Session 7

Disobedience always has consequences

From 1 Samuel: A 6-Week Devotional

Whether we are talking about stealing cookies from a cookie jar, shoving all the mess in your room under the bed, cheating on a college final, or padding an expense account, there are consequences when we get caught doing something wrong. We might be reprimanded, lose privileges, receive a zero, or get fired. The result of disobedience can be an inconvenience, or it can be life altering.

For Saul, disobedience in not following God’s instructions had severe consequences. In 1 Samuel 31 many fell dead, all the Israelites were forced to flee, and Saul’s army along with his sons were killed.

Because of Saul’s disobedience, he no longer had the Lord’s protection and Philistine arrows found him. Fearing what would happen when the enemy saw him wounded on the battlefield, Saul asked his armor bearer to kill him. When the armor bearer declined out of fear, Saul killed himself.

Saul’s demise shows us four powerful lessons:

1. Obedience brings God’s presence and favor; disobedience leave us on our own to suffer the consequences of our actions.

2. Even one bad choice can bring long lasting consequences. Successive bad choices can bring catastrophic results.

3. Our disobedience doesn’t just affect us. There are consequences for everyone around us.

4. Sometimes, we can’t fix disobedience without a lot of pain. Sometimes we just can’t fix it at all.

Saul was the Lord’s chosen king for the Israelites. But rather than trusting that God knew best, Saul’s ego took first place in his heart. When it did, disobedience—doing things his way—became his undoing. Saul lost everything by losing sight of the only thing that mattered: his relationship with the one, true King.

Reflect:

• Recall a time when you were disobedient. What were the consequences? What did you learn?
• Why do you think the consequences for Saul’s disobedience were so severe?
• What is one step you can take to be obedient to what God is calling you to do today?