It seemed almost as soon as Saul became king that he led his ego get in the way of his reign. He assumed priestly responsibilities that were not his. He blamed other people for his actions. Then he was informed that as king he was rejected by God. It would not be his lineage that would lead the Israelites into eternity, but another king named David. In all of the story of Saul, we must differentiate between his royal position and that of being God’s child.
He continued to behave in a wayward manner without realizing the need for some type of repentance. This is why all believers need to routinely make confessions before the Almighty. His example tells us that we can be believers but halfhearted believers. Believers that God cannot count on. Those who only profess the faith are weak at expressing it. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, this first king of Israel had good intentions. However good intentions do not carry the cause.
Saul could not seem to differentiate between wearing the crown and wearing the responsibility. Early in our chapter, he put a ban against witches and those who practice black magic. In a few verses later he instructed one of his servants to find such a woman who happened to be living in the land of Endor. He was a man who could’ve been molded by God but instead put himself under the influence of evil.
The witch who discovered the disguise he was wearing thought he came to trick her. He convinced her of his intentions to make connection with the deceased Samuel for consolation. Here is where it becomes confusing and for some people debatable. The witch and the king perceived that the vision before them was actually the spirit of Samuel who questioned why he was being brought up from the dead. Saul explained that he had been abandoned by God not recognizing that he himself was the one who abandoned God.
Was it a ghost? Was it a spirit? Was it a demon? Or perhaps it was just a perception; assumptions by some type of hysteria under the stress of the moment. In reviewing the Scripture, it hardly matters because the way they reacted was the most significant thing. And that is the most significant thing for us too. When we backslide, disobey God how we perceive the moment the consequences may be varied and may be severe.
This man brought the misfortune on himself by disobedience against God. On occasion he thought his opinion was as good as God’s. Then he emboldened himself to think that he could return to a right position with God without any consequences. To him any alternative was a good alternative. Whatever divine or eternal rewards he would receive after his death certainly was minimized by his own audacity. Too often he trusted more in himself than God. We must not do the same.
Christian Writer 