Praying yet prayerless, Part 2
JUST as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” 1 Samuel 13:10-11
The worst kind of deception is self-deception. This subtle demon stems from the extreme love of ‘self’. Saul is the embodiment of this extreme love of self. You may also call it self-worship! Added to this is the addiction to power which leads to making self-preservation as the ultimate preoccupation in one’s life. Anything ... as in, anything that achieves the preservation of self is an ally.
Given the Jews’ high value of the worship of God and prayer, Saul availed of it not because he wanted to seek God and seek to do His will ... rather, it was because prayer and praying boosted his image; massaged his ego and preserved the loyalty of the people to him and that caused him to stay on top and in total control... If praying would accomplish this, then Saul would go for it!
Yes, he prayed but he remained the true enemy of praying. Here, he made a prayerless decision even though he was going through the motions of prayer... it looked brilliant on the outside ... it was rotten on the inside!
Let this life be a perpetual warning to us; let the early signs of spiritual decay lead us to depend upon God for his grace to abound. Let true prayers be offered from broken hearts. While there is time, seek God's mercy and forgiveness. Ask for a clean heart and a chance to still serve God, only this time, chance is defined in God's terms! What is sad and mysterious is why God allowed Saul to rule for 42 years despite God's rejection of His reign, and despite God's removal of His hands of blessing upon Saul. The saying is true ... the sun that hardens the clay is the same sun that melts the ice. Saul chose to harden his heart ... David’s melted in true repentance and brokenness. Saul used prayer to preserve self ... David prayed to seek God. It is then no wonder that King Saul is just known as the first King of Israel, David, as The Greatest King of Israel. The life of King Saul was sad, from beginning to end. Pause and reflect upon this acronym of SAD. Pray and really pray that this won't be your ending. Pray and really pray for God is truly merciful. READ AND REFLECT ...
S — Self-preservation taken to the excess and extreme is actually self-deception that surely leads to aggression and ultimately destruction
A — Addiction to religion leads you through all its rituals yet not to true peace and freedom and forgiveness that only faith in Christ can do.
D — Deception creeps in slowly ... leading to a lifestyle of pretention; an unending pressure to please people ... to keep performing to earn their approval.
Praying yet prayerless is indeed a sad life and a sad ending. Remember, true prayers directed to God by faith in Christ truly transforms the one who truly prays. Thanks for reading. I always write from my heart...