The Dangerous Heart of Saul: A Lesson on Disobedience, Pride, and Missed Destiny.

While reading the story of Saul yesterday, I was trembling—not even for Saul himself, but for the kind of heart he had. And I found myself praying sincerely, “God, never allow me to have such a heart.”

Now let me tell you why I trembled.

1 Samuel 13:1–2 (NKJV)

[1] Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, [2] Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent.

There are two important things I want to point out here, because they will be very important as we go further in this discussion. First, Saul had only reigned for about two years before everything we are about to discuss happened. He was still very early in his leadership journey. Second, he already had two thousand men of Israel with him—he had influence, structure, and a level of authority already established.

Then came a very clear instruction.

Samuel asked him to go to Gilgal and wait for him—to come, offer the sacrifice, and then tell him what he should do.

1 Samuel 10:8 (KJV)

“And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.”

This instruction reveals something very deep: Saul had not yet been fully told what to do. In a sense, his inauguration was not yet complete. There was still divine direction he needed before stepping fully into the fullness of his assignment as king.

So Saul went to Gilgal to wait for Samuel.

He waited for seven days, just as he was told. But when he did not see Samuel, pressure began to rise. The people were scattering. Fear and uncertainty started building within and around him. Instead of holding on to the instruction and waiting just a little longer, Saul made a decision that would alter his destiny—he offered the sacrifice himself.

And what makes it even more painful is the timing.

1 Samuel 13:8–10 (NKJV)

[8] Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

[9] So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering.

[10] Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.

Immediately he finished offering the sacrifice—Samuel appeared.

If he had just waited a little longer…

Samuel was not happy that Saul made the sacrifice, and his response was both direct and heavy.

1 Samuel 13:11, 13–14 (NKJV)

[11] And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,

[13] And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

[14] But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

After Samuel made that statement, he stood up and left.

At that point, I thought this was such a serious matter that Saul should have fallen on his face immediately. I expected him to weep, to cry out for mercy, to show deep brokenness the way David later would in his own moments of failure. Because this was not a small issue—this was the loss of a kingdom, the rejection of a destiny.

But what Saul did next will surprise you.

Here is his response.

1 Samuel 13:15 (NKJV)

[15] Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men.

Saul simply stood up and started counting the people left with him—as if what Samuel had just said did not matter.

No repentance.

No visible remorse.

No urgency to seek God.

We all know that God is a merciful God, and whenever He calls us out or corrects us, His desire is that we repent so He can forgive us and turn things around for our good.

But Saul did not have a repentant heart. He showed no regard for the anointed of the Lord, and no deep reverence for the word of God either. As I was reading that passage, I kept wondering within myself: How could he just move on like that? Does he not understand what Samuel said? Does he not realize the weight of those words?

Did he not know that from that moment, though he was still physically occupying the throne, spiritually he was no longer king?

To Saul, as long as he had not been removed from the position, he was still king. Meanwhile, God had already replaced him.

God had already chosen another person to take his place—only two years into his reign. This is what truly got me worried. You have barely started ruling, and you have already been replaced, yet you do not see anything wrong with it.

Saul taught a lesson I will never forget:

That I am holding a physical position does not mean I am still God’s best for that position if I am not living up to His expectations.

God could replace me and still leave me in that position while the right person is being prepared—and that is something I never want. If I am no longer fit for a position, I would rather know and align myself than continue in it without God’s backing.

But you see, life abhors a vacuum. Many times, people God has rejected are still left in positions for a while because God does not want the place to be empty.

Another thing that stood out to me: Saul started with two thousand men, yet at this point he had only six hundred left—and he did not see anything wrong with it. His leadership journey had barely begun, yet a major decline had already started in the camp.

He was already losing ground, and a wise leader would quickly pause and call for help—especially from his spiritual authority. A wise leader would humble himself and seek guidance.

But a proud man like Saul will not do that. He would rather continue in error than submit. He would rather hold on to his pride than humble himself for correction.

He lost the throne spiritually, and the people around him were depleted to a very small number. Yes, God does not need large numbers to win battles, but God works with those who listen to His instructions—whether they are few or many.

Saul despised the word of God and the man God used to anoint him king, and from that day, his life began a steady decline.

God, in His mercy, was still watching—giving him opportunities, even allowing further tests to see if he would eventually turn. But sadly, the heart of repentance was not there.

Now, let’s bring this closer to home.

Do we not see this same pattern in our lives today?

