Saul's Downfall: 1 Samuel 13 and 15 · Join the Journey

Have you ever been asked to do something and you did most of it?

• Maybe your wife asked you to pick up five things at the grocery store, and you came home with four.

• Your boss gives you a list of ten things to get done, and you finish nine.

• Your parents tell you to clean your room, and you cleaned most of it.

And when someone points out the one thing you didn't do, what's our natural response? “But I did everything else!”

We have a tendency to think that obedience is measured by how much of the command we followed. But that's not how obedience works. If God gives us a command, doing 90% of it isn't 90% obedience.

Partial obedience is still disobedience.

And that's exactly what we're going to see in the life of Saul. Saul didn't completely reject God. And that's what makes his story so important. Saul obeyed God—until obedience became inconvenient. Until it cost him something. Until he was afraid. Until he wanted something different. And every time Saul chose his own way over God's Word, he was revealing who was really sitting on the throne of his life.

Last week we learned some great lessons from Saul. Mainly that what looks good to us, isn’t always what’s good for us. Today we will see Saul reject God’s word so God would reject Saul’s kingship. Partial obedience is still disobedience. Saul wants the benefits of obedience without the surrender of obedience. He obeys when obedience makes sense to him. But when God's command conflicts with his fear, his impatience, or his desires, Saul changes the command.

Saul was confirmed as Israels 1st earthly king. Samuel spoke to Israel, telling them that they had done a great evil rejecting God as their king and demanding another king. And yet God still choose Israel as his people. The people repented of their sin. And Samuel challenges them and their new king to not rebel against God and to keep his commands. Serving the Lord with all their heart.

Samuel warns them that if they persist to do evil that both them and their king would perish.

Saul was 30 years old when he becomes king and would reign Israel for 42 years. Now we aren’t told exactly how long into his reign that his downfall comes, but it seems pretty quickly.

If you have your bibles turn with me to 1 Samuel 13. 1 Samuel comes right after Judges and Ruth and right before 2 Samuel.

1 Samuel 13:7-12

1 Samuel 13:7–12

The Philistine’s were coming up to fight Saul and Israel. Israel was out numbered them. Saul had 3,000 men under him and his son Jonathan. The Philistine’s had 3,000 chariots and twice that riding them. And then they had more men then could be counted, it says they were as numerous as the sand on the seashore.

Saul’s troops were trembling with fear. But Samuel had given Saul God’s instructions that he was to wait 7 days for Samuel to come and offer burnt offerings to seek the Lord’s favor for the battle. But Saul got antsy, his men were running, it had been the 7 days and Samuel hadn’t showed. So, Saul took things into his own hands and offered the offerings himself.

Saul had partially obeyed God. But as we will see. Partial obedience is still disobedience. Saul had a choice: “Do I trust God ,when I can't see what He's doing?”

1 Samuel 13:13-14

1 Samuel 13:13–14

Saul obeyed God up to the point where obedience became inconvenient. But Samuel tells him that partial obedience is still disobedience.

If Saul had kept the Lord’s commands his family would have been established for all time. But now God was going to seek out a man after his own heart, to rule his people.

Saul's problem wasn't that he didn't know what God had said. He knew exactly what God had said. His problem was that God's command became difficult to obey when obedience required him to wait.

And sometimes that's where our obedience breaks down too. It's easy to obey God when we understand what He's doing. It's harder to obey when God says, “Wait.”

This was the first time Saul would reject God’s word but sadly not the last.

Saul goes from 3,000 to 600 men. Then to add insult to injury there wasn’t a blacksmith to found in all of Israel. In fact, they had only two swords among them. The ones that Saul and Jonathan had.

But numbers and swords didn’t matter when God fought for his people.

Sometime later God sends Saul to carry out his justice against the Amalekites. He instructs Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites. So Saul takes his men and attacks. But instead of obeying God fully and totally destroying them. He spares their king and keep the best of their flocks.

1 Samuel 15:10-11

1 Samuel 15:10–11

God regrated making Saul king because Saul had disobeyed His commands again. Samuel goes in search for Saul and when he finds him Samuel calls out Saul’s sin. And Saul tries to justify his actions. “Well we saved the best to sacrifice to the Lord.” But Samuel reminds Saul that even through Saul thought he was nothing, God had made him king. But now he had disobeyed God again. Saul thought partial obedience was obedience. But partial obedience is still disobedience.

1 Samuel 15:22-23

1 Samuel 15:22–23

Rebellion and arrogance against God’s commands, are just as if Saul had sought guidance from idols. God isn’t impressed with burnt offerings, he desires our obedience.

But Saul isn’t the only example of this from scripture.

Adam and Eve — Genesis 2–3

God gave Adam and Eve a very clear command: don't eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They didn't reject God entirely. They didn't say: “We don't believe in God.” They didn't walk away from the garden.

They simply decided there was one command they didn't want to obey. And that one act of disobedience mattered.

Adam and Eve didn't disobey 100% of God's commands. They disobeyed one.

But one act of disobedience was enough to bring sin and death into God's creation.

We must be careful because we sometimes think, “I'm a pretty obedient Christian. I read my Bible. I pray. I go to church. I give. I serve.”

But obedience isn't about averaging out our good behavior against our disobedience. God isn't asking, “What percentage of my commands are you following?” He's asking, “Will you trust me enough to obey me?”

