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The Allegory of Saul

by David Neal

This paper concerns the allegory of the two “Sauls” as related to


the larger understanding of God’s dealing with mankind. An
allegory is a figurative discourse, in which the principal subject is
described by another subject resembling it in its properties and
circumstances. The principal subject is thus kept out of view and
is revealed by the Spirit to those who seek God’s wisdom. The
first Saul was chosen of God to be the first king to lead His people
( Israel ). Saul was a Benjamite - a choice young man, and a
goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier
person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher
than any of the people (1 Sam 9:2). Saul went on a journey
where he crossed the path of Samuel the prophet. 1 Samuel
9:15-17, “Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before
Saul came, saying, To morrow about this time I will send thee a
man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be
captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of
the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people,
because their cry is come unto me. And when Samuel saw Saul,
the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee
of! this same shall reign over my people.” Samuel anointed Saul
to be king and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (1 Sam 10:1,
6). God specifically chose Saul and he was initially blessed of the
Lord. 1 Samuel 10:10-12, “And when they came thither to the
hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of
God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it
came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that,
behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said
one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is
Saul also among the prophets? And one of the same place
answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a
proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?” Therefore, Saul was
initially in God’s good graces and was filled with the Holy Spirit to
serve the Lord’s purposes – to rule justly over God’s
people Israel . God’s requirement of Saul was obedience to the
Lord’s commands (to explicitly follow directions). The Lord had
spoken through Samuel and said, 1 Samuel 12:13-15, “Now
therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye
have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. If
ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, andobey his voice, and not
rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye
and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the
LORD your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but
rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand
of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.”
Disobedience to God makes you the Lord’s enemy – at enmity!
This is how Satan separates man from God. He entices you to
seek your way (the way of the flesh) and thereby makes you a
transgressor. The devil then accuses you before God (Rev 12:10).
It soon became apparent that Saul was disobedient to the Lord’s
will. To disobey God is to transgress God’s purposes – to choose
your will or way over the Lord’s purposes. This is rebellion against
God! Saul’s first failure to comply with God’s direction occurred
when the Philistines gathered together to battle Israel . The
Philistines came up with a great host and filled the country. 1
Samuel 13:6-14, “When the men of Israel saw that they were in a
strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide
themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high
places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to
the land of Gad and Gilead . As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and
all the people followed him trembling. And he tarried seven days,
according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel
came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And
Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace
offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass,
that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering,
behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he
might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And
Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me,
and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the
Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore
said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and
I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself
therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul,
Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of
the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the
LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now
thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man
after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be
captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which
the LORD commanded thee.” Saul was suppose to exercise faith
toward God. Faith is that which goes beyond the ability and
reasoning of the flesh. Faith denies the flesh its strong will or
desire. Saul was allowing the flesh (that which opposes the Spirit,
Gal5:17 ) to rule his actions rather than trust in the Lord.
Essential elements of faith are patience, obedience and trust. The
flesh never wants to wait on anything, but wants what it wants
when it wants it. God requires us to wait upon Him and this is
mostly a just in time proposition (Ps 37:9, Is 40:31). Trust is
confidence in God and becomes an outwardly expressed validation
of belief (application to your life’s circumstances). This is
committing one’s very life into the hands of God (hopes, future,
lifestyle, daily and eternal existence, etc.). When Saul feared the
Philistines he committed himself to his own way or reasoning (as
man mostly does). This trust in SELF must die in us before we can
truly trust in God and commit our very soul to the Lord
(surrender of will). Our love toward God manifests itself through
our obedience. Love is the sacrifice of self for the benefit of
another (first God then our neighbor). Our supreme love of God is
the sacrifice of SELF for the purpose of God’s will (total surrender
to God’s authority). Consider this verse: Mark 8:35 , “For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose
his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it (also
Mt 10:39 , 16:25 , Lk 9:24 , 17:33 , Jn 12:25 , what an
emphasis!).” What this is saying is: “live for SELF and die; die to
SELF and live (2 Cor 5:15 -16).” Romans 8:13 , “For if ye live
after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Your way (the way of the
flesh) is opposite of God and will always produce “death” – thou
shalt surely die (the penaltyfor transgression of God’s will,
