“So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it” (1 Chronicles 10:13).
TEXT — 1 Chronicles 10:1-14
Message
Some people have the habit of taking God for granted. They assume that since He does not always mete out instant judgment on offenders, He does not care about their transgressions, or somehow, He would forget their offences. Worse still, this leads them to continue in their sinful lifestyle, as if they would never be called to account for their actions.
Israel’s first king, Saul, was a perfect example of disobedience and rebellion against God. He did not take God’s instructions to heart but carried them out half-heartedly. He preferred acting out his plots rather than asking God for direction and guidance. It was such that when he needed God to show him the way towards the end of his life, the Lord neither listened nor spoke to him.
As he prepared for battle in this last chapter of his life, he turned to a witch for help. In battle, he was accidentally struck by an enemy arrow and had to complete his demise by committing suicide. His dead body was abused by the Philistines. His head was cut off and paraded round the enemy nation, ending up in the shrine of Dagon. It took only a group of brave Israelites to forcefully retrieve his headless body and those of his three sons for burial.
Disobedience is not just to do wrong, but also to refuse to do what is right. The disobedient never go to God unless there is nowhere else to seek help. Even at that, they come with a sense of entitlement as if God must do what they seek. Those who persist in evil while hoping that they would get away with it, should learn from the life of Saul that irrespective of how long it takes, God will never overlook sin.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
1 comment
It is wise to live in absolute obedience to God’s word. At no point should we take God’s grace for granted. The Bible says, God is angry at the wicked everyday, same Bible says we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Not hypocritical as God sees what no man can see. Wisdom is profitable to direct. Let’s live holy intentionally to be rapturable when Jesus comes.
It is wise to live in absolute obedience to God’s word. At no point should we take God’s grace for granted. The Bible says, God is angry at the wicked everyday, same Bible says we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Not hypocritical as God sees what no man can see. Wisdom is profitable to direct. Let’s live holy intentionally to be rapturable when Jesus comes.