“Ner became the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal; and the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal became the father of Micah. … So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the LORD in that he did not keep the command LORD; moreover, he had consulted a medium, seeking guidance, and did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” 1 Chronicles 8:33-34, 10:13-14
Sin against God, often starts with something small then leads to bigger and bigger actions; don’t be fooled, all of those decisions to act contrary to God’s will, God’s plan, God’s desires are serious sins and all separate us from God. Saul names one son after the god Baal setting an example that Jonathan followed. Given what we know about Saul he was probably attempting to cover all his bases instead of having faith in the LORD God alone. Jonathon learned from him. Ultimately it led to not only Saul’s death but all his son’s death at the hands of the Philistines. No way possible for Saul’s dynasty to continue, for God snatched it away. Saul’s unfaithfulness and will disobedience in little things lead to the same in larger things. God’s judgement of Saul and his sons makes way for David to become king. Will all fathers learn this lesson? Will all leaders of people ever learn this lesson? Will all leaders in the Body of Christ learn this lesson? All of us push the limits of boundaries set by God’s truth is some form or fashion. Comfortably inside those established permanent boundaries is the ability to live a life of righteousness before God. Outside the boundaries established by God’s truth leads to unfaithfulness, willful disobedience and ultimately death. There is no protection. I pray I always remember this and live within God’s truth, not my version of the truth; that I recognize when I push the limits, then ask forgiveness and return safely within the freedom found inside God’s established truth. Please let that be so for me and for all!