Compare Saul's actions here with God's commands in Deuteronomy 5:17.

Setting the Scene: Saul’s Track Record of Violence

• 1 Samuel 18:11 – “And Saul hurled the spear, thinking, ‘I will pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice.”

• 1 Samuel 19:1 – “Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David.”

• 1 Samuel 22:17-19 – Saul orders the slaughter of the priests of Nob: “Then the king said to the guards... ‘Turn and kill the priests of the LORD!’ ... So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down... eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.”

From jealousy to outright massacres, Saul repeatedly chose lethal violence to preserve his throne.

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God’s Clear Command

Deuteronomy 5:17 – “You shall not murder.”

A concise, unambiguous prohibition given at Sinai, reaffirming the sanctity of human life as God’s image-bearing creation (Genesis 9:6).

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Point-by-Point Contrast

• Source of Authority

– God’s command: Direct revelation from the LORD, etched in stone.

– Saul’s actions: Driven by fear, jealousy, and self-preservation.

• Treatment of Innocent Life

– Deuteronomy 5:17 protects the innocent from wrongful death.

– Saul targets the innocent—David who had served him loyally, and the priests who merely gave David bread and Goliath’s sword (1 Samuel 21:6-9).

• Obedience vs. Rebellion

– Honoring Deuteronomy 5:17 equals obedience to God.

– Saul’s murders are blatant rebellion, paralleling his earlier disobedience in sparing Amalek’s king (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

• Ripple Effects

– God’s command fosters communal stability (Numbers 35:33).

– Saul’s violence breeds national grief and distrust, setting the stage for civil strife (2 Samuel 2-4).

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Consequences of Saul’s Disregard

• Loss of the kingdom: “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today” (1 Samuel 15:28).

• Tormented spirit: “An evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul” (1 Samuel 16:14).

• Isolation: Even Jonathan and the troops hesitate to follow murderous orders (1 Samuel 19:2; 22:17).

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Lessons for Today

• Murder begins in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22). Saul’s unchecked envy became homicide; heart sins matter.

• Position or power never overrides God’s moral law (Acts 5:29).

• God vindicates the innocent and judges bloodshed (Psalm 94:21-23).

Saul’s story highlights the stark divergence between human anger and God’s command, underscoring the timeless relevance of “You shall not murder.”