Insight for Living

Guest (Male): Every leader faces the same danger: slow, steady compromise that destroys what it took years to build. The question isn't if we'll face pressure to cut corners, rationalize disobedience, or prioritize image over integrity. It's whether we'll recognize those threats before it's too late.

Today on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindoll delivers four essential action points designed to protect our character, our family, and our ministry from gradual erosion. These aren't theoretical principles; they're practical safeguards drawn from one of Scripture's most sobering leadership failures. Teaching from First Samuel, Chuck titled today's message, "Saul: The King Who Refused to Bow."

Chuck Swindoll: Let me show you the tragic erosion of his character and the balance of my time with you here. There are three brief yet powerfully damaging scenes set forth in Scripture. We've reached the turning point; the peak of his life has been reached. Over a period of years, he has won the people's approval. He has set up an army. He has become a victor in battle.

Something happens at the height of his career, and he starts his way down the other side. Chapter 13 tells us of an irreverent act of presumption. Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 42 years over Israel. He chose for himself all these people, and some of them are named for us. Jonathan, verse 3, smote the garrison of the Philistines. Jonathan is his son, by the way.

Verse 4, all Israel heard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines. The people were summoned to Saul at Gilgal, and they are numbered for us here. Verse 7, some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead, but as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. They're at a very threatening point in the battle.

He waited seven days according to the appointed time set by Samuel. You can reference that in chapter 10, verse 8, where earlier Samuel told him when he came to this place to wait, and he would come and would meet with him and would sacrifice on the altar as the priest was qualified to do. Saul is king, remember, not priest. Kings had no right to sacrifice offerings.

But Samuel, we read in verse 8, did not come to Gilgal. The people were scattering from him. So Saul said, "Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings," and he offered the burnt offering. Wait, he has no right to do that. But you understand, when you come to this place in your life, when you're on the downside of pride and arrogance and conceit, you care little about rules and realms of responsibility. You're in charge of everything.

He says, "Bring the sacrifice to me. Bring the altar to me. Bring the burnt offering and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offerings. Verse 10, it came about as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. We read that Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.

Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord,' so I forced myself and I offered the burnt offerings."

Notice how he puts it. I just couldn't help myself. I looked down and my hands were doing it. It just kind of happened. I had to make myself do it. Fat chance. That's not the way it works. This is deliberate disobedience. Samuel calls his hand on it. Verse 13, he said, "You've acted foolishly."

In this initial act, I find Saul took his circumstances seriously, but he didn't take God seriously. That is the Achilles heel of Saul's life. He never took God seriously. In chapter 14, we have a second act where the erosion continues. It is an irresponsible, unwise decision he makes that almost costs the life of his son Jonathan.

Let me give you a quick analysis of what has happened. Jonathan, through a sneak attack, is the one responsible for victory over the Philistines. However, in the meantime, Saul is panicked. Chapter 14, verse 24, because his men are pressing on him. The men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food before evening and until I have avenged myself on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.

The question comes, why would he make such a rash vow? Nobody knows. When you are on the downside of the rooftop of your life, you make statements and vows that are foolish, irresponsible, and sometimes even dangerous as this was. These men need food to continue fighting.

Verse 27, Jonathan was in another place of battle. He hadn't heard when his father put the people under oath. Therefore, he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. Of course, he got a little energy.

One of the people answered and said, "Your father strictly put the people under oath saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food today,' and the people were weary." Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See now how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great."

In other words, what a vow for my dad to make. Why would he say such a thing? Look, I'm an example. If we were cursed, God would kill me, but I'm strengthened. But would you believe it, over in verse 43, Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done."

Jonathan told him and said, "I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am. I must die." Saul said, "May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan." I take it that he was reaching for his sword. He's going to take the life of his boy.

You know who saved Jonathan's life? The people. Next verse, the people said to the king, "Must Jonathan die who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? He's the man that led the ambush. Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

Point number two: Saul took himself seriously, but not God. After all, he had said it and he was not about to go back on his word. There is nothing quite like the loss of respect in a spiritual leader's life when that begins to happen. It's only a matter of time. The people are saying, "Saul, that wasn't right, and we stand with Jonathan and not with you." So he's forced to retract. He's at least forced to back away.

Chapter 15 is the final straw. He has one more chance, it seems. Here we see the true colors of Saul's character. By now he's drifted so far that he's able to do one thing and to talk another. Look at verse 2. "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. Now go...'"