Someone goes to church, and the message hits hard. It speaks directly to their situation. Conviction comes strongly. Instead of repenting and deciding to do what is right, the person shakes it off and continues as usual.

Some even go as far as accusing the preacher—saying the message was directed at them personally.

But the issue is not the message.

The issue is the heart.

This kind of person does not truly repent. They only want to continue in their own way, regardless of correction.

May God not allow us to have this kind of Saul-like attitude toward His word and toward those He has placed over us.

May we always have a soft, responsive, and repentant heart.

In Jesus’ name. 🙏

The Heart of David: A Man Ahead of His Time

Reading through the story of David, you will be left wondering what kind of heart he had. David was one of the Old Testament saints who lived with a New Testament kind of heart.

He lived the way Jesus wants us to live long before Jesus came to the earth to show us how to live.

Jesus said:

Matthew 5:44

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

David lived this kind of life even in the Old Testament. I believe he had a glimpse into the mind of God and understood how anyone should live if he or she is truly walking with God.

David had no clear blueprint to follow like the one Jesus later gave to us, yet he followed a path that pleased God. Little wonder the Bible calls him a man after God’s own heart.

In this New Testament era, it is difficult to see men with the kind of heart David had. So, we will take time to look closely at the kind of heart he possessed, so we can learn valuable lessons from his life.

David and Saul

David was first introduced to Saul when he came to the battlefield and saw Goliath defiling the army of God. He was not happy with what he heard and decided to eliminate Goliath (1 Samuel 17).

He was brought before Saul, and after some discussions, he went out to fight Goliath and defeated him.

After the victory, the women began to sing: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” This statement put David in serious trouble, and Saul began to hunt for his life.

It became so intense that Saul spent a large part of his reign pursuing David in order to kill him. David ran for his life and eventually took refuge among the Philistines, which finally ended Saul’s pursuit.

I see this as a miracle. How would a man who killed your champion warrior escape to your land, and yet you accommodate him peacefully?

I believe God continually preserved David because of the anointing upon his life—what a privilege it is to be anointed by God.

David Spares Saul (First Encounter)

David had two clear opportunities to kill Saul.

On one occasion, one of David’s men said:

1 Samuel 24:4 (NKJV)

“Then the men of David said to him, ‘This is the day of which the Lord said to you, “Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.”’ And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.”

You can see that David could have easily killed Saul, but instead, he only cut off a small part of his robe. Yet even at that, the Bible says his heart troubled him.

1 Samuel 24:5 (NKJV)

“Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.”

This was David’s response:

1 Samuel 24:6 (NKJV)

“And he said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.’”

David still had deep regard for the anointing, even though the anointing had departed from Saul. Even though Saul was actively seeking to kill him, David maintained his respect.

When people God places over us begin to misbehave, how do we treat them? Do we treat them as trash, or do we still see them as vessels that once carried God’s anointing?

David chose honor.

David Spares Saul (Second Encounter)

God delivered Saul into David’s hands a second time (1 Samuel 26).

Again, one of David’s men spoke:

1 Samuel 26:8 (NKJV)

“Then Abishai said to David, ‘God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!’”

But David responded:

1 Samuel 26:9 (NKJV)

“But David said to Abishai, ‘Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?’”

No one can touch God’s anointed and be guiltless.

It is not our place to judge and condemn a backslidden man of God.

The Bible also asks a very important question:

Romans 14:4 (NKJV)

“Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”

So, we must be careful what we say about any man of God. Even if we believe they have backslidden, they are answerable to their Master—not to us.

David’s Response to Saul’s Death

What surprised me most was David’s response after the death of Saul and his son.

Saul fell on his own sword and died after being wounded in battle (1 Samuel 31:1–6).

Then a man, trying to gain favor, fabricated a story and came to David. He claimed that Saul had asked him to kill him, and that he had done so, bringing Saul’s crown and bracelet as proof.

After David finished mourning for Saul, he killed the man.

He took revenge for the death of a man who had spent years trying to kill him (2 Samuel 1:1–16).

David’s Response to Ishbosheth’s Death

Two other men, acting zealously, thought they could gain favor with David by avenging him.

They entered the bedroom of Ishbosheth, killed him, cut off his head, and brought it to David.

They said:

2 Samuel 4:8 (GNT)

“They presented the head to King David at Hebron and said to him, ‘Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul, who tried to kill you. Today the Lord has allowed Your Majesty to take revenge on Saul and his descendants.’”

David killed both of them.

He took revenge for the son of a man who had relentlessly pursued his life.