Gen 2:17 ). God is the giver of life and apart from Him there is
only death. You must obey the Spirit in putting to death the
things of the flesh. Therefore, love, trust, patience and obedience
deny the flesh it’s way which is always opposed to God’s
purposes. Saul sought his way which is an exaltation of SELF
above God – to rise above the throne of God. This was manifested
as impatience, self reliance, intemperance (lack of self control)
and unbelief – taking matters into your own hands (your
way/path/opinions). These are the fruits of the flesh and reveal
the fallen nature of man. The Lord God sought a replacement for
Saul that day – a man after His own heart (one who would obey
and live in true faith).
Saul was given a second task from the Lord. 1 Samuel 15:1-3,
“Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to
be king over his people, over Israel : now therefore hearken thou
unto the voice of the words of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of
hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel , how he laid
wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt . Now go
and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and
spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and
suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” Saul was again
disobedient to the Word of the Lord. 1 Samuel 15:7-9, “And Saul
smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur,
that is over against Egypt . And he took Agag the king of the
Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the
edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the
best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the
lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them:
but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed
utterly.” The Lord spoke to Samuel: 1 Samuel 15:10-11, “Then
came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me
that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from
following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it
grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.” If man is
ever to be reconciled to God, there must be obedience to the
Word of God. Disobedience is transgression which is rebellion and
produces separation and death. Saul was told to destroy
everything of the Amalekites, but spared their king and the best
of the livestock. What could possibly have been his reasoning? 1
Samuel 15:15 , “And Saul said, They have brought them from the
Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of
the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we
have utterly destroyed.” Saul “religiously” disobeyed God. He felt
his way was better than God’s command. He disobeyed God to
perform religious service to bring God glory? Perhaps you can see
the confusion in this? This is what man (religious
man) always does. They seek to please God their way, through
the flesh, rather than God’s way, through the Spirit. God repented
that He set up Saul – for Saul was disobedient. Consider how Saul
felt about the situation: 1 Samuel 15:13 , “And Samuel came to
Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I
have performed the commandment of the LORD.” There seems to
be a rather large disconnect here? Man through the flesh always
believes that he is serving God. Proverbs 21:2, “Every way of a
man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.”
AND Proverbs 16:2, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own
eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.” God requires man to
obediently live by His Word, but man prefers to live by his
opinions and sentiments. 1 Samuel 15:22-23, “And Samuel said,
Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion
is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he
hath also rejected thee from being king.” Witchcraft is the
sacrifice of others for the benefit of self (hatred) – very
manipulative. Stubbornness is as iniquity (sin) and idolatry
because it exalts SELF (your opinions and sentiments) above God.
Refusal to comply with God’s way is clinging to your way. This is
to feel that your way is more noble, valid and worthy of
compliance (consideration) than God’s way. This is unbelief! The
Lord then directed Samuel to anoint David (a man after His own
heart) to be the next king. 1 Samuel 16:14, “But the Spirit of the
LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD
troubled him.” This is so significant!!! Due to Saul’s disobedience,
the Holy Spirit departed from him. Woe! An evil spirit took the
place. Saul’s free will actions (rebellion against God) drove the
Spirit out (do not grieve the Holy Spirit, Eph 4:30 ). Scriptures
reveal: 1 Corinthians 3:16 , “Know ye not that ye are
the temple of God , and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
AND 1 Corinthians 6:19 , “What? know ye not that your body is
the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own? (also 2 Cor6:16 )” When that
which opposes God (the flesh, SELF) seats itself in the place of
God (foremost – in the heart) then you are a transgressor who
has grieved the Spirit. If the flesh rules over your actions, then
the Spirit doesn’t! 1 Corinthians 3:17, “If any man defile
the temple of God , him shall God destroy; for
thetemple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” Disobedience to
the will of God defiles the temple. Transgression of God’s will has
only one outcome: thou shalt surely die (Gen 2:17 ). The Lord
had departed from Saul and become his enemy (1 Sam 28:16).
The Lord becomes the enemy of those who live in the flesh in
disobedience to God’s will – they are rebellious transgressors
(just like their father, the devil, Jn8:44 ). Once God’s Spirit
departed from Saul, he became a persecutor of those following
God’s purposes, namely David. God stopped speaking to him and
Saul eventually sought the counsel of a witch (of Endor,woman
that hath a familiar spirit, 1 Sam 28:3-20). Seeking of the flesh is
always living in darkness. The day following Saul’s visit to the
witch he died at the hands of his enemies (the Philistines, 1 Sam
31:1-13). The interesting thing is that Saul actually was killed by
an Amalekite (2 Sam 1:1-15, those he was suppose to have
utterly destroyed, but was disobedient in doing). 1 Chronicles
10:13-14, “So Saul died for his transgression which he committed
against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he
kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar
spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore
he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of
Jesse.” We can conclude that Saul was initially chosen of God and
filled with His Spirit and given great authority to walk in the Lord’s
purposes. Through disobedience, Saul lost relationship with God
and actually became a persecutor of those submitted to God’s
authority (i.e. David).

