“So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the LORD’s commands, and even consulted a medium instead of asking the LORD for guidance. So the LORD killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.”
1 Chronicles 10:13-14
Samuel anointed two different kings for Israel, Saul and David. However, their lives were entirely different, and it all depended on their God-connection.
Saul appeared on the scene as quite a humble and even godly man. In fact, Samuel introduced him as, “The man the Lord has chosen…No one in all Israel is like him!” On two different occasions, the Spirit of God came upon Saul and he prophesied, once for a whole day and night! So, how did he become a man with such intense anger and jealousy? What caused him to blatantly disobey God’s orders, and why did his life seem to race downhill toward death?
Today we read, “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord.” However, the life of God’s Presence in Saul died long before the sword pierced his heart on the battlefield. The power of God’s presence slipped away the day Saul failed to obey the LORD’s command.
Power comes not from us, but from the One Who is with us. Sadly, disobedience severs that connection which only repentance can restore. When Saul chose to disobey God’s instructions to wipe out the Amalekites, instead of repenting, he tried to cover his actions with lies. Those choices cost Saul the blessing and power of God’s presence in his life.
Saul’s life is a warning to us:
No connection—no power!
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