Saul disobeyed the Lord and provoked His wrath. I hope these verses bring fear to everyone who reads.
“Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak on.” So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?” I Samuel 15.16-17
God reminded Saul of what he was like, just as He also reminds us of how we came to church, feeling the worst of men, and He transformed us, blessed us, and anointed us to serve Him.
“Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” I Samuel 15.19
The spoils consisted of anything that could be taken, and that men judged to have value and usefulness. Many swoop down on the spoil (goods) and displeased the Most High in an abominable way, so they were cast out of the ministry.
“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.” I Samuel 15.23
Saul rejected the Word of God. And today we have also seen pastors and wives rejecting the Word of God, rebelling against His anointed ones, such as Korah, Dathan and Abiram, as was the case in Angola nowadays.
“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.” And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you." I Samuel 15.26-28
Here Saul heard the RIPPING sound of his reign. We pastors have a reign (ministry), which, once done with deceitfulness and disobedience, leads to the breaking of communion with the Most High. May God have mercy on us that we will never hear the sound of this RIP!
“Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have [e]provided Myself a king among his sons.”” I Samuel 16.1
It is very sad for us to lose a companion in war, however, here our Lord reveals to us that it is not they who are deserting, but God who is REJECTING THEM and preparing better ones to serve Him from now on.
Now, imagine someone who was used by God almost all his life, but in the end is just a donkey of Balaam and is rejected by the Lord, who will say:
“…I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7.23
MERCY!
Bishop Sergio Corrêa