Saul is an example of the religious sinner. In the beginning, Saul showed promise and the people admired him. He stood taller than his contemporaries “from his shoulders upward” (1 Sam. 10:23). Naturally speaking, he had the appearance of physical strength, one the people could follow readily into battle. On many occasions he would confess the Lord; he had a reverent fear of Samuel the prophet; and he even prophesied, to the extent that people asked, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (19:24).

So what was the problem then? The answer is that appearances are not everything and can even be deceiving. Saul could give “a good showing in the flesh” (Gal. 6:12); he could speak with religious words, as can be seen in today’s text. Similar expressions continued throughout Saul’s life, but never once did there appear to be a real spiritual comprehension or feeling for God or what was spiritually appropriate in a given situation.

Saul said, “I have sinned” on three different occasions (1 Sam. 15:24, 30; 26:21). But there was never a real change. He at times appeared to be sorry for his cruel treatment of David, the Lord’s anointed. But shortly thereafter he would revert to his old ways. Saul was like the old rubber balls we had as children: squeeze it with your thumb and it leaves an impression; but as soon as the thumb is lifted, the ball pops back to its original form. It was as easy for him to be among prophets as among witches.

There are still Sauls with us today. They can speak in “Christianese” and have a fair appearance, but they have no sense at all of God’s presence or the Lordship of Christ. Solemn thought indeed!