Bible Discussion Thread

1 Samuel 13

Saul's LACK of prayer to God for guidance leads to a foolish decision which would cost him leadership over the Kingdom.

Verses 13-14 show a stern rebuke from Samuel toward Saul after he decided to purposely circumvent instructions and do a sacrifice himself; something only the Priests were authorized to do. Samuel was gone for a spell; no doubt much like the story of Moses when he was gone for a while and Aaron did a pagan sacrifice to satisfy the people. In this case it was an attempt at proper procedure but again obedience is better than sacrifice ( 1 Samuel 15:22).

1 Samuel 14

Verse 37 states Saul's prayer to God.

"And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day."

This perhaps is the second sign of things getting screwed up in Saul's decisions before he became totally unhinged. In short; he received no answer from God yet when seeking out who was responsible for transgressing the vow he made with God his own son Jonathan came up. God did reveal that; but the vow itself was foolish; that being no one could eat the whole day until the battlefield campaign was completed. His son WOULD have been under the rule of this vow except for the fact that he didn't KNOW about it as everyone else DID. Also the fact that Saul wanted him dead for that shows how ridiculous it was; there was no such ontingency in the vow in the first place as a punishment. God sustained everyone but nonetheless the Lord was no doubt holding him somewhat culpable here; first of all if they hadn't had provisions right at that point something disastrous may have happened while pillaging the camp. Also if he had been right with God and he was against the army the Lord would have told him that was the case.

1 Samuel 15. The verse quoted above in verse 22 shows how Saul's Kingdom was done with after disobeying commands to destroy Anak and not killing all animals.

Dear Brother , it is my understanding that Saul and David represent the two covenants , one exclusively for those physically circumsized and those spirituality circumsized , those under the law of Moses and those under the grace in Christ . Saul perished because he broke God's laws , David broke God's laws many times but was forgiven even though he was living his life in the times and covenant of Moses ,which covenant did not provide much in the way of forgiveness . The life of David us literally bursting with important lessons for us all and I feel is very worthy of in depth study . 1st Samuel chapter 15 , in particular verses 24 + 26 + 31 + 35 . Also 2nd Samuel chapter 7 especially verses 12-17 . There is a wealth of knowledge and beauty in the books of Samuel and Kings and Chronicles , all there because God wants us to read it and understand it and draw closer to Him through it . It is as valid and helpful as anything in the New Testament .