1 Samuel 24:20
“And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.”
The most revealing thing about Saul came out in the verse above. Saul tried to kill David on a couple of occasions while he was playing the harp but failed. He left his responsibilities of leading Israel to try and destroy David when it would seem that his best ally was the very person he was pursuing. It truly seemed needless for Saul to pursue David and try to kill him.
What was the reason Saul was so adamant about trying to kill David? It was simple; he was fighting God’s will. Saul said, “I know well that thou shalt surely be king…” If Saul knew well that David was going to be king, then why was he fighting the will of God? There were many reasons as to why he fought God’s will.
First, he fought God’s will because he had his own personal agenda. His agenda was to have his son take over the throne, and God’s will was opposite of his agenda. Many people have found themselves in a battle with God because their agenda didn’t agree with God’s will. I have seen parents fight God’s will for their children because it disagreed with their agenda. You must be careful that you are not so bent on your agenda that you will be willing to fight God over it.
Second, he fought God’s will because he didn’t like it. He didn’t like what God wanted to do. God’s will was not something which he wanted to see happen. Have you ever found yourself fighting God because you didn’t like His will? Maybe you have found yourself fighting God’s will with your life about life’s hardships. Friend, you don’t have to like God’s will, but you better obey it.
Third, he fought God’s will because he was rebellious. This is where the heart of problem is revealed. Saul was simply rebellious. Many young people and adults alike have fought God’s will simply because they are rebellious. A rebellious heart is the core reason anyone fights God’s will.
Saul eventually realized the mistake he made when he said, “I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.” (1 Samuel 26:21) He finally came to the conclusion that he messed up in fighting God’s will, but the damage was already done. He had already influenced the division of a nation that would take years to overcome when David became king. Yes, he finally acknowledged his fault, but many people lost their lives in the years to come because he fought God.
You can fight God’s will, but you are going to hurt many people along the way. God’s will should always trump your agenda and your likes and dislikes in life. What is it in your life about which you are fighting with God? Always remember that one day you will realize you have “played the fool,” but it could be too late to stop the damage it made on the lives of others. You may not understand God’s will or agree with it, but make it your habit to trust God and obey it.