King Saul, Ourselves, and the Authority of God's Word

One of the most tragic figures in the history of Israel was King Saul. What he might have been as Israel's first king, one can only imagine. But he certainly had all the appearances for a great king, at least in the beginning: he had charisma, courage, a seeming humility, good looks, and he was handpicked by God Himself to be king (see I Samuel 9-11). What a package deal! However, there would prove to be one great outstanding problem in Saul. A problem that would cost him both his family dynasty and kingdom altogether (see I Samuel 13 & 15). King Saul hated authority. Specifically, he hated the authority of God via His Word.

Whatever God commanded Saul to do, he would not fully comply and submit to God's Word. He was simply unwilling for God to rule over him. Rather, Saul wanted to live and do as he pleased, without having to be responsible for his actions and thereby held accountable for his conduct. Moreover, his refusal to honor God's authority was characterized by an overarching attitude that was unteachable, unrepentant, and blind to his own disobedience (I Samuel 15:13,20). Is it any wonder that God described Saul's rebellion as the equivalent to a wicked abomination (I Samuel 15:22,23)?

When I think about King Saul's disdain for the authority of God's Word, I cannot help but to see in Saul's example a vivid and sobering picture of the modern church. On a large scale, there are those movements like "the seeker-sensitive" and "the emerging-church" - which have openly defied the authority of God's Word by redefining the church and its purpose by the standards of secular culture. Churches which follow the philosophies of these movements quite literally take their cues from the world rather than God's Word. An action which seems to scream at God: "We will not honor nor recognize Your authority over us!"

But on a much smaller scale, though no less important, there are simply many of us who claim to believe the Bible as God's Word, but do not submit ourselves in obedience to its divine authority. In certain areas, there is that Saul-like attitude in each of us for being stubborn, self-willed, unteachable, and blind to our disobedience! This can be seen, for example, in Christian husbands who have either abdicated or abused their God-given headship over their families; rather than leading by a loving Christ-like, selfless, sacrificial example (Ephesians 5:25-33). Christian wives can also be seen in rebellion to God's authority, by refusing submission and respect to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24,33); but instead, they argue against, bicker, nag, undermine, and ridicule the authority God has placed over them in their husbands.

Another example is in church relations. For instance, there is the relationship between the church and pastoral leaders. God commands believers to respect, honor, esteem, obey, and submit to the elders of the church (see I Thessalonians 5:12,13; I Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:7,17) - but sadly, many church members have no regard for such God-given authority in their pastors; and would rather treat them like "hired-help" or indentured servants. Then there is the manifold commands of God to love, encourage, admonish, and build up one another in the body of Christ (see John 13:34; Ephesians 4:29; I Thessalonians 5:14; Hebrews 10:24,25). But do we see these commands obeyed? Self-seeking, backbiting, and bitterness seem to be more characteristic. At root in all of this, is a problem with authority - God's authority. And it is a problem of the heart. We treasure our wants more than God's will. Self-examination is needed here. Do I love the idea of God's authority, or do I love God's authority? Partial obedience is disobedience. Remember King Saul.