Saul Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

The Lord Rejected

The Lord Rejected by Kirk Hunt

But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

1 Samuel 15:26 NKJV
Please also read 1 Samuel 15:1-29

King Saul lost his kingship because our Lord God rejected him. God did not consult with anyone, even His great prophet, Samuel. For the record, Saul’s flagrant disobedience and unrepentant lying cost him his crown.

Leaders are men and women who have been selected by God to fulfill God’s purposes in the affairs of men. I cannot imagine nakedly disobeying an explicit, detailed, and direct order from God. Saul could. Saul did.

A Godly leader is not expected to be infallible, but they are expected to obey God’s commandments. To hear from God, and willfully decide to do something else, is not obedience but rebellion. None of Saul’s lies, excuses, or justifications could exempt him from God’s judgment.

There was no coup d’etat. No one, except Saul, staged a mutiny. Saul’s rebellion was against God, pure and simple. The results were predictable.

Men and women, even leaders, are imperfect. God extends grace to our errors, but not our willful rebellion. If you reject God’s commands, you are rejecting God. Look at Saul’s life to see the results of God rejecting you.

Think: If God rejects it, or them, or me, that is final.

Pray: “Lord, help keep me from anything that would cause you to reject me.”

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

The Lord Rejected

The Lord Rejected by Kirk Hunt

But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

1 Samuel 15:26 NKJV
Please also read 1 Samuel 15:1-29

There was no coup d’etat. No one, except Saul, staged a mutiny. Saul’s rebellion was against God, pure and simple. The results were predictable.

Think: If God rejects it, or them, or me, that is final.

Pray: “Lord, help keep me from anything that would cause you to reject me.”

He Turned And Struck

He Turned And Struck by Kirk Hunt

Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod.

1 Samuel 22:17-18 NKJV
Please also read 1 Samuel 22:1-23

Even if King Saul’s order to kill the priests was lawful, it was clearly immoral. Traditional sources identify Abner and Amasa, loyal captains of King Saul, as the men who refused to kill the priests. Doeg proved himself a despicable henchman when he “turned and struck the priests.”

King Saul, God’s anointed king of Israel, gave an immoral order based on his anger and frustration. Men and women are responsible for the decisions they make as a leader of God’s people. A good leader would have re-thought his orders when loyal men (or women) refused to carry them out.

Any thug or brute can carry out a malicious order. An honorable and righteous soul is most loyal when they protect a leader from all dangers. And sometimes, a leader’s greatest danger is themselves.

Scripture does not record what happened to Doeg. Saul, who gave the order, died a miserable death, surrounded by enemies. A good leader wants good followers. Men and women who are so loyal, they will protect a leader from themselves.

Think: Even if the order is lawful, it may not be moral. Should I carry it out?

Pray: “Lord, help me to minister correctly, despite my orders.”

Obedience At All Ranks

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“Obedience At All Ranks” By Kirk Hunt

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He also has rejected you from being king.”

1 Samuel 15:23 NKJV

Samuel delivered his somber news to Saul. The king’s (pitiful) excuses and justifications could not negate his responsibility to obey God. King Saul found out the hard way that obedience applies to all ranks.

The greedy, lazy, self-centered part of us wants it both ways. We want anyone and every one to do every little thing we say. We even want them to anticipate what we want done.

Of course, that part of us wants to be free to ignore or even alter any instruction. “Do as I say, not as I do.” “Rank hath its privileges.”

I freely admit I am aggravated when I experience this disobedient attitude in folks. I am more aggravated when I catch the same attitude trying to assert itself in my life. To my regret, it is a weed that grows back far too easily.

God expects you to obey Him and His Word. Your rank does not impact your obligation to obey. Not one little bit.

Obedience to God does not have rank or importance limits. It applies to me. It applies to you. Without exception.

Think: I owe God my obedience, no matter what rank I hold.

Pray: “Lord, keep my heart focused on obedience to You and Your Word.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Saul’s Hindrance

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“Saul’s Hindrance” By Kirk Hunt

Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.”

1 Samuel 15:10-11a NKJV

Saul’s hindrance cost him the throne of Israel. There was no political maneuvering or mutiny. Instead, Saul got in his own way and ended his dynasty, practically before it started.

David’s name would appear in the next chapter of Scripture, but not this one. Samuel literally got mad, then grieved over the loss of Saul. The sitting king only had himself to blame for losing his throne.

Too often we want to blame others. We want some outside force to be at fault for our losses and problems. Stand still. Be honest.

Saul turned away from God. Saul decided to stop being obedient, all on his own. No series of pitiful excuses can fix the real problem.

Saul had God’s anointing. All he had to do was live it out. Instead, he caved under the pressure of continuing to be a man of God.

Saul’s hindrance was Saul. Not the Amalek nation he defeated. Not David, who was still out with the sheep. Not even Samuel who grieved for his error.

Perhaps you have hindrances blocking your way forward with God. Stand still. Be honest. Are you getting in your own way?

Think: Am I the hindrance holding me back?

Pray: “Lord, keep my heart focused on You and Your Word.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Send A Memo

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“Send A Memo” by Kirk Hunt

And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

1 Samuel 24:16-17 KJV

From the cave he just left, King Saul heard the voice of the very fugitive he hunted. In his right hand, David carried a sharp knife. In his left hand, a severed portion of Saul’s clothes.

Despite the standing death warrant, David refused to harm Saul. Not even multiple murder attempts could goad David against the rightful king of Israel. Scripture records that David had pangs of conscience for cutting up Saul’s clothes.

Even Saul got the message David sent. He could see David’s righteousness and his own evil. Shamed and convicted, Saul declared the truth of the situation.

You need to send a message of grace and mercy. Not with ink and paper, but through actions that leave no doubt. That God loves them still. That God extends His mercy today.

Someone in your sphere needs to get the memo. Be a living letter of God’s love and mercy. Deliver the message, loud and clear. How they react is between them and God.

Think : I need to send a strong message of mercy and grace to someone near me.

Pray: “Lord, Help me to be a living example of Your mercy and grace.”