The last chance:

As I look at Saul’s kingdom today before moving on to the life of David it is important to realize the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Christ in John 14:26 gives us this promise “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” We have this teacher in our live who will help us in our daily living, if only we study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needed not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I Samuel chapter 15:30 reveals Saul’s true desires: “Then he said; I have sinned: (yet) honour me now, I pray thee before the elders of my people and before Israel and turned again with me that I may worship the Lord thy God.” Saul had been given the commandment from the Lord to “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not” (I Samuel 15:3). However as you read the account of the story in chapter 15 Saul and the people spared Agag the king and the best of the livestock. As you read the account of this story verse 30 reveals the direction in which Saul would lead the new nation in the future. As verse 30 reveals Saul consider Israel as his people and God as Samuel’s God. He had placed himself as the king over his people not God’s people, and turned away from following God. The simple words of the Pledge of Allegiance today reads: “I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” we must remember that the words “under God” was add in 1954 by Congress at the request of President Eisenhower. President Eisenhower saw the need to make us a nation under the providence of God. Yet in I Samuel chapter 15 we see Saul as King move Israel from a nation under God to a nation that place self above God and left God as being someone’s else God.

Samuel and Saul parted ways after this event and Samuel never again came to Saul. Saul departed to his house in Gibeah and Samuel went to Ramah. Yet Samuel mourned for Saul even after knowing the Lord had rejected him. The Spirit of God departed from Saul and when it did an evil spirit from God trouble him. Let us remember the importance of the Holy Spirit in our live and let Him guide and teach us as we go about our daily routines.