Now is the time
So, Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; Therefore, He killed him and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. ~ 1 Chronicles 10:13-14
Have you ever ignored a warning light on your car dashboard, hoping it would just go away? Maybe you turned up the radio so you wouldn’t hear that strange noise coming from the engine or convinced yourself that you’ll get it checked out next week. We all know how that can end! Ignoring a warning doesn’t make the problem disappear. In fact, sometimes the longer we ignore it, the more damage it causes. Our spiritual lives can be the same way. God often gives us warnings, nudges, correction, and opportunities to turn around, but what we do with those warnings matters.
Today’s scripture reading tells us about the tragic end of King Saul. Israel went into battle against the Philistines, and Saul’s sons were killed. Saul was wounded by the archers and eventually took his own life rather than fall into the hands of his enemies. It was a devastating ending for someone who had once been chosen and anointed to lead God’s people. But the chapter doesn’t just tell us how Saul died. It tells us why his life ended the way it did. Verse 13 says Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the Lord. He didn’t keep God’s Word, and he sought guidance from a medium instead of seeking the Lord.
What makes this chapter especially sobering is that Saul’s downfall didn’t happen overnight. His life was marked by moments when he chose his own way instead of obeying God. He allowed fear, pride, insecurity, and disobedience to influence his decisions. Eventually, the very person who had been given the privilege of leading God’s people found himself in a place of spiritual defeat.
There is a powerful point in this passage that we can’t afford to become casual about our relationship with God. It’s easy to recognize the importance of seeking Him when we’re facing a crisis, but God wants to be involved in our everyday decisions too.
Here are three important truths we can take from Saul’s life that can help us guard our hearts and stay faithful to the Lord.
1. Small acts of disobedience can lead to bigger consequences.
Saul’s story is a reminder that disobedience rarely stays contained. One decision to disregard God’s instructions can open the door to another, and before long, we can find ourselves further away from God than we ever intended to be. Saul didn’t wake up one morning and suddenly decide to abandon everything God had told him. His downfall was the result of repeated choices to do things his own way.
We see this pattern in 1 Samuel when Saul was given specific instructions from God but chose to partially obey instead. He wanted to do things his way and then tried to justify his actions. He even blamed the people for what had happened. Instead of taking responsibility, he was more concerned about how things looked to others than about the condition of his heart before God.
Isn’t that something we can all be tempted to do? We can convince ourselves that we’re obeying God in most areas, so maybe one little compromise isn’t such a big deal. We might excuse a little dishonesty, hold on to an offense, entertain thoughts we know aren’t pleasing to God, or delay doing something He has already asked us to do. We tell ourselves we’ll deal with it later but never seem to get around to it.
Maybe God has been prompting you to have a difficult conversation with someone, forgive someone who hurt you, make a change in a relationship, or step away from something that’s pulling you in the wrong direction. Perhaps you’ve been putting off spending time in God’s Word because life is busy. Whatever it is, don’t keep pushing His instructions to the side. When the Holy Spirit brings something to your attention, it’s an opportunity to respond.
Here’s the good news. God doesn’t point out areas that need attention to condemn us. He does it because He loves us and wants us to walk in the fullness of what He’s prepared for us. We don’t have to defend our disobedience or make excuses for it. We can simply humble ourselves, repent, and get back on the right path. It’s much easier to make a small correction when God first brings something to our attention than to wait until we’ve created a much bigger mess.
2. When you stop seeking God, you’ll eventually start seeking answers in the wrong places.
One of the saddest statements in this chapter is found in verse 14. It says Saul did not inquire of the Lord. Think about that for a moment. Saul had been chosen by God, had experienced God’s anointing, and had been given the responsibility of leading an entire nation. But when he needed direction, he turned somewhere other than to God.
Earlier in his life, Saul did seek the Lord, but as time went on, he became increasingly dependent on his own thinking and decisions. Eventually, in desperation, he sought out a medium (Psychic) for guidance. Instead of turning to the God who had called him, he went looking for answers in a place God had forbidden.
We might not be visiting a fortune teller like Saul did, but we can fall into the same pattern when we stop seeking God and start looking everywhere else for answers. We turn to social media, opinions, podcasts, friends, and whatever advice happens to sound good at the time. There’s nothing wrong with getting wise counsel, but we need to be careful that we’re not allowing everyone else’s opinions to become louder than God’s Word.