These are the words from Samuel to Saul, according to verse 1. "Go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and don't spare him, and put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." Now I want to ask you something. Is that clear?

If you had heard those words in Hebrew from your commander, the man who anointed you as king, who spoke for God, would you have understood what God was saying? First of all, it's God that's saying this, not Samuel. "Thus says the Lord, to punish Amalek, I'm going to strike the king and all of the people and all of the animals." Make no mistake, the Lord has given the assignment. It's crystal clear.

So Saul goes. You anticipate, don't you? Verse 7, Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he captured Agag. Capture? Do you hear the brakes? All of a sudden, my mind says, wait, wait, wait, wait. Captured? Did I read captured in the original orders? I read put to death, destroy, utterly destroy, strike, do not spare.

But he captured Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and not only the king, they spared the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly.

Every thing despised and worthless, they utterly destroyed. Who gave them the right to discriminate one section or group from another? They were to leave only corpses on the land in obedience to God. Mystery or not, agree with it or not, that is obedience. God says do it this way, that is exactly what they should have done.

But they didn't. So here's Saul sitting in the tent, smoking the peace pipe with Agag the king, and rapping about the best sheep that they've kept out there. Verse 10, the word of the Lord came to Samuel saying, "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not carried out my commands."

By now, Samuel's about had it. He was distressed. The word means angry, and he cried out to the Lord all night. And he rose early in the morning to meet Saul, and it was told Samuel saying, "Saul came to Carmel, and he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal."

Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the Lord. I have carried out the command of the Lord." Wait a minute! Where are we? What part of the world are you in, Saul? He said, "I've carried out the command of the Lord." Samuel's just been told by God he hasn't, and Agag is standing there.

Look at Samuel's answer. "What then is the bleating of the sheep in my ears? What then, if you've carried out the command, who are these living four-footed creatures running all around here? And what's with the oxen which I hear?"

Watch Saul backpedal. It is a very interesting study. He greets Samuel rather than bows in shame and regret, verse 13. He lies about his actions, verses 13 and 14. And now he rationalizes around it. Look at what he says. Saul said, "They've brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God. But the rest, we've utterly destroyed. But these we've kept as offerings to God."

I checked my dictionary for the word rationalize and found this definition: "to provide plausible but untrue reasons for conduct." Here's another one: "to attribute one's actions to rational and creditable motives without the analysis of true motives." He had convinced himself that because they were going to be offerings to God, it was okay to keep them alive.

But Samuel, I'm sure Saul thought, think of the sacrifice, this marvelous animal sacrifice that will come before the nostrils of God. Then Samuel said to Saul, "Wait!" which could be rendered, "Shut your mouth!" And let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night. And now I'm sure Saul's mouth is open and says, "Speak."

You know what, folks? I really believe Saul thought he was doing right. That's the tragedy of it. I honestly believe he is so blind to his disobedience that he really in his mind had talked himself into doing it this way rather than that. You can do that! And he says, "Speak. I'm ready to hear."

Samuel said, "Is it not true that though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel?" I'm sure Saul said, "That's right. That's the way it all began." And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, "Go and utterly destroy the sinners. Fight against them until they are exterminated."

"Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord?" I call that direct confrontation. Saul said to Samuel, "I did obey the voice of the Lord." We're talking major blind spot. "And I went out on a mission on which the Lord sent me, and I brought back Agag the king and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoil to sacrifice to the Lord your God. Can't you get that straight, Samuel?"

That is how rationalization works. You so talk yourself into another game plan, you convince yourself it's God's will. I want you to hear the words of Samuel. Samuel said, "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."

Look at this, folks. "For rebellion is as the sin of divination. Insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry." The next time you're tempted to laugh about your children's rebellion, go back to this verse. The next time you're willing to just sort of smile and say, "That's another little temper tantrum," go back to this verse. "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you from being king."

He goes further down the tubes. He lands on David and out of envy and jealousy tries to murder him on more than one occasion. And by the end of his life, he died, a tragic suicide. A man who was once tall, handsome, modest, giving, generous, a warrior, and a fine leader turns against everything that he was to represent. How can it be with Saul?

He took the people seriously, but he didn't take God seriously. He took himself seriously, didn't take God seriously. He took his circumstances seriously, never took God seriously. That's what happened.