The second Saul (later to be called Paul) started out as a very


religious man (also a Benjamite, Php 3:5) who considered himself
a servant of God. Saul lived as a Pharisee after the most straitest
sect of religion; touching the righteousness which is in the law,
blameless; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church. (Acts 26:5,
Php 3:6). Saul believed that he was serving God by persecuting
those who were submitted to Christ (the church, The Way). Acts
26:9-11, “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I
also did in Jerusalem : and many of the saints did I shut up in
prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when
they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I
punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to
blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I
persecuted them even unto strange cities.” Saul “religiously”
disobeyed God, yet thought he was serving the Lord. This was
quite a disconnect for such a religious man who considered
himself to be God’s servant. Saul disobeyed the will of God and
was a rebellious transgressor. Later, Saul was on his way
to Damascus to persecute the believers there. Acts 9:2, “And
desired of him (religious leader) letters to Damascus to the
synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were
men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem .”
Paul would later relate the story of his journey: Acts 26:13-18,
“At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above
the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them
which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the
earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the
Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard
for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and
stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this
purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these
things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I
will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from
the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and
to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan
unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and
inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in
me.” Once confronted with the truth, Saul’s life was completely
transformed due to his obedience of the truth. This is the mark of
a true “follower,” they will change significantly to obey (apply) the
truth in their lives. A “religious” hypocrite will only make great
profession while still walking in error (disobedience and
transgression) basically unchanged (maybe with a form of
godliness). Saul died to his “religiosity” (which he then considered
dung, Php 3:8) and obeyed the Lord from that point forward
(26:19-20). Paul (no longer Saul) was baptized (in repentance)
and received the filling of the Holy Ghost (Acts 9:17-19). Paul
later became an Apostle to the gentiles and suffered much
(imprisonment, stoning, beatings, etc.) for the cause of Christ.
Paul gave all for Christ as he later layed down his life. Therefore,
the second Saul started out as a persecutor of the Lord’s people
and became an obedient servant of God (opposite of the first
Saul). Though obedience, Saul was filled with the Spirit and
served God the rest of his life.

