Saul: A Man After Our Own Hearts

The life of Saul, Israel’s first king, is a sobering story of promise, failure, and warning. This series, taught by Brother Nigel Patterson, follows Saul from his unexpected rise to power through his tragic decline. Each study highlights not only Saul’s choices but also the lessons they hold for us, reminding us how easily the desires of our own hearts can lead us away from God if we fail to walk in faith and obedience.

From Paddock to Palace

Saul’s story begins with a search for his father’s donkeys that leads instead to his anointing as king. Though he appeared impressive outwardly—tall, strong, and capable—his inner lack of awareness of God’s purpose quickly became clear. This study explores the irony of Saul’s calling and the way God used even ordinary events to work out His will.

The Good and Right Way

At first Saul shows promise, rallying Israel against the Ammonites. Yet his leadership soon reveals cracks. This class examines how God’s law gave clear guidelines for kingship and how Saul began to fall short, setting aside the humility and obedience that were meant to characterize Israel’s ruler.

Thy Kingdom Shall Not Continue

Saul’s impatience at Gilgal, when he presumed to offer sacrifice himself, marked a turning point. His failure to wait for Samuel exposed his lack of trust in God, and the verdict was clear: his kingdom would not continue. This session shows how unbelief and self-reliance eroded Saul’s role as God’s chosen leader.

Obedience, Not Sacrifice

When commanded to utterly destroy Amalek, Saul spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. This act of disobedience revealed his tendency to do what pleased him rather than what God required. Samuel’s famous words—“to obey is better than sacrifice”—still echo as a timeless reminder that partial obedience is no obedience at all.

The Experience

In desperation, Saul turned to the witch at Endor, seeking guidance from the very practices he had once condemned. This tragic episode underscores how far he had strayed, showing the emptiness of a life that refuses God’s counsel. It is a chilling picture of how fear and faithlessness can drive a man to seek answers in the wrong places.

Our Own Hearts

The series closes with the death of Saul on Mount Gilboa. Once called to deliver Israel from the Philistines, he perished at their hands, a man destroyed by his own choices. His end stands as both a warning and an appeal—that we must not be “after our own hearts,” but after God’s heart, trusting His will above our own.

Exhortation: He Is Risen

In contrast to Saul’s downfall, this closing exhortation turns our eyes to Christ, who triumphed over sin and death. The risen Lord is the hope Saul never grasped, the true king who offers life instead of ruin. This message encourages us to hold fast to him who is faithful and victorious.

This description has been generated by AI and lightly edited.