“The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Matthew 4:16

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23

Here we have Saul, God’s anointed king over Israel, failing to obey God’s explicit command to kill ALL of the Amelakites: women, infants, young, old, cattle, sheep, etc. But instead he keeps the best of the cattle and sheep, and does not kill Agag the King of the Amelakites. I remember being shown how the Amelakites represented sin and that unless sin is totally wiped out, its insidious growth, like the comparable yeast in bread, will grow and permeate the whole structure. So today I’m wondering, “why in the world would Saul keep alive Agag, the king?” Perhaps he desired to show his superiority over Agag; perhaps he was convinced of his own capacity to curb Agag (who was Saul’s equal in rank); but perhaps it was really to have a trophy that showed how great his conquest was. A slight temptation that we keep to show just how victorious we are - like the alcoholic who keeps a bottle of liquor on his shelf just to demonstrate his triumph over it, or the adulterer who keeps his exposed lover’s notes or number sequestered in his secret place. Saul didn’t realize God meant what He said. He justified the keeping of the prime cattle and sheep by saying he was just bringing them up to sacrifice to God! What games we play. God wants obedience, not sacrifice – in essence, there is NOTHING we can give to God, and to give back to God in honor the very thing over which He’s given you victory - is an abomination. Here, God, have my alcohol – it’s my best that I can give you. Not! Our best is obedience. Our best is humility. Our best is at best filthy rags as Paul said.

So, the kingdom was taken from Saul and given to David, God’s choice. The interesting thing is that when confronted with his sin, Saul does not realize its gravity. He replies with the right words, “I have sinned….” But goes on to say, “but please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord YOUR God.” Compare that with David’s reaction to Nathan’s’ exposure of David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband: “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.’” 2 Samuel 12:13. Where Saul tried to justify his sin, David sought justification by grace. (Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”)

Astounding as it is, the Lord subsequently removed his spirit from Saul and sent instead an evil spirit to torment Saul. Crazy, isn’t it? An evil spirit from the Lord? Yes indeed. But today I realized that when we experience the absence of God in our lives and evil is left to darken our world, we have a greater “hit me over the head” opportunity to see the light when it pierces. How great is the light when darkness abounds or more specifically, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound…” Romans 5:20. This fact I’ve missed in all my previous readings - mercy was sent by God during Saul’s torment. Right under Saul’s oblivious nose, God sent his anointed (read, Jesus), to play the harp each time Saul was tormented and the evil spirit would leave him. Didn’t Jesus tell us the same thing?

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4