A CONTRAST OF COMMITMENT
1 Sam. 26:21
2 Tim. 4:7
Intro: The Bible is a book of contrasts. In the NT, especially the teachings of Jesus, we find many contrasts. i.e.- 2 roads-1 broad, that leads to destruction; 1 narrow, that leads to life. 2 went to pray—a Pharisee & a publican…. The foolish man, built on sand; & the wise man who built his house on a solid foundation.
Even in the OT we see some contrasts. i.e.—in Psalm 1 there is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly & he is like a tree planted by the rivers of water—his leaf shall not wither, & whatever he does he will prosper. But the ungodly are like the chaff which the wind drives away & they will perish. Isa. 1 we have the willing & obedient who shall eat of the good of the land; but those who refuse & rebel shall be devoured by the sword.
Yet another contrast we see repeatedly in Scripture, is the contrast of people. The contrast I want to deal w/is a contrast between 2 people—one in the OT, & 1 in the NT.
We have before us 2 men who had a lot in common. They have the same name…from the same tribe (Benjamin)…both had outstanding conversions & entered the service of God…
…both were appointed of God to important service…both had tremendous potential. But the paths of their life took a different track. One is King Saul & one is Saul, who later became the apostle Paul. One is an example of pride; one of humility. One is an example of bitterness; one of grace. One is an example of jealousy; one of purity. One is an example of revenge; one of forgiveness. One is an example of selfishness; one of self-less-ness.
1 Sam. 26:21, …I have played the fool & have erred exceedingly.
2 Tim. 4:7,I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
I. A Contrast of DEVOTION.
A. Partial Obedience.
1. First Instance—Saul & Samuel were to meet together at Gilgal so that Samuel might offer sacrifice on the eve of a pending battle. But Samuel was very late. This was very disturbing to those who were waiting. The soldiers, unwilling to go to battle w/o a sacrifice, were beginning to desert. Saul found himself in a tight corner & he offered the sacrifice himself.
2. Second Instance—God sent Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites. He was told to destroy sheep, cattle, king, & slave. Saul defeated them, but took their king captive & saved the best of the sheep & cattle. Then God spoke to Samuel & said, Saul is turned back from following me.
Saul’s sin was that he refused to obey the Lord completely. As long as it suited him & his interests, but beyond that he would not go. He killed the cattle that he did not want & kept the rest. He clung to the sins that appealed to him & threw the rest away. He was perfectly willing to destroy what he did not value.
Unfortunately, we have a lot of people infected w/that malady. They are partially obedient to God. Disobedience is like a plague that soon grows out of control.
ILL- In Europe a plague destroyed as many as 80% of the population in some places, & it started from just a little germ.
B. Fully Obedient. Acts 26:19, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.
God’s call was revolutionary & costly, changing the entire course of his life: his plans, prejudices, activities, beliefs, & relationships. He became despised, hunted, persecuted, imprisoned, & martyred. But he obeyed fully—no matter the cost, loss, or cross! Wherever God called him he went; whatever God told him to do, he did. There is no greater joy than being fully obedient to God!
II. A Contrast in their DISPOSITION.
A. Saul Yielded to Carnal Passions.
1. Jealousy—the song the woman sang of Saul killing his thousands & David his ten thousands caused jealousy to spring up in Saul. He became so jealous of David he threw a spear at him while he was ministering to him in song. Saul allowed the poisonous cancer of jealousy to grow w/in him.
2. Bitterness—he hunted David like an animal because he allowed the ugly attitude of bitterness to operate in his life.
B. Paul Refused to Yield to Wrong Attitudes.
Paul had far more injustice in his life than Saul did. While Paul was in prison, some mocked him & preached against him. But as you read his epistles, especially Philippians, you never read a trace of bitterness or a hint of a grudge. Instead you read of joy, grace, forgiveness, purity, & love. Even sitting in a damp jail, the theme of Philippians is joy! Prison did not keep him from his pen, prayers, purpose, prospects, or his pulpit! Out of the prison of false accusation did not come complaint or bitterness; but Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, & Philemon. All because Paul did not yield to carnal attitudes, but a Christlike attitude!
III. A Contrast of DISCIPLINE.
A. Saul was Undisciplined. He moved back & forth in his resolutions. Twice David had the opportunity to kill Saul. Each time Saul confessed his sin. Dale Yocum says, “More than any other man in the Bible, Saul confessed, ‘I have sinned.’ “ After his confession each time he went back & ceased to hunt David. Soon the old jealousy arose in his heart & Saul went back hunting David like an animal. Saul is a classic case of a lack of discipline. He fluctuated between his feelings, the evil spirit of rage, bitterness, & anger. Once he tried to kill his own son. Once he killed 85 priests. Saul may have been head and shoulders above the rest physically, but inwardly he was a dwarfish man w/a rotting soul. He was a pawn to his own passions.
B. Paul Kept his Body Under. 1 Cor. 9:27, I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. NLT
Like a runner who is determined to win a race has to discipline himself, so Paul disciplined himself in order to win this race at all costs. We are either like Saul or Paul. We either will live an undisciplined life or will learn to discipline our lives for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We don’t get a finished character after two trips to an altar. It has to be built one day at a time. Thank God for what He has done in your life, but unless there is some spiritual discipline in your life you will fall! It’s entirely possible for any of us to drift spiritually or morally. No one is immune. To keep our lives from aimlessly coasting we must make every effort to keep our focus on Christ & His Word. And that does not come automatically; it comes through the discipline of our body & mind. “We must face the fact that many today are careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, and we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically; has disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the musician’s instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not “disciplined”?” A.W. Tozer. William Penn said, “No man is fit to command another, unless he is fit to command himself.” Certainly King Saul was unfit in this regard, while the apostle Paul is glowing example of the disciplined Spirit filled life.
IV. A Contrast in DEATH. A. Saul. The army of the Philistines came up against Israel. Saul became afraid & trembled greatly (1 Sam. 28:5). Saul tried to pray, but God answered him no more. In utter desperation he goes to an old witch…God allows him to speak to Samuel one last time…Samuel tells him it is because of his disobedience that the kingdom is rent from him & that by this time tomorrow Saul & his sons will be dead. From this scene he goes to fight his last fight. The battle goes against him. His faithful soldiers & sons fall about him. At last the fatal day is closing in utter disaster. Everything is lost. Then we see this great kingly figure standing sweat-grimed & bloodstained, among the slain. This habit of half-heartedness weakens Saul to the very end. He desired to commit suicide & yet at the same time not to commit suicide. He calls his armor bearer to kill him so that he will not fall into the hands of his enemies. His armor bearer shrinks back w/fear & horror. So this poor lost king falls on his own sword. What does he mutter as he bites the dust in death? I’m not sure & the bible is inconclusive; but in my imagination I can hear him saying, “I have played the fool.” As he lay in death an Amalekite came & finished the job & Saul’s request. An Amalekite; a remnant of Saul’s disobedience.
B. Paul. 2Ti 4:6-8, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
