Over the past few weeks, since Bill Gothard’s Easter Letter featuring David and Saul, I’ve been surprised as I revisited the book of First Samuel. When was the last time you studied the misadventures of King Saul?
Saul was God’s anointed leader. Especially interesting and sad was his story in relationship to God, though. Here are some highlights of Saul’s spiritual journey:
1. The people followed a man over God as King. “Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” (1 Sam. 8:18, 10:19) In fairness to Saul, he was only out looking for donkeys, but God was leading him to anointing. (1 Sam. 9:20)
2. God gave Saul the qualities necessary to be king of Israel (1 Sam. 10:9), but Saul from the outset disobeyed Samuel’s charge to do nothing apart from him. (1 Sam. 10:7-8) In impatience, Saul put his own choices above God’s.
3. Even so, his initial conquest was successful, and he focused on growth of territory and numbers. (1 Sam. 11)
4. Early into his rule, Saul acted foolishly against God’s commands related specifically to Saul’s rule. Therefore, Saul’s rule and anointing were already forfeit, even though he would sit on the throne for a good while longer. God had already moved on to another leader, a man after His own heart. (1 Sam. 13:13-14)
5. Saul made rash vows during battle (1 Sam. 14:24). His foolish vows “troubled the land,” and his intentional sin caused unintentional sin on the part of his son, Jonathan, who was undone by his bright eyes…and decreased the greatness of victory. (1 Sam. 14:27, 29-30)
6. Saul caused his people to be weary, his sins and foolish rules leading the people to sin. (1 Sam. 14:32-33)
7. Saul made another foolish vow that almost led to the death of Jonathan. (1 Sam. 14:38-39, 44) Some vows he made were impossible or extremely costly to keep.
8. Most of the time, the people responded to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” (1 Sam. 14:40) His subjects followed rather blindly.
9. Sometimes the people would rise up against the anointed, as when they saw God work through Jonathan and banded together to save him from death. (1 Sam. 14:45)
10. Despite his foolishness, the kingdom was expanded with great effort, and Saul added the best of the best to his staff. (1 Sam. 14:52)
11. Saul only partially obeyed God. (1 Sam. 15:9-11)
12. Saul shifted blame for sin away from himself and onto his people. (1 Sam. 15:15)
13. Samuel reminded Saul that he was of little consequence without God, and that Saul did not fulfill his mission. He did some great things, but with incomplete or wrong motives…and he made excuses. His position of leadership was rejected. (1 Sam. 15:17-23)
14. The rejection of Saul’s anointing for leadership was final. (1 Sam. 15:26-28)
15. The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul…meaning that the special indwelling given for the purpose of leadership was gone. (1 Sam. 16:14)
From that point on, the story gets even crazier–literally. Saul’s shortcomings include deception, a very low value placed on women, failed arranged marriages, false promises, necromancy, and unwise fasting. His disobedience led to tragedy rather than glory.
Now, there are two main points I’d like to make:
A. Jesus is the true, anointed King. Our allegiance should be to Him only, above any man. On Easter, He is risen. Today, He is Lord.
B. People who have followed men who lost the anointing of leadership may grieve, but they must also move on. Samuel and the people still grieved for Saul. (1 Sam. 16:1) A large part of Samuel’s grief must have been for the role he played. He was sad that he physically anointed Saul. God understood and gave him time to grieve.
Eventually, though, God asked, “How long will you grieve…?” Then God told him get up and going again!
Did you notice any parallels in this story?
Long-time followers of Bill Gothard remember the crowds he drew in the 1970s and consider him to be “God’s anointed,” a serious mantle to wear in public leadership. I’ve read those words so often lately…and I was surprised how well Saul’s story apparently ties into Gothard’s own. We must note that many people would say that Gothard never had that kind of anointing, but since there are people who have heard him refer to himself as “The Lord’s Anointed” in private conversations, for the sake of argument let’s say that he did once have this anointing of leadership.
If you’ve heard stories of problems within ATI (Advanced Training Institute) and IBLP (Institute in Basic Life Principles)…and you’re confident that all the stories are lies and that God’s anointed cannot be touched or corrupted by grievous sin…please consider the biblical example of Saul.
Awesome article, Jay! I remember, after hearing that the pastor who had married my husband and I, that HIS marriage was falling apart,how I took strange comfort in the whole story of Solomon. He began by begging God for wisdom, and with a right intention of networking with other countries, took wives from each one, and his heart became more turned to THEIR gods. The people were disillusioned, as was I. I learned a new level of loving and depending on God FIRST, above those He anointed as leaders. What I have gone through was a small taste of, what I'm sure many here have, and are, going through from memories of ATI. May God be glorified through this article.
I appreciate your point on grieving and moving on. We need to move on - and do whatever it takes, including obtaining professional help, to do so. That doesn't mean we never talk about it again - closing off our hearts isn't the way to move on. But there is so much LIFE out there to live! It's not worth remaining bound by the past.
I laughed out loud over the part about Jonathan's bright eyes. Who knew they could come from disobedience? Or lead us in peril of death?
Clever use of the combination "move" and "on". lol
Great article!
There is nothing more hopeless than an unintelligent devotion to an idea which is formally correct, yet incomplete. A.T. Mahan, "Types of Naval Officers"
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[…] Bible is full of stories about God gifting individuals with particular qualities needed to lead and serve His people; yet, in his foreknowledge, God has already made plans to work through a leader’s failure. Those […]