Disqualified

Posted by joseph

As summarized by Charlotte Carreon

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

– 1 Samuel 15 : 22 –

Unfit. Ineligible. Disqualified. Whether assessing one’s performance in school, applying for a job, or even securing a flat to rent, we are constantly subject to varying degrees of evaluation for which we either pass or fail. In a world where people are constantly trying to prove themselves and fit in, we all dread finding out we didn’t make it.

When Saul was chosen as king, he was reluctant to step up to the plate and lead because he was well aware of his inabilities. He came from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest among the 12 tribes of Israel. He was a shy, reticent guy who was terrified to lead because he felt ineligible, unfit & incapable. However, the people clamoured for a king – A physical figure whom they would look up to and who would lead them – So the prophet Samuel anointed him as their leader, decreed by God Himself.

Saul went off to a good start. He led the people to victory against the Ammonites and gave the Lord the credit for it. But then things started to go wrong when Saul’s force of three thousand men tried to attack the Philistines in Geba. Seeing that their opponents were much stronger and better equipped, they hid in caves in an attempt to avoid being overwhelmed. Some even fled to the land of Gad and Gilead to escape. In a desperate effort to motivate the quivering troops, Saul offered up the burnt offering to the Lord in the hope of delivering them from the inevitable – A duty that he was not qualified to do.

Aren’t we like that sometimes? When caught in a bind we look for the quick fix, hoping to resolve things by our own means or abilities, more often than not, without consulting God first. Saul ascended the throne but forgot one crucial thing – That in order to lead the Israelites well, he must know their God, that very same God who gave Saul the privilege of leading His people in the first place. Although Saul was once small in his own eyes, God anointed him to be king over Israel. However, he failed to obey the Lord when things were going tough. He sought to take matters into his own hands and tried to coax God for his favour by offering sacrifices. He missed the point of the sacrifices.

Looking inward, we must learn to obey the Lord completely, for partial obedience is still disobedience. Do not run the race like a man running aimlessly or like a fighter beating the air but rather as a passionate follower who deliberately, patiently and persistently pursues the finish line despite the pain. We must finish the race with flying colours, enduring each step in faith, and getting back up again when we stumble, for anything less than that is not good enough. At the end of the race, when we stand before the Lord, the last thing we want to hear Him say is that we are disqualified so persevere, brethren! Egg each other on to finish well!

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