Saul’s Heart Revealed
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Saul could not but feel that his son was preferred before him, both by the people and by the Lord. Jonathan’s deliverance was a severe reproof to the king’s rashness.
He felt a presentiment that his curses would return upon his own head.” “There are many today, like Saul, bringing upon themselves the displeasure of God. They reject counsel and despise reproof. Even when convinced that the Lord is not with them, they refuse to see in themselves the cause of their trouble. How many cherish a proud, boastful spirit, while they indulge in cruel judgment or severe rebuke of others really better in heart and life than they. Well would it be for such self-constituted judges to ponder those words of Christ: ‘With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.’” Saul now stood before the people in a new and troubling light.
He was impulsive.
Israel would soon have even more reason to doubt his judgment in addition to the rash action taken against his own son.
Adding to his impulsiveness was overarching pride.
“Saul seemed to exult in his military genius. Instead of protecting the rights of his people he took the offensive against his neighbor nations, with the purpose of enhancing his own reputation as king.” Saul was judgmental. He stood ready to accuse others for his own folly and sinful actions. He accused Samuel of being tardy, so, in the absence of the priest, he was forced to proceed without him. When God’s instruction ran contrary to his own, he sought to place blame elsewhere rather than accept the error of his own opinion. Saul took any reproof as an insult and instinctively blamed the messenger. Pride, impulsiveness, and being judgmental were just a few of his faults. We will soon see he was envious, vindictive, and cruel as well.
No one is righteous enough to claim God’s prerogative to judge another.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1).
