Most Christians fail to realize the importance of implicit obedience. Jesus said in Luke 6:46: “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Jesus said in Matthew 7:22, 23: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Although Saul was relatively obedient, he was not totally obedient (relative meaning “good enough, partial.”) If Saul had only been explicitly obedient to the words God gave him his ancestral kingdom would have been established.
There is conflict of opinion as to how long Saul reigned because of numerical gaps in the Hebrew manuscript. However, Acts 13:21 states “by the space of forty years.” Forty years of reigning over Israel was quite a long time. However, because of his disobedience to the explicit word of the Lord, he lived most of his reign without the presence of God.
1 Samuel 15;35 says that “Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death.” 1 Samuel 16:14 states: “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” Saul became more of a hindrance than a blessing to Israel after God left him.
We as Christians have been called to be kings over the realms God has given us, primarily our own individual lives, our marriages, our families, and our occupations in life. But does our reign affect the next generation for God?
The fact that Saul still reigned over Israel for forty plus years does not negate the fact that his kingdom was not established. It never passed on to the next generation. The generational reign was given to David until Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah and ours also came, who is the seed of David.
Acts 13:22,23: “And when he had removed him (Saul), he raised up unto them David to be their king: to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man’s seed that God according to this promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus.”
Let us learn this lesson thoroughly. The success of our own realm of reigning in Christ depends upon our obedience to the explicit, clear words of Christ (Matthew 7:24-28.
Saul relied on partial obedience and situational ethics. This is a false reliance and will not stand the test on judgment day.
When David sinned, he repented with all of his heart and cried out in prayer: “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). He was aware what happened to king Saul, for he had to duck to miss the javelin from Saul on more than one occasion.
As kings and priests in Christ Jesus may our reign over our lives and families be thick and rich with all the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit. May our godly reign affect the generations to come.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell