JULY 13: “LESSONS FROM KING SAUL”

The story of King Saul teaches us lots of invaluable life lessons, on pride and cover up. King Saul started as a humble man who considered himself insignificant. When God chose him as the first king in Israel, his perception of himself was someone unworthy who felt unqualified. However, he soon changed and became arrogant. The power of the throne made him pompous and incorrigible.

Power, success and riches are tests of true personality. The real man becomes known when these things are present. God wants us to develop Christlike character devoid of pride before we are exposed to successes, riches and positions of power. If we fail to when God gives these things, we are likely to fail and fall flat.

Pride is manifested in different ways. First as disobedience to God’s instructions. God commanded King Saul to kill all the Amalekites and leave no survivors. He and his army did not obey that command. They rather used their initiative to decide who and what to kill and leave alive. (1 Samuel 15:20-21) We must never reduce God’s instruction to rationality or human logic (what made sense and what does not) this will be regarded as pride. Second, King Saul when corrected, did not admit he was wrong, but rather defended his action with a reason.

Pride is non admittance of wrong and it would rather develop bold face and strong will. Pride sees admitting to wrong done or accepting responsibility for a fault, as being weak and subjugated. Yet, no one is infallible or above error. We must be meek to admit to faults or errors committed. David won God’s heart through his humility and meekness. Each time he was confronted and corrected, David would fall to his face and confess before God, no cover up at all.

PRAYER: Oh Lord, save me from the trap of ego and materialism. Draw my heart into constant alignment in total obedience and perfect compliance with your will in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.