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- Apr 25, 2006
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King Fool
'I have played the fool' 1 Samuel 26:21
What do you want your last words to be? Something like, 'I leave my World Cup Winner's medals to my eldest, my Oscar to my youngest, and my Vogue photo-shoots to my darling top model totty...' Whatever, chances are you've set your sights a little higher than King Saul, who in his final speech said: 'I have played the fool...'(1 Sam. 26:21 NKJ).
His words could so easily have been, 'I was a great king who was led by God to great things' but instead he played dumb when it came to God. His life's turning point hinged on an attack by his enemies, the Philistines. In an attempt to get things moving, he cut corners to God by offering sacrifices that he was told could only come from the prophet Samuel. His disobedience to God unravelled a whole string of events eventually leading to his suicide on a battlefield.
Here's how to avoid playing the fool yourself...
1) Don't put logic over loyalty. Saul rationalised, '"I saw my men scattering ... you didn't arrive when you said ... the Philistines are ready for battle"' (1 Sam. 13:11 NLT). Listen to God first and trust him - even if it doesn't make sense to you. He knows best!
2) Don't put your feelings over faith. Saul was led by his gut reaction, '"I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself"' (1 Sam. 13:12 NLT). Note the words, 'I felt.' Some things can feel so right, yet be so wrong. Only trust your feelings when they line up with God's Word.
written by Bob Gass
'I have played the fool' 1 Samuel 26:21
What do you want your last words to be? Something like, 'I leave my World Cup Winner's medals to my eldest, my Oscar to my youngest, and my Vogue photo-shoots to my darling top model totty...' Whatever, chances are you've set your sights a little higher than King Saul, who in his final speech said: 'I have played the fool...'(1 Sam. 26:21 NKJ).
His words could so easily have been, 'I was a great king who was led by God to great things' but instead he played dumb when it came to God. His life's turning point hinged on an attack by his enemies, the Philistines. In an attempt to get things moving, he cut corners to God by offering sacrifices that he was told could only come from the prophet Samuel. His disobedience to God unravelled a whole string of events eventually leading to his suicide on a battlefield.
Here's how to avoid playing the fool yourself...
1) Don't put logic over loyalty. Saul rationalised, '"I saw my men scattering ... you didn't arrive when you said ... the Philistines are ready for battle"' (1 Sam. 13:11 NLT). Listen to God first and trust him - even if it doesn't make sense to you. He knows best!
2) Don't put your feelings over faith. Saul was led by his gut reaction, '"I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself"' (1 Sam. 13:12 NLT). Note the words, 'I felt.' Some things can feel so right, yet be so wrong. Only trust your feelings when they line up with God's Word.
written by Bob Gass