A Reflection for Today

This speaks deeply to my heart.

In many of our church services today, we hear prayer points that make one wonder whether we truly practice what Jesus taught.

You hear prayers like:

“Anyone who will not allow me to move forward in life, die by fire in the name of Jesus.”

We even attach the name of Jesus to such prayers.

“Anyone who will not allow me to be promoted, die by fire.”

“Anyone standing against the prosperity of my business, die and be eliminated in Jesus’ name.”

These kinds of prayers have dominated many churches today, and sadly, many see nothing wrong with them.

But let us ask ourselves:

When people die for doing wrong, do they go to heaven or hell?

When we send them to hell, has heaven gained or lost?

Are we called to populate heaven or hell?

Many of these people are ignorant vessels in the hands of the devil who need salvation, yet we attempt to destroy them with our prayers.

Thank God many of these prayers are not answered, otherwise we would be sending people to hell constantly.

A Call to Reflect

If you are among those who see nothing wrong with such prayers, or who believe in paying back evil for evil, I urge you—pause and learn from the life of David.

He is a powerful lesson for all of us.

If those the devil is using for evil come into the light of truth, they can change. So instead of praying for their destruction, why not pray for their salvation?

A Prayer

I believe this is a prayer we all need to pray:

Oh God, give me the kind of heart that David had—a heart that does not avenge enemies even when it has the power and opportunity to do so. A heart that still fights for others, even when they have wronged it. A heart that does not rejoice at the death of enemies but mourns, knowing they may be lost.

Oh God, this same heart was in Jesus, who said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Give me this kind of heart, in Jesus’ name.

If I have ever taken revenge against my enemies, or prayed for their destruction or downfall, Father, forgive me, in the name of Jesus.

Thank You, Father, for answering my prayers, in Jesus’ name.

Religion as an Instrument of War: How the Devil Uses Religion Against God’s People

Religion, which was supposed to be an instrument that would lead us to God, has sadly become an instrument of war in the hands of the devil.

Religion, which was meant to draw men closer to God, is now being used to divide, fight, and even destroy those who seek Him.

One would have thought that if other religions apart from Christianity are instruments of war in the hands of the devil, Christianity should be different. But sadly, Christianity too has become a great instrument of war—even against Christians—in the hands of the devil.

When I attended the Michigan School of Apologetics, I was surprised to discover that religion has produced more atheists in the world than many other things put together.

This is because religion helps people create rules for following a God they have no personal relationship with. Many get tired of following such rules because they do not produce results, and in the end, they conclude that there is no God.

I want to take you through the Bible and show you that religion has been used by the devil over the years to fight God’s man—a person with a personal relationship with God, a person anointed by God.

The Story of the Old and the Young Prophet

Once a man is anointed by God, the devil looks for people within the same circle to fight him. Most of these people are those who should be trusted, and people naturally lay down their guard because they trust them—not knowing that the devil may be using them.

God sent the young prophet to prophesy against the altar. God gave him clear instructions on what he should do and what he should not do.

The devil knew that if he used an idol worshipper to try to deceive the young prophet, it would not work. If he chose to use someone who was not a prophet, he would still not succeed.

So, he decided to use an old prophet who had backslidden.

You can see how dangerous it is to have a backslider in the church.

The devil then chose an old prophet, who deceived the young prophet to his death.

I believe the old prophet succeeded over the young prophet because the young prophet respected him and believed that he must have heard from God.

This is where we must all be careful about how we receive everything that comes from a spiritual father. Many times, when some of these spiritual leaders start backsliding, we may not know. Some have backslidden a long time ago but are still in their duty posts.

What they used to condemn, they no longer condemn.

The devil knows that he can use leaders who are no longer aligned with God’s Word as instruments against a true child of God. This is why we must learn to hear God for ourselves.

The trust the young prophet had for the old prophet made him lay down his guard and do what God asked him not to do. This is a big lesson for all of us.

When a man of God asks us to do something that is against the Word of God, we should not do it, because it could lead to destruction—just like the young prophet died.

The Story of Saul and David

Another story we should consider is the story of Saul and David. Saul was the first to be anointed, and the Spirit of God came and rested on him before David was anointed.

Normally, Saul should have been seen as a mentor to David. He was supposed to guide David in spiritual things if David ever needed guidance. But he backslid along the way, and the Spirit of God left him.

When he saw what God had started doing in the life of David, he became jealous and wanted to kill him. To him, holding on to his position by eliminating the one with the anointing became more important than keeping the law: “Thou shall not kill.”

