Deeper Reflection
WE CAN LOOK at Saul’s discipleship journey in 1 Samuel from the perspective of the grace of God. Saul was chosen by God’s grace to be Israel’s first king. This grace of God is sovereign grace. “Sovereign” because it is purely divine prerogative, freedom, right and pleasure. And “grace” because it is unmerited and undeserved. This divine sovereign grace is portrayed in this way in 1 Samuel 9: An introduction of Saul – “Now there was a man of Benjamin…a son whose name was Saul” (1 Sam 9:1-2), and then the popping up of the first divine speech concerning Saul – “I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin” (v.16). But Saul had a serious problem: his heart was hardened against God’s grace. When God confronts us of our sins, His intent is not to condemn us, but that in His grace He may cleanse us if we confess our sins (1 Jn 1:9). Saul insisted that he “did obey the voice of the LORD” when God confronted him of his disobedience (1 Sam 15:19-20). We are solemnly warned against becoming “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:7-8, 13). Saul’s heart was hardened against God’s grace continually to the point of becoming fallen from God’s grace: “God has departed from me and no longer answers me” (1 Sam 28:6, 15). But we, in our weaknesses, can draw near with confidence to the Throne of Grace to receive God’s grace and mercy, with Jesus, our compassionate High Priest, by our side, sympathising with our weaknesses (Heb 4:15-16).