King Saul – An “I” Problem

Text: I Samuel 9-15

1. Looks to himself – at Gilgal
   1. I Samuel 13:5-14 – Saul offers sacrifice
      1. Samuel delayed
      2. Philistines prepared to attack
      3. Saul’s soldiers ran scared
      4. King Saul’s ‘I’ problem
         1. I saw, I said to myself, I have not, I forced myself
      5. I Samuel 12:24-25 – Samuel’s instructions for Israel
   2. I Samuel 14:24-46 – avenging “his” enemies
      1. 'I’ will avenge my enemies
      2. Saul limits his soldiers
         1. No food till ‘his’ enemies are avenged
      3. Jonathan unknowingly breaks his instruction
         1. Vs. 27 – he did not hear and ate honey
         2. Vs. 29-30 – he admits it was an unnecessary burden
      4. Soldiers were faint
         1. Vs. 28 – because food was withheld from them
         2. Vs. 32-35 – they flew upon the spoil, ate uncooked
      5. Saul’s victory was limited
         1. Vs. 30 – because they were faint, could have been more
         2. Vs. 36-38 – Saul was not permitted to pursue after
      6. Saul almost lost Jonathan
         1. Vs. 42-45 – Saul was going to carry out the oath
         2. Vs. 45 – the people saved Jonathan
2. Looks to himself – Amalekites
   1. I Samuel 15:1-35 – battle with Amalekites
      1. Vs. 1-9 – battle narrative
      2. Vs. 10-12, 35 – God’s response
      3. Vs. 13-15, 20-21 - Saul’s answer(s)
      4. Vs. 22-24, 26 – Samuel’s rebuke(s)
      5. Vs. 25, 27-30 – Saul’s “repentance”
3. Blames others – Amalekites
   1. I Samuel 15:1-35 – battle with the Amalekites
      1. Vs. 13 – “I have performed the word of the Lord”
      2. Vs. 15 – they have brought them back
      3. Vs. 20 – “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and gone the way the Lord sent me”
      4. Vs. 21 – but the people…
      5. Vs. 24 – I feared and obeyed the people
4. Looks to himself
   1. King Saul seeks strength
      1. I Samuel 14:52 – Saul takes all the strong and valiant men
      2. I Sam. 8:10-18 – warnings of God and Samuel
      3. Ps. 33: 16-22 – God was to be their king, fight their battles, avenge his people
      4. I Samuel 14:6 – Jonathan’s faith
5. Saul’s ‘I’ problem
   1. Humble beginnings
      1. I Samuel 9:20-21 – who am I?
      2. I Samuel 15:17 – small in his own eyes
   2. ‘I’ problem
      1. I Samuel 13:11-12 – Gilgal sacrifice
      2. I Samuel 14:24 – his vengeance
      3. I Samuel 14:52 – strong and valiant men
      4. I Samule 15:13-24 – war with Amalekites
6. Lessons
   1. Trust in God
      1. Psalms 147:10-11 – Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him…
      2. Proverbs 3:5-6 – trust in the Lord with all thine heart…
      3. Psalms 33:16-17 – man is not delivered by much strength…
   2. Have faith in God’s instructions
      1. Matt. 7:21-23
   3. God delivers results
      1. I Samuel 12:6-25 – Samuel recounts how God has worked for them
      2. I Samuel 14:6 – Jonathan’s faith shown at Gilgal
      3. I Corinthians 3:6 – God gave the increase
      4. I Corinthians 16:9 – a door is opened unto me
      5. II Corinthians 2:12 – when I came to Troas a door was opened unto me of the Lord
      6. Colossians 4:3 – pray for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance
      7. Revelation 3:8 – I have set before thee an open door…
   4. Accept responsibility when wrong
      1. I Samuel 15:24 – Saul never accepted responsibility for his sin as King
      2. Repent when wrong