We can now conclude from the two “Sauls” that the first Saul was
initially chosen of God (appointed) and filled with His Spirit to
perform the Lord’s purposes. However, through disobedience, he
lost the Spirit and became an enemy of God. He became a
persecutor of God’s chosen and did not perform the will of God.
The second Saul started out as disobedient and a persecutor of
God’s purposes and was void of the Spirit (did not have).
However, through obedience to God’s will (truth), he was chosen
of God, filled with the Holy Spirit and performed God’s purposes.
These men lived opposite lives. These two lives are actually an
allegory of God’s dealings with man. In the beginning, man
(Adam, then Eve) was created for God’s purposes (good pleasure,
Gen 1:26 -27, Rev 4:11 ). Man was to rule over God’s creation
(given great authority, Gen 1:28). God required that man love,
trust, surrender to (humbleness) and obey Him (faith). Through
the serpent’s enticement, man disobeyed God in favor of self
(Gen 3:11-13). Man sought to be as a god (Gen 3:4-5) in
determining his own way (path, desire). In order for man to seek
his own authority, he had to reject God’s authority (through
disobedience to God’s will). Man’s original disobedience (eating
the forbidden fruit) was the rejection of God’s authority in favor of
the desires of the flesh. Man’s fallen nature is now that of pride
(self exaltation – seeking your way) and disobedience (unbelief).
The serpent’s (Satan’s) Lie proposed that man could transgress
the will of God (disobey) and not die (ye shall not surely die, Gen
3:4). In so doing the Lie further proposed that man would be able
to independently seek his own will (way). God told man if he
disobeyed, “thou shalt surely die.” The devil told man that if he
disobeyed, “ye shall not surely die.” Which one held true?
Irregardless, man still clings to this “Lie” in seeking his own way
in disregard of God’s Word (even and mostly religiously).
Therefore, man was created perfect and in God’s will (chosen of
God) and given great authority (over the creatures of the earth),
but disobeyed God and became rebellious and a transgressor of
the Lord’s will. All men are now born with this fallen nature.
However, God has made a way of reconciliation whereby man can
renounce his rebellion and come back under God’s authority and
be restored as prior to the fall of man. God showed perfect love in
sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, for our benefit (Jn 3:16 ). Jesus Christ
came to this world and perfectly obeyed the Father in total love,
surrender, and trust. Jesus showed perfect love in sacrificing Self
for our benefit (He laid His life down). Jesus invites us to: “Come
follow me.” John 12:26 , “If any man serve me, let him follow
me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man
serve me, him will my Father honour.” Christ went back to the
Father. Those that follow Christ will also go back to the Father.
Jesus reconciles us back to God – He restores that which He took
not away (Ps 69:4). For it is said: Psalms 23:3, “He restoreth my
soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s
sake.” Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” AND 2 Corinthians 5:18-
19, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the
world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and
hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” Jesus will put
all things back into right order: 1 Corinthians 15:27-27, “For he
hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are
put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all
things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him,
then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all
things under him, that God may be all in all.” Our life is found in
“FOLLOWING.” We must walk as He walked (1 Jn 2:6). Jesus
came and led BY EXAMPLE! We follow in Christ’s steps (1
Pt 2:21 ). Jesus said it like this: Luke 9:23, “And he said to them
all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me (also Mt 16:24, Mk 8:34, 10:21,
such an emphasis).” To deny self is to make sacrifices (of the
flesh) for the benefit of God. Taking up the cross spells death to
self (the flesh, your way). Jesus further stated: Luke 14:27 , “And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be
my disciple.” This is not an optional request! In following Christ,
we must surrender ALL. Luke 14:33, “So likewise, whosoever he
be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my
disciple.” All that you hold dear (more cherished, valued and
precious than Jesus): Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and
hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and
brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my
disciple.” Christ offers us new life (in Him). 2 Corinthians 5:17 ,
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (also
Rm 6:4).” The old things are that life of self seeking which
transgresses and rebels against the will of God (the fallen nature).
The new things are love, surrender, trust and obedience to God
(faith). You actually come back under God’s authority and
renounce (die to) your own. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.” Jesus sends His Spirit to lead, guide and
teach us in following Him in “The Way” – the very narrow way (2
Cor 4:10 )! Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Those following the flesh are
condemned while they yet live. Romans 8:8, “So then they that
are in the flesh cannot please God.” Take note: Romans 8:14,
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God.” Therefore, men who are born into transgression and
rebellion against God (disobedience) can repent and live in
obedience through Christ and be “born again (Jn 3:3)” into
the kingdom of God . We follow Christ in faith which is surrender,
humbleness, trust, love, patience and obedience. Romans 5:1-2,
“Therefore being justified by faith (obedience and following
Jesus), we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
(reconciliation): By whom also we have access by faith (love,
trust, obedience, surrender) into this grace (influence of the Holy
Spirit in renewing the heart and conforming you to the image of
Christ, Rm 8:29) wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God.” Our hope is in yielding to God and allowing Him to
transform us into the likeness of our Lord. This occurs as we walk
the narrow way in obedience to Christ.

The first Saul (king) was representative of the fallen rebellious


nature of man. He was initially chosen of God (and filled with the
Spirit), but cast aside that relationship through disobedience and
the seeking of self (grieved the Spirit who departed from him).
Similarly, Adam (and Eve) were chosen (created) of God, but cast
aside their perfect relationship with God through disobedience and
the seeking of self. The second Saul (known as Paul) started out
as disobedient to God (but initially considered himself a servant of
God in the Lord’s good graces) and was a pursecutor of God’s
people (and purposes). Paul became a chosen vessel of the Lord
(on the road to Damascus ) and through repentance and
obedience was filled with God’s Spirit. Paul spent the rest of his
life dying to self and surrendering to the will of God. Similarly,
man is born with a fallen nature and is disobedient and rebellious
toward God (full of iniquity). God draws man to Himself through
Christ (Jn 6:44, 6:65, Rm 8:30). Through repentance and
obedience man can receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32 ). Death to
self (your way) and submission and obedience to Christ
(following, abiding, faith) brings man back to God (1 Pt 1:9, 2
Cor 4:18 ). Romans 5:19 , “For as by one man’s disobedience
(Adam) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one
(Jesus) shall many (not all - those who follow) be made
righteous.” Jesus leads in paths of righteousness for His name’s
sake (Ps 23:3). Also demonstrated in Paul’s life is the fact that
those who follow Christ will endure much persecution and
tribulation (Acts 14:22, Mt 10:22 ). If you walk as Christ walked
then you will naturally enter into the fellowship of His sufferings
(Rm 8:17 , 36, Php 1:29 , 3:10 ). The way back to God will never
be comfortable to the flesh. No one walking after the flesh
(desires of the flesh, things of this world/love of, seeking self with
a form of godliness) would ever be able to walk such a path. This
path is set up to pull down the things of the flesh such that one is
totally surrendered to God.

More articles by David D. Neal you can find here:


http://lauchenauer.zweipage.de/

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