however, Saul’s ego became his god. He no longer trusted or obeyed God’s specific directions and guidance through the prophet Samuel.  (See 1 Samuel)

In a few paragraphs a great man (in his own eyes) fell to the enemy he formerly defeated.  But God stepped in and chose a new king; David— “a man after the heart of God.”  King David is the new ruler who had to fight his way through battles of evil control, the jealousies of his older brothers at home, and others who didn’t think a shepherd boy could rule a kingdom.  But God stepped in and gave David all he needed to fight all the “giants” who defiled God and His plan.

Remember, what is written at the end of each king’s reign in First and Second Kings? The reign ends with “all that was accomplished is written in the annuals”. The books of Chronicles are the result of God’s people precisely writing it all down. That’s why we can dig for the riches of the realty of how God worked in the lives of ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary Plan.  His people didn’t always get it completely right because each one was a fallible human with flaws.  But we learn great lesson from our God who used their mistakes and sins for His glory and our good!

When God steps in, course corrections are made to fulfill His Plan. God’s love, compassion, and mercy never change for his beloved.  We learn that forgiveness is His character and habit of behavior for those who humble themselves before Him.  God’s story is relevant to us as it shows our weaknesses, given to Him, are made strong by God’s mighty power.  God is sovereign which means God is in all and over all. Nothing escapes God’s notice.  God will always want his best for us in all circumstances as we wait for His will.  We also learn that God disciplines those He loves by stepping in to provide the way back to Him. 

The Bible is the story of God and His Plan to save us from ourselves and from the evil hovering around us whose desire is to enslave us in sin.  When God steps in, life is seen from a new perspective–God’s view of us.  He sees us as redeemed, free, loved, children of the Father, full of His glory.  Yes, citizens of the Kingdom of God are full of people whose hearts are fully committed to God with eagerness to trust and obey Him. 

Life changes when God steps in!   

Saul Takes His Life

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. ³ The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.

⁴ Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. ⁵ When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died. ⁶ So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.

⁷ When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.

⁸ The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people. ¹⁰ They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon.

¹¹ When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

¹³ Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, ¹⁴ and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“After Saul’s death, David was anointed king of Judah. Even so, it was more than seven years later before he ruled over all of Israel. That seven-year period was marked by civil war and Philistine domination.

Failure results when people forsake God. We must choose to follow and fight for the kingdom that follows God rather than the one that forsakes him.

Make God your refuge. Not your job, your spouse, your reputation, or your retirement account. Make God your refuge. Let him, not Saul, encircle you. Let him be the ceiling that breaks the sunshine, the walls that stop the wind, the foundation on which you stand.

A cave dweller addressed our church recently. He bore the smell of Adullam. He’d just buried his wife, and his daughter was growing sicker by the day. Yet, in the dry land he found God. I wrote his discovery on the flyleaf of my Bible: “You’ll never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

Wilderness survivors find refuge in God’s presence.

They also discover community among God’s people.

Strong congregations are populated with current and former cave dwellers, people who know the terrain of Adullam. They told a few lies in Nob. They went loopy in Gath. And they haven’t forgotten it. And because they haven’t, they imitate David: They make room for you.

Are you in the wilderness? Crawl into God the way a fugitive would a cave. Find refuge in God’s presence.

Find comfort in his people. Cast your hat in a congregation of folks who are one gift of grace removed from tragedy, addiction, and disaster. Seek community in the church of Adullam.

Refuge in God’s presence. Comfort in God’s people. Your keys for wilderness survival. Do this, and, who knows, in the midst of this desert you may write your sweetest psalms.

Which side are you on? Which kingdom do you fight for? Speak for? Pray for? Pray for the fortitude to stand for God’s kingdom, even if it brings personal loss to you.” –Max Lucado, The Encouraging Word Bible

Lord,

Because I am overwhelmed by your Word; I’m praying the Psalm of David to you,

Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.
So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

In Jesus Name, Amen