Insecurity, a spirit that hinders and handicaps humankind, is often accepted as normal and in a sympathetic attitude, the world embraces it by providing ways for it to develop even further. When we utter the words, “I can’t do it” we are declaring weakness of insecurity controlling every move we must make to be successful. It is in some way, fear of failure. It manifests itself in many ways unknown to most of us. Saul, the first king of Israel, is an example of it. Chosen to be king, Saul was “tall, dark and handsome,” as we would describe him today. The Bible describes him as, A choice young man and handsome; among all the Israelites there was not a man more handsome than he. He was a head taller than any of the people (I Sam. 9:2). However, as they say, “Don’t judge the book by its cover,” Saul fits well in this situation. Saul came from the tribe of Benjamin from a well-to-do family. His father was “a mighty man of wealth and valor.” But Saul had a problem following God’s directions. As important as they were, he disregarded them to do what he thought best. He was forty years old when he began to reign. From the beginning, Saul showed his insecurity when he wouldn’t wait for Samuel to do his job of a priest that of offering to the Lord the burnt offering. He took the liberty to do it himself. Samuel then told him, You have done foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which He commanded you; for the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever; but now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you (I Sam. 13). In another situation of war with the Amalekites when the Lord sent him on a mission to utterly destroy the Amalekites and fight against them until they were consumed (I Sam. 15). Saul again went his own way and did not do as the Lord commanded him. Insecurity prevailed in his life to the point of persecution of his servant David, the anointed of the Lord to be the future king of Israel, for his jealousy and envy of him. In his insecurity, he sought the counsel of a witch woman, a thing not permitted in Israel. Tormented by an evil spirit, Saul suffered tremendously to the point of seeking someone to ease his suffering, when someone recommended David, a young lad, who played the harp to calm the evil spirit. Saul’s life was a wasted life because of his insecurity. His kingdom could have lasted forever, according to the words of the Lord to Samuel. But his disobedience and rebellion coupled with insecurity against the commandments of the Lord caused Him to remove Saul from such a position. His heir to the throne was taken away and given to a shepherd boy, who was after God’s own heart.
Light from the Word 