Moses — Numbers 20:1–12

Numbers 20:1–12

God told Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock twice.

God had previously told Moses to strike the rock. But this time God gave him a different command: “Speak to the rock.” Moses struck it instead.

And here's what's fascinating: God still provided water. The miracle happened. The people still got what they needed.

From the outside, someone could have said, “What's the big deal? It worked!”

But God said it was disobedience. The fact that God still blessed the people didn't mean Moses had obeyed God.

Sometimes we can point to the results of what we're doing and assume God must approve of our methods. But results don't determine obedience. God's Word determines obedience.

Saul like Adam and Eve, like Moses had partial obedience. But partial obedience is still disobedience.

Saul basically says, “Look at what I accomplished!” But God says, “I told you to obey.”

But before we're too hard on Saul, we need to ask a harder question:

Where am I doing the same thing? Where am I giving God partial obedience?

Maybe it’s with: Forgiveness

God says: “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” — Colossians 3:13

Colossians 3:13

We say: “I'll forgive them, but I won't speak to them again.”

Or: “I'll stop being angry, but I won't ever trust them.”

Now biblical forgiveness doesn't always mean immediate restoration of trust or removal of boundaries—but we don't get to hold onto bitterness because we don't like God's command.

Maybe it’s with: Sexual purity

God calls us to holiness and sexual purity.

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body a in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;

But partial obedience says: “I'll honor God physically, but I'll entertain whatever I want in my mind.” Or: “I'll avoid the obvious sin, but I'll keep feeding the temptation.”

Maybe it’s with: Making disciples

Jesus says: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” — Matthew 28:19

Matthew 28:19

Here at journey church All of us go out to build authentic relationships with the lost in our community and around the world and to communicate the gospel of Jesus.

So partial obedience says, “I'll follow Jesus, but I'll leave reaching the lost to somebody else.”

Maybe it’s with: Submission

Jesus says: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” — Mark 8:34

Mark 8:34

Partial obedience says:

“Jesus can have my Sundays, but not my finances.”

“He can have my finances, but not my relationships.”

“He can have my relationships, but not my plans.”

“He can have everything except this one thing.”

So, What part of your life are you asking God to stay out of?

Saul's first disobedience came when he was afraid. His second major disobedience came when he was proud. And both times Saul allowed something else to become more important than God's Word.

In chapter 13, Saul feared losing his army. In chapter 15, Saul feared the people. Saul was more concerned with what people thought than what God commanded. And whenever the fear of people becomes greater than the fear of God, obedience will eventually become negotiable.

Saul finally admits what was really happening:

1 Samuel 15:24

Saul wasn't confused about what God had said. He simply cared more about what the people wanted than what God wanted.

Saul's downfall wasn't ultimately about sheep. It wasn't about sacrifices. It wasn't even about the Amalekites. Saul's downfall was about who had the final say.

God had given Saul a command. Saul decided he knew better. And every time Saul chose his way over God's way, he was essentially saying: “God, I know what you've said, but I think my way is better.”

That's rebellion. And if we're honest, we've all said that.

Maybe not with our mouths. But we've said it with our lives.

Where are you doing that today?

What has God clearly said that you're negotiating?

What command are you explaining away?

What area of your life have you told God, “You can have everything except this”?

What are you partially obeying? Partial obedience is still disobedience.

And the answer isn't to try harder to become a better Saul. The answer is to surrender to a better King.

Samuel would not see Saul again. God had rejected Saul as king because Saul had rejected God’s word.

1 Samuel 15:35

God would anoint another to take Saul’s place. A man after God’s own heart. One who was better than Saul. Not perfect but better. David.

Saul was a king who refused to fully obey God. David was a better king, but David wasn't a perfect king. Israel needed more than a king who looked good. They needed a King who would perfectly obey God. And that's Jesus.

Saul said, “I'll obey God as long as it works for me.” Jesus said, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Saul saved what God told him to destroy. Jesus surrendered everything—even His own life.

Saul's disobedience brought judgment. Jesus' obedience brought salvation.

So today, the question isn't simply, “Are you obeying God?” The question is: “Is Jesus really your King?”

Because if Jesus is King, He doesn't get 90% of you. He gets all of you.

Your plans.

Your relationships.

Your money.

Your sexuality.

Your career.

Your future.

Your reputation.

Your whole life.

He doesn't want 90%. He doesn't want the parts of you that you're comfortable giving Him. He wants the throne of your life.

And maybe today there's an area where you've been negotiating with God. Maybe you've been giving God partial obedience. Today, surrender it.

Stop making excuses. Don't try to justify your disobedience. Bring it to Jesus. Trust your King. Obey His Word. Surrender the throne.

And if you've never surrendered your life to Jesus, that's the decision God is calling you to make today. You don't need to clean yourself up first. You don't need to become good enough first. You come to Jesus recognizing that you have sinned, that you have rebelled against God, and that you need a Savior.

Jesus died for your sin, He rose from the grave, and He offers forgiveness and new life to everyone who will put their faith in Him. Repent of your sins, put your faith in Jesus, and meet Him in baptism.

The King who deserves your obedience is also the King who offers you grace. So today, surrender your life to Jesus. Let Him be your King.

Saul wanted a kingdom he could control. But Jesus asks for a life we surrender. So who is sitting on the throne of your life?