Four reminders that live on beyond the story of King Saul. First, to assume that you will end strong because you have begun strong is foolish. You want to talk to me about your ministry? Come back when you're 70, 75 years old. Tell me how God's hand has been on your life when you're old and gray, when you're spending your years in the retirement home. Tell me about it when you have finished with the flash and the years are past. Keep short accounts.

Second, to presume into inappropriate areas because circumstances are uncomfortable is dangerous. My message to all of us at this point is watch and pray. Watch and pray.

Third, to jeopardize the well-being of another because you're unwilling to alter an unwise decision is unfair. Admit and change. Be humble enough to admit it was a wrong decision. If you realize the outcome of it would be dangerous or would hurt the well-being of another, back off of that decision.

And finally, to rationalize your disobedience because you wanted your way is rebellion. Face the truth. To rationalize your disobedience because you wanted your way is rebellion. Face the truth.

The most dangerous part of all of it is that it can happen today just as readily as it happened in that day. Not one of us is beyond this kind of thing occurring. It's very possible that God has brought you to a place of responsibility and leadership, and if he has, I'm grateful and I praise his name. He's still using individuals young, middle-aged, and old alike.

I just want to caution all of us that in being used for him, there is a process of trial that continually comes our way where pride has a chance to act in place of modesty and humility, where we can start believing our own stuff rather than realizing we have this as a very sacred trust. Let's hold it loosely. Let's be quick to admit when we are wrong.

Let's be careful to listen when God directs. Let's be disciplined enough to do just what he says. And let's try to protect one another in the process, lest our disobedience flow over into the hurting of another life. And the greater the leader, the more lives are hurt by rebellion.

Would you bow for a few moments of quiet reflection, please? It may be that you have come from a past that has been marked by brokenness and strife. It may be that what you have made of your life really is a first-class mess. But unlike Saul, you have come to realize that and you've turned the corner, you've come back to God.

And it is the Father's desire to use you as he once planned to use you now that you have turned around and seen the error of your ways. Father, I pray that you will speak in a direct way to one or two folks who needed to hear these words of warning in this message.

Thank you for speaking to me and for the quiet reassurance that you and I have had this week of going back over the very things that I've learned from Saul's life. May it never be said of me, may it never be said of us that we have played the fool. Rivet these things to our hearts, our Father, as many sit on the verge of a future that is both great and God-honoring. May we humbly walk with you through it. In Jesus' name, amen.

Bill Meyer: This is Insight for Living, and Chuck Swindoll is teaching from the book of First Samuel. We just completed message number seven in a 14-part series of biographical sketches called "Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives." Today's study is called "Saul: The King Who Refused to Bow."

You know that feeling when you're reading through the Bible and suddenly a minor character jumps off the page? Maybe it's Onesiphorus who wasn't ashamed of Paul's chains, or Joanna who quietly funded Jesus's ministry. Chuck has that rare gift of turning these brief mentions into unforgettable encounters with real people who faced real struggles just like we do.

Picture yourself on a Saturday morning with your coffee, opening one of these messages and meeting someone you've read past a dozen times. Or imagine your small group discovering together why God preserved even a single verse about someone's faithfulness. Well, the "Searching the Scriptures" Bible study workbook is a great resource we have to guide you.

This popular spiral-bound workbook will transform your experience from listening to Chuck teach into discovery for yourself. To purchase the "Searching the Scriptures" Bible study workbook for "Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives," call 800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/offer.

Before we go, let me tell you about "Guided by Grace," an all-new magazine we've designed to bring biblical encouragement directly to your mailbox. Inside its colorful pages, you'll explore characteristics that define Christ-like living. One issue might focus on joy, another on generosity or authentic community. Each edition features Chuck's teaching, stories from Insight for Living pastors who are witnessing God's word around the world, and devotionals to help you apply what you're learning.

It's rich content that will inspire and equip you throughout the year, and it's our gift to you. Call 800-772-8888 or visit insight.org/guidedbygrace. We'd love to send this valuable resource your way.

I'm Bill Meyer. Chuck Swindoll continues his powerful biographical series called "Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives," Monday on Insight for Living.

The preceding message, "Saul: The King Who Refused to Bow," was copyrighted in 1990, 1992, 2006, 2012, and 2024, and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2024 by Charles R. Swindoll, Incorporated. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited.