The Blame Game
One Year Bible (May 14)
I Samuel 15:1-16: 23.
“The Blame Game”
We have a famous line in our family that we pull out whenever something is needed. It goes like this, “Chad did it!” Poor guy!
You see whenever his little sister would get into a wee bit of trouble this was her response. It worked pretty well while he lived in our home, but was not near as effective when he moved out as an adult. She needed a new script. (Hmmm, we do have a little dog named Missy.)
Whenever you ask children “Who Done It?” (slang intended) you will get an interesting variety of answers of which none of them will be, “I Did!”.
Today’s story is about “The Blame Game” and the star of this ‘little game show’ will be the first King of Israel, Handsome Brawny Saul. Not only does he stand head and shoulders above everyone else, but you will find that his “Blame Game” also is a ‘Stand Out’…
James 1:15 says this, “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Sin starts as a little seed. It is watered and much “manure” is added to fertilize. (I think that was the acceptable word to use, but you get the picture.) When it is full-grown the consequences are disastrous. We will see that in today’s passage.
Let’s follow the sad progression as we watch this seed taking root:
1) DENIAL: “When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him CHEERFULLY, “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!” Then what is the bleating of sheep and goats and lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded. God had given Saul instructions to bring home none of the enemy or their goods. He had brought home their king and lots of goods! What good is a victorious king without bringing home the bragging rights?
2) BLAME: “It is true ‘THE ARMY’ spared the animals and king. (It wasn’t me!)
3) EXCUSES: “But, hey, we were going to offer a burnt sacrifice to God in front of the people.”
4) CAUGHT: “Then Saul admitted to Samuel, ‘Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I WAS AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE AND DID WHAT THEY DEMANDED.” (15:24) Translation: “I did wrong, but it wasn’t really my fault”. It was the PEOPLE!
5) BEGGING: “Please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may WORSHIP THE LORD.” (15: 25) Samuel’s reply is that Saul has REJECTED the Lord’s command and now he will be “REJECTED’.
6) MOURNING: Samuel finally agreed to go back with Saul, but his “worshipping the Lord” was mostly show. He got the attention of man, but he had lost the approval of God! “Samuel NEVER went to meet with Saul again, but he MOURNED CONSTANTLY for him. And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul, King of Israel.”
Here is the sad ending to “The Blame Game” …” Now the Spirit of the Lord had LEFT Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.”
Why would God do such a thing, we wonder?
Matthew 6:24 holds the key for us, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Saul couldn’t have it both ways; neither can we.
Keith Green has a powerful song called, “To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice”.
“To obey is better than sacrifice. I don’t need your money. I want your life. And I hear you say that I’m coming back soon. But you act like I’ll never return…”
What powerful lyrics for our generation to consider…
Denial, Blame, Excuses, Caught, Begging, and Mourning.
What do all of these have in common? “Look at me and how much I’ve done!”
These are the subtle and deadly lies of “The Blame Game”!
“To obey is better than sacrifice.” – I Samuel 15: 22.
