Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Various translations of the verse cited in the question (as found on the website http://www.biblehub.com) render the wording of the verse as "he took him into his service" rather than "he took him for himself". That is, Saul's action did not indicate any kind of selfishness on his part, but reflected his desire for the strongest and most valiant men who could possibly be obtained to be fighting on behalf of Israel, because of the continual warfare with the Philistines in which he was engaged all the days of his reign, as also noted in the verse.

January 10 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

JESTEEN Y ALEN KUMAR Sunday School Teacher at Baptist Church

King Saul strongly believed in human strength & power to win the battle instead of depending completely on LORD God of Israel. In the Law it is clearly stated “You shall not be afraid of them even though the enemy's army is more numerous than your side. Remember what the LORD God of Israel did unto Pharaoh & unto all Egypt." The Lord instructed Samuel (prophet) that the king should keep a copy of the Law always with him and should read regularly in order to prosper his kingdom, but Saul was not following this guidance. 

When the philistines came against Kind David, he asked the Lord and did as the Lord commanded him. In other words, he trusted the Lord completely, so he prospered. Please read 2 Samuel 5 : 25 “And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer." The Lord always expects Obedience.

I will give you another example. Please turn your Bible to 2 Chronicles 32:6-8. When the King of Assyria came with bounty of army to defeat Judah, Hezekiah the kind of Judah said to his people “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles."

Please underscore “With him is an arm of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to help us and fight our battles."

Hezekiah had not collected any valiant men / huge army to defeat the king of Assyria but the king prayed and cried to heaven, so the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. But Saul depended fully on an arm of flesh instead of begging the Lord’s help.

Shall we look at one more scripture portion to understand Saul’s mind before we conclude?

1 Samuel 15:24 “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people and obeyed their voice." 

And in the same chapter verse 10, the Lord himself is saying “He is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments.”

From the above verse it is clear that he is giving importance to people rather than obeying the commandment of the LORD. He was not wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. In contrast to Saul, Caleb the son of Jephunneh had wholly (in every respect) followed the Lord God; hence he had a good testimony. Please read the verse Joshua 14:15: “Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.”

Our Lord himself is saying in Isaiah 46: 4 “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."

It doesn’t matter whatever the circumstances or problems we are facing, we need to remember the Lord and put our trust in Him. I am sure that He will deliver you from all difficulties, because He cares for you.

February 12 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report