In this post, I would like to use King Saul as a case study. Saul was envious and disobedient. He failed to put his trust in God and he let his weaknesses get to him. Many of us could have been living a better life but for the weaknesses that hold us in the bondage of a crooked life. Saul’s story is similar. Here’s a quick recap of his life which highlights the way he let his weaknesses ruin him.

Disobedience is the root of all sins. Right from the garden of Eden, if Adam and Eve had been obedient to God’s word and they didn’t eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, man would never have fallen. Disobedience especially to God, results in a breach of an agreement between Him and man. King Saul was not innocent of this. God instructed him clearly to destroy the Amalekites along with their belongings but Saul decided to fulfill his own wishes and did not do as God said. This was the beginning of his rejection by God. (1 Samuel 15:1-11)

Soon after, the Philistines came after the Israelites and Samuel was already dead. Saul who should have put his trust in God at that, time did not do that. He thought it best to consult a witch to summon the spirit of Samuel. Not only was this an occultic and evil behavior, but it also reiterated the fact that Saul’s trust was not in God anymore. It’s easy to see why Israel flourished way better under David’s rule…David was a man that sought God constantly (no wonder God called him the man after His heart). Israel was God’s own nation but Saul’s action was like giving the devil power over that nation. His unwise desperation led him into going farther against God. As expected, and predicted, the battle ended in woe for the Israelites, Saul committed suicide and three of his sons were killed by the Philistines. (1 Samuel chapter 28; 1Samuel 31:1-5)

In between Saul’s disobedience and his consulting of evil forces, he also had another weakness, I dare say, the very weakness that destroyed him totally. Saul was envious of David. This was a whole king, jealous of a shepherd boy who was mates with his own son. Because of Saul’s envy, he was obsessed with ways of eliminating David rather than actually being the king of Israel. He abandoned his priority and was seeking the blood of David. One thing about David is that he never disrespected Saul and despite knowing Saul’s intentions towards him and having the opportunity to kill Saul, he didn’t. David respected Saul as the king ordained by God because David respected God. The bible lets us know that “those who put their trust in the Lord shall not be shaken.” That was exactly what David did and up until the point of Saul’s death, not a single hair on David’s body was harmed. Saul made the error of going after someone who unlike him, respected God and put God first. (1 Samuel 18:6-15)  

Though King Saul started very well, I mean, he was ordained by God as the King of Israel, the first-ever for that matter, he did not end well. He was a very courageous man who led Israel to several victories and united the protectorates of the nation into one. For many years, he was king of Israel and in his early years of reign (in the times when he still trusted and obeyed God diligently) he was an admirable king. What became the end of him was his inability to manage his weaknesses. Rather than do things of his own accord, he could have trusted God more and done as God said. Rather than enviously chase a man who could have been his own son, he could have let him be, he wasn’t going to be king forever anyway. Rather than consult satanic powers when he felt weak, he could have consulted with the One who has all the power, God who had helped him secure victory over the past years. (1 Samuel 10: 17-27; 1 Samuel chapter 11)

Looking at it now, we see how much the grace of God does for us. I’m sure the things that Saul did were not really because he wanted to. As I said, they were his weaknesses. He might have wanted to do something else but his flesh would lead him the other way. The grace of God available to us now in Christ Jesus, not only enables us to obey God, it has given us the mind of God. Such that, we think like Him. We don’t have to let our weaknesses be the end of us as Saul’s own were his end. We now have the grace of God through Christ Jesus that empowers us to subdue those weaknesses. Making effort to help our weaknesses is just the same as drinking soup with a fork; useless and time-wasting. God knew we could not do it on our own that is why He let His grace be upon us forever (as far as we remain in Him). Apostle Paul can attest to it when he asked that God help him with his weakness but the three times he asked, God, replied him that His grace is sufficient for him. Allowing the Holy Spirit who also lives in every believer from the point of belief, to help us and relying on His never-failing grace, is a sure way to deal with our weaknesses. (Philippians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9)