Think about how often we make decisions based on what feels right, what seems easiest, or what everyone else is doing. We might ask ten people for their opinions before ever taking the time to pray. Sometimes we spend more time searching the internet for an answer than searching Scripture for God’s wisdom. We want direction, but we forget to ask the One who knows the beginning from the end!
Maybe you’re facing a decision about your family, finances, career, relationships, or ministry. Before you rush into making a decision, take time to seek the Lord. Open your Bible. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom. If you need counsel, seek someone who will point you back to God’s Word rather than simply tell you what you want to hear.
James 1:5 reminds us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God and He gives generously. What a wonderful promise! We don’t have to figure everything out on our own. God wants us to come to Him. Make seeking Him your first response, not your last resort. Don’t wait until everything falls apart before you decide to pray. Build a relationship with Him that makes seeking His direction a normal part of your everyday life.
3. Your past doesn’t have to determine your future, but your response to God matters.
One of the things that stands out in Saul’s story is the contrast between his life and the opportunity God originally gave him. Saul had been chosen to lead Israel. He experienced the privilege of God’s calling and was given opportunities to obey and follow Him. Yet he allowed his own choices to take him in a different direction.
Verse 13 tells us that Saul’s unfaithfulness was the reason for his downfall. It’s a sobering reminder that having a good beginning doesn’t guarantee a faithful finish. We can’t live on yesterday’s obedience, yesterday’s victories, or yesterday’s experiences with God. We need to keep walking with Him today.
But I also want to point out something encouraging. Saul’s story doesn’t mean that when we make mistakes, we’ve lost every opportunity God has for us. We serve a God who is rich in mercy and always welcomes a repentant heart. Saul’s tragedy was not simply that he made mistakes. It was that he continued down a path of disobedience rather than returning to the Lord.
Maybe you’ve made decisions you’re not proud of or allowed fear to keep you from obeying God. Maybe you’ve spent time pursuing something you knew wasn’t His best for you or even become spiritually distracted and realized that your relationship with God isn’t where it once was. Don’t let shame convince you that it’s too late to turn back. The enemy would love for you to believe that your past has disqualified you, but God’s mercy is greater than your mistakes.
First John 1:9 reminds us that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That’s an invitation to come back to Him, not an excuse to continue doing things our own way. If you’ve wandered, return. If you’ve become distracted, make time for Him again. If you’ve been making decisions without seeking His direction, invite Him back into the process.
And here’s another important lesson. Don’t become so focused on what happened yesterday that you miss what God is asking you to do today. Maybe your next step is making things right with someone, getting back into the Word, finding accountability, or taking a step of obedience you’ve been avoiding. Whatever it is, take that step. God is interested in your heart and your willingness to follow Him.
Today I want to encourage you to pay attention to the warning signs in your spiritual life and never become so comfortable doing things your own way that you stop seeking the Lord. Saul’s story in 1 Chronicles 10 is a sobering reminder that disobedience has consequences and that we can’t substitute our own wisdom for God’s direction. But it’s also an opportunity for us to examine the choices we’re making today. Are we obeying what God has already told us? Are we seeking Him first when we need direction? Are we allowing pride, fear, or the opinions of others to influence our decisions?
Remember, God isn’t asking you to have everything figured out. He’s asking you to trust Him enough to follow where He leads. Don’t wait for a crisis to bring you back to prayer, and don’t wait until you’ve wandered far away to recognize that you need Him. Stay close to the Lord, keep your heart tender toward His voice, and be willing to make a course correction when He speaks. It’s not just about how we begin our walk with God, it’s about remaining faithful all the way through. Don’t settle for just having a history with God. Make sure to walk with Him today and every day forward!
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Chronicles 10
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.
3 The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers.
4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and abuse me.” But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.
5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died.
6 So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.
7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; then the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9 And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among the people.
10 Then they put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.
11 And when all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 all the valiant men arose and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons; and they brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance.
14 But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
Journal:
- Is there an area of my life where I’ve been partially obeying God or making excuses for something He’s already asked me to change? What step of obedience do I need to take?
- When I need direction, where do I turn first? Do I seek God’s wisdom through prayer and His Word, or do I rely more on my own understanding and the opinions of others?
- Have I allowed fear, pride, insecurity, or the desire to please people to influence my decisions? How might those things be keeping me from following God’s instructions?
- Is there an area of my relationship with God that has become neglected or distracted? What practical changes can I make to put Him first again?
- What is one thing I can do today to make sure I’m not just beginning my walk with God well, but continuing to walk faithfully with Him?
