Topical Bible: Judgments: Upon Individuals

◄ Judgments: Upon Individuals - Exemplified: Saul ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction:
The life of Saul, the first king of Israel, serves as a profound example of divine judgment upon an individual. Saul's reign, marked by initial promise and subsequent disobedience, illustrates the consequences of failing to adhere to God's commands. His account is a cautionary tale of how personal choices can lead to divine judgment.

Anointed as King:
Saul's journey begins with his anointing by the prophet Samuel, as recorded in 1 Samuel 10:1 : "Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, 'Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?'" Saul was chosen by God to lead His people, Israel, and was endowed with the Holy Spirit to fulfill this role (1 Samuel 10:6-7).

Disobedience and Rejection:
Despite his promising start, Saul's reign was marred by disobedience. One of the pivotal moments of judgment came after Saul failed to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions, as commanded by God. Instead, he spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. This act of disobedience led to a severe pronouncement from Samuel: "Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king" (1 Samuel 15:23).

Loss of Divine Favor:
The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit began to torment him (1 Samuel 16:14). This marked a significant turning point in Saul's life, as he lost the divine favor that had once empowered him. His inability to seek God's guidance and his reliance on his own understanding further alienated him from the LORD.

Pursuit of David:
Saul's jealousy and fear of David, whom God had chosen as his successor, led him to pursue David relentlessly. This pursuit was not only a personal vendetta but also a manifestation of Saul's spiritual decline. His inability to accept God's will and his attempts to thwart it only deepened his estrangement from God.

Final Judgment:
The culmination of Saul's judgment is seen in his final battle against the Philistines. In desperation, Saul sought guidance from a medium at Endor, further violating God's commands (1 Samuel 28:7-19). The battle ended in tragedy, with Saul taking his own life to avoid capture (1 Samuel 31:4). His death marked the end of his troubled reign and the fulfillment of God's judgment upon him.

Legacy:
Saul's life serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience to God. His account is a testament to the fact that divine judgment is not arbitrary but is a response to one's actions and choices. Saul's failure to heed God's commands and his subsequent downfall highlight the serious consequences of disobedience and the loss of divine favor.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... intelligent reader to his own reflections upon them ... and the degrading, and even
desolating judgments of heaven ... The character of individuals is not to be judged ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

Of Civil Government.
... venally prostitute all rights, privileges, judgments, and enactments ... and the beast
that are upon the ground ... learn not to consider the individuals themselves, but ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of civil government.htm

The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
... and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." As we are ... The doubts of individuals,
it is true, were still ... but they had no perceptible effect upon the current ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter ii the old testament.htm

The Letter of the Church of Rome
... shall be sheltered by his mercy from the judgments to come ... the water surrounding
it and fixed it upon the sure ... that because of one or two individuals the solid ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the letter of the church.htm