The First King
If there were ever a living, breathing illustration of Matthew 23:12 it is Saul. This first king of Israel would reign some 1000 years before Jesus became flesh “and lived among us (John 1:14). There had been plenty of warnings through Samuel of what a king may do.But it wouldn’t begin that way. It would begin with a young man on an errand to find lost donkeys. A search that, in God’s plan, was a part of a much more significant search. Saul was looking for his father’s donkeys when his search brought him to the seer (or prophet) named Samuel. Samuel had been told the day before that God was going to bring the one to be anointed as king to him. As Saul approached he was told to stop worrying about the donkeys because “you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes” (1 Samuel 9:19-20, NLT).
The Humble Will Be Exalted
It is the response of Saul that wins the hearts of the people, and maybe even God in the early days of his kingship. “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe” (9:21)! Even a chapter later, when the time came for the public announcement of Saul, he would hide himself away among the luggage of his people and have to be sought out (10:22-23). And when people despised him at the announcing of him as king by not bringing gifts, he simply kept silent (10:27).
The One Who Exalts Himself Will Be Humbled
But somewhere along the path Saul lost his way. It might have been that the power went to his head. It might have been that the pressure to succeed was too great. Regardless of the catalyst, the ultimate reason is that his heart did not stay attuned to God’s heart. The first sign of this was in 1 Samuel 13:7-14 when because of fear and impatience Saul offered up sacrifices — a job fit only for Samuel. A foreboding promise is made by Samuel: “But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart…” (14).
Then there was the foolish oath he took that almost resulted in him killing his own son. And he would have if it weren’t for the people (1 Samuel 14:24-45). The final straw for of the house that Saul had built was when he disobeyed God by not fully destroying the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1-35). The last verse of chapter 15 ranks up there with the saddest statements ever made about Saul — or maybe anyone. Saul lost a trusted advisor, Samuel spent his days mourning for Saul, and God grieved for ever choosing Saul as King.
It would be many years before David would pen the words to a song about Saul after he and Jonathan were killed in battle. The words, however, could have well spoken of Saul long before he died in battle. “Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen” (2 Samuel 1:19). Saul’s decisions to place himself higher than he should have was an unfortunate illustration of the words, “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before the fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Ben