Too Late

1 Samuel 15:26 ESV

And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

There he stood barefoot in the snow with a shirt of hair, asking to be absolved of his sin. It was the 11^th century and a feud had erupted between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope. With the Emperor firing the Pope and the Pope excommunicating the emperor. After a turn of events, it appeared everyone was following the Pope and so Henry the IV stood outside in the snow asking for forgiveness. Pope Gregory the VII knew he could not refuse to absolve the sin, even though he knew Henry was not repentant, Pope Gregory absolved him. Years later, Henry would again remove the pope and install his own person in his place. Gregory would end his life in exile.

As we pick up the biblical narrative, we find that Saul has once again shown his true colors. He has gone to war for God but chose to fight for his own glory instead. Thinking he could get rich by partial obedience he chose to not obey God’s commanded destruction of the Amalekites. Samuel shows up to condemn him for his latest rejection of God’s Lordship. After being confronted with his afront Saul does “all the right things.” He verbally agrees with the judgment, explains his sinful motive, petitions for pardon, and asks to be allowed to worship. How could Samuel reject such a penitent king? Yet, that is exactly what Samuel does. He chooses to completely reject Saul because God has already rejected him. Letting him know that he will not go in and play nice as if all has been set in order! He turns to leave and Saul grabs Samuel which rips Samuel’s robe.

There is no shortage of false penance at our house. It is most evident when the false tears and sobs do not have the appropriate effect. Then the eye rolls, the feet stomp, the grumbling under the breath comes. This is the heart that has not repented of anything. Just distraught he was caught and is trying to lesson whatever rebuke might be coming. Regularly my posture towards my sin is this way. It is most evident as we look at Saul. It was the people’s idea and my fear of man that has led me to this. “My sin is bad, but it is understandable.” When David was caught in sin and exposed by the Prophet Nathan, David gave no excuses. He does not say “but she was really good looking” or “I was tired and not ready for the temptation” he simply recognizes his sin for what it is and accepts responsibility for it. Too often my heart mimics Nathans. When I have wronged my children by my lack of self-control and allowed my anger to vent itself. Knowing I have sinned I seek to apologize. Yes, they are at the cause but is there repentance when I apologize accompanied with pointing out their portion of the problem?

How many died because Saul never repented? He would go to his grave thinking he was God. Attempting to commit suicide and begging others to kill him (assisted suicide), not wishing to believe God was sovereign over the moment of his death. He would deny the sovereignty of God until the end, taking thousands of Israelites with him. We must never be deceived into thinking that sin is contained in any way. It seeps into all who are around us. Whether it be homosexuality, promiscuous heterosexuality, infanticide (Murder of babies/ abortion), pride, anger, or any other pet sin we or our society might choose to accept today, it has devastating and drastic effects for YEARS to come on THOUSANDS of families. This was but one man’s sin, what of when thousands join in it?

Repentance is the only way to destroy the sin from our lives and even then, David’s sin would cost thousands their lives still. Yet, he was not allowing it to grow any larger. Are you allowing your sin to grow larger, knowing it, but seeking to justify it, giving excuses for why it was “understandable” in those conditions. Let us not think because other sinners can empathize with our sinful desires that that somehow justifies a portion of them! You do not know the moment when your unrepentant heart has finally become so callused that it will no longer please your creator!

Coram Deo