” 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the word of the LORD , he hath also rejected thee from being king. 24. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. 26. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.”
Witchcraft, iniquity, and idolatry can easily be judged as wickedness in the eyes of a Christian, but rebellion and stubbornness is easily looked at as a light thing. Rebellion is open resistance to lawful authority according Webster 1828. There is no ruler or authority higher than the Almighty God and His Word should be the guidebook to the life of every Christian. King Saul has made a terrible mistake. Through the voice of Samuel God tells Saul that he must go to the Amorites and kill every living thing within this wicked nation. Through the battle, Saul chooses to fear the people rather than God. He spares king Agag and all of the finest animals. That wasn’t what God told him to do! Even after his sin king Saul still had opportunity to get right with God, but if you read the context you’ll notice he was trying to find favor with Samuel the prophet rather than God. In his own pride he desired for Samuel to magnify him above all the people. A repentant heart is humility, not; “Lord lift me up.” Verse 30 of this same chapter reads: “Then he said, I have sinned: yet hounour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.” This is Saul’s request to Samuel. Notice how Saul has no relationship with God at this point, he gives reference that God was the God of Samuel and not his God(“that I may worship the LORD thy God”). King Saul is no longer in favor with God, he has become a wayward child with a broken relationship. When Saul dies in battle, in later chapters, the Bible tells us that he goes to paradise after death, but the end of Saul’s life is nothing more that rebellion, stubbornness, and a broken relationship with the Almighty Creator. The reason churches are falling apart today is because there are many believers that are choosing a rebellious lifestyle just like Saul chose. God pulled Saul from his throne! You may not be a king, but God will demote you to some low times in life if you are living as a rebellious believer. Sunday is for worshipping Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth, not for the deer stand or lake. The bars are for lost sinners, not believers. Adultery, drugs, hunting, fishing, gambling, video games, baseball, football, soccer, etc. are destroying churches, believers, and families because rebellion is the way Christians are choosing to live. Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Saul lost the kingdom. If you don’t turn from your rebellious ways; what will you lose? God loves you! Remember that rebellion and stubbornness is just like witchcraft, iniquity, and idolatry. There is no joy in that lifestyle and there is a price that will have to be paid!
Memory Verse Week 10/22/18
Galatians 6:7
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