He valued the throne more than obeying God.

Sadly, there are many in the church today with this mentality. Whatever they can do to keep their position in church, they will do—even if it includes destroying a brother.

Some will frame up a brother so that he will not be seen as qualified for the position anymore. Others will tell lies against those they think may take their place.

It is sad that Christians will even take themselves to court to be judged by unbelievers because of position. These are all things religious people can do.

Saul spent almost all his life chasing David simply because David was anointed to be the next king. Even when God delivered Saul into the hands of David twice and David refused to kill him, Saul still did not stop pursuing him.

When a man is bent on bringing another person down or removing a brother from a position, he stops seeing anything good in that person’s life. Whether the person does good or bad, he will still be criticized.

David had to hide in the camp of the Philistines before Saul finally stopped chasing him. This shows how deeply the devil can use religion to fight God’s man.

Jesus and the Religious Men

Another story we should look at is the story of Jesus and the religious men in His days.

Jesus came and began performing miracles, healing many people, and feeding the hungry. People loved Him for what He was doing.

But He encountered a group of religious men who did not understand what it meant to truly walk with God. They held on to patterns handed down to them by their forefathers without understanding why they were doing those things.

As far as they were concerned, anyone who did not follow their pattern was not a child of God.

I see this play out a lot today. There are many people who look down on or disdain others who do not belong to their local assembly.

As far as they are concerned, if you do not hear what they hear or do what they do, then you are not a Christian.

The religious men in Jesus’ days were ready to destroy anyone who went against their laid-down patterns without thinking twice.

They were no different from idol worshippers who kill anyone who goes against their beliefs.

Those religious leaders did not truly know God, so the devil saw them as useful instruments to carry out his plans against Jesus.

They plotted against Jesus, killed Him, and were even happy that He was dead—meanwhile, they were religious leaders who claimed to know God.

Are we not doing similar things today with our words? Are we not tearing people down because they do not believe what we believe?

When we do that, what differentiates us from idol worshippers or extremists who kill in the name of religion?

Thank God it was part of God’s plan for Jesus to die and save mankind. If not, they would have ended His ministry simply because they were holding on to the wrong form of religion.

My Own Story

The last story I will share here is my own story.

I went through an experience that left me wondering, even till today, whether some people in church are truly children of God.

I came into a department and worked my heart out. I gave it my best because it was God’s work. While I was giving my best, all the group members were my friends. I was not a threat to anyone because I was simply serving.

Later on, I became the assistant head of department. That was when all my troubles started.

All the people I thought were my friends suddenly turned against me. Many of them began reacting in strange ways, leaving me wondering what was really going on.

So many people value position to the point that they become unhappy when someone else holds it—especially if they believe the position should be theirs.

Later, I became the Head of Department, and everything escalated.

I was shocked at the things I began to experience. I would call meetings so we could discuss what needed to be done, but one of their ring leaders would only come to find fault.

After pointing out faults, I would ask, “How do we fix it?” and she would become angry and start insulting me.

She told lies about me to the leaders many times, and I often stood there not knowing what to do.

Everything I did was criticized, whether it was successful or not.

We were about seven active people in the department, including me, and three of them were strongly against me.

Those three wanted me to fail so it would be on record that I failed.

I would call meetings and plan programs together with everyone, yet I would later hear from the minister in charge that I liked doing everything alone.

Meanwhile, these were the same people who, when given responsibilities, would not carry them out—they would leave everything for me.

I faced the kind of situation that, if not for the fact that it was God’s work, I would have stopped going to church altogether.

After I left the department, one of them came and told me that it was the devil that had been using her.

In my mind, I said, “So you are just realizing it now?”

It was really a terrible experience.

I discovered that if they were left to do things their own way, whatever they planned would not work. But if another leader from a different department suggested something, they would obey.

However, if I planned anything, they would resist it and try as much as possible to frustrate it.

There were three of them, and they would always return to their group to discuss me and say things that would sabotage our progress.

This was how terrible it was.

Some Sundays, I did not even feel like going to church because of these people.

Final Thoughts

So, you can clearly see how religion has become a tool in the hands of the devil.

If you are God’s servant, working in the church or any religious organization, the devil will certainly come for you.

And when he comes, he will not use outsiders.

He will use people you trust—people you believe are Christians, people you think know the right things to do, people you believe have the love of God and would never harm anyone.

So, if you are God’s man, be prepared.

Because when these things begin to happen, you will understand what is going on—and you will not be discouraged.