King Saul wondered outloud about David’s background…
1 Samuel 17:55-18:2, 5 (The Message paraphrase)
55 When Saul saw David go out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Tell me about this young man’s family.” Abner said, “For the life of me, O King, I don’t know.” 56 The king said, “Well, find out the lineage of this raw youth.” 57 As soon as David came back from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him, the Philistine’s head still in his hand, straight to Saul. 58 Saul asked him, “Young man, whose son are you?” “I’m the son of your servant Jesse,” said David, “the one who lives in Bethlehem.” By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David—an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David’s number-one advocate and friend. 2 Saul received David into his own household that day, no more to return to the home of his father.
5 Whatever Saul gave David to do, he did it—and did it well.
Dear Rizpah,
As I sit alone in my chamber, the weight of the crown upon my head feels heavier than ever. Today, a youngster named David has done what I, the King of Israel, could not. He has slain the Philistine giant, Goliath, and brought honor to our people. Oh, what a day! A juvenile shepherd from a commoner family took down Goliath. Can you believe it? I stood there, watching, my heart a mix of awe and, if I’m honest, a bit of envy.
You, who serve my wife, the queen, so faithfully; must understand the intricacies of human hearts that dwell within these palace walls. I find myself torn between two worlds: one of joy for the victory that God has granted us, and another of sorrow for the shortcomings that have been laid bare in me. It’s as if David’s triumph has cast a spotlight on my own inadequacies, yet in that very light, I glimpse a sliver of hope for my own redemption.
Could it be that God, in His infinite wisdom, has sent this young shepherd to remind me that deliverance is still possible? That even a king who has faltered might find redemption in the acts of another? Or could it be that God, in His divine vengeance, has chosen to use the weak to humiliate the king, to show that His power is made perfect in weakness? These are the thoughts that plague me, Rizpah. I am a king, yet I am a man, flawed and fallible. I am supposed to lead, yet I am led by a shepherd boy. I am supposed to be strong, yet I find myself relying on the weak.
It is a bitter pill to swallow, this revelation of my own inadequacy. I hate the taste of it. It is like rubbing salt on a wound. Sometimes you forget that you are wounded because the pain has become so familiar. But then something happens, and it is as if the wound has been opened anew. That is what David’s victory has done to me. It has exposed my wound, my weakness, my failure. Yet, in that very exposure, I find a glimmer of hope. Could it be that this wound, once hidden but now revealed, is the very thing that God will use to heal me? To heal us all? It’s a question that haunts me, even as I pen these words to you.
So, I leave you with this question to ponder, Rizpah [1]: Do you believe that God would ultimately do for us what we cannot do for ourselves?
I write you this, not as your king, but as a man with a great burden,
Saul
Share with your friends, “Do you believe that God would _ultimately_ do for us what we cannot do for ourselves? Could people like King Saul here have eternal life? Why/Why not?” (I know this is a hard question, so “I am not sure” or “I don’t know” is a valid answer).
[1] The Bible recorded that Rizpah was a concubine of Saul later on (2 Samuel 21:11), but it more likely it happens later on if Rispah’s children were listed as contemporaries with Merab’s children in 2 Samuel 21.
(from Charles)
Unlike this fictional letter from Saul contemplating what God did through David, we have the good fortune to know the end goal of what is God’s plan. We know that God ultimately will send Jesus to do what He shows through the entire Old Testament, what man alone could not; even with everything God did to stack the deck in our favor. On the other hand, I know that only Jesus was able to be perfect in every way irrespective of how the deck was stacked against Him. Thus I know that God will and has already done for us what we cannot do for ourselves. As for the fate of Saul, I do not bother thinking if he will have eternal life or not as we do not know what God knows so how could we ever accurately judge him. It is not our job and I know better than to think that I ever could.
Yes, God is always waiting, giving us opportunities to come back, and will run towards us once we let go of ourselves. just like with the older brother and younger brother in the prodigal son. God allowed us to choose to have a relationship with him and will pursue us and do things we cannot do for ourselves. But it’s us and our pride and harden ways that prevents us from seeing God pursuing us. Every time we say no, don’t trust or disobey God, we dig a deeper hole and may feel that God is far away. But in fact he is right there to give us another chance to obey, trust and follow him. But sometimes the hole is dug so deep by us, that we may be blinded by our disobedient hearts that we don’t even see God waiting and wanting us to continue to trust in him.
People like Saul can have eternal life but their relationship with God will fluctuate in his joy… their relationship with God may not be as what God intended for them. But if deep in their hearts they know they are a sinner and accept with their final breath that they have sinned and believes in God, have faith that he is their only saving grace from their sins, then yes they will have eternal life.
I pray that we don’t dig a hole so deep that we are blinded by our pride and not see his amazing grace and mercy. God is always waiting and close by for us to come back home.
I am not too sure but I can try and attempt. I think not fully I think God will give us guidance and not do what he wants all by himself. I feel like if he did do it all by himself that kinda ruins the purpose of us having faith in him and trust God blindly at times
I believe with God he can make anything come true. Things we are not strong enough to do, God will get it done by helping us. I’m not sure if this is correct but the way I see it is we sin regardless and it is unavoidable. Everyone sins and it cant be helped. God sent Jesus to die for our sins and to me that would be pretty ultimate because God sends his child to die for US. It is up to us to believe in him. He get these hardships so out bond with God would become stronger for we would have to trust in him.
For King Saul’s case, I believe it is possible he deserved eternal life if in the end he truly believed in God. He did go against God and disobeyed him, but I believe some people are blinded by their pride. They might think they have it right when it’s actually wrong. King Saul did accept the man he disliked into his home and welcomed him. So his actions are good but i’m not sure about his religious side but again If he truly believed in God in the end, He is worthy of eternal life with God.
God has already done for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He has saved me from His own wrath by preparing Jesus to die in my place, ensuring my eternal life and securing my salvation. I am grateful to God because this saving act is solely the work of God Himself; it doesn’t require any effort on my part. Otherwise, I would fall apart immediately. As the Bible says, “No one seeks God, not even one.” I know that I would turn away from Him immediately, and my salvation wouldn’t be secure if it depended on me.
As for Saul, it was God who chose and anointed him, rather than the other way around. Saul was even hiding from the people when he was presented as King. Even though he did not always obey God, that doesn’t mean he was rejected by Him. Of course, I don’t know for sure, but I’m positive I will see Saul in Heaven.
I do believe God can ultimately do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. He did the ultimate act of love and grace by sending His son, Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. He continues to redeem and rescues us from the darkness of this world. God, who is all knowing and all powerful can do anything and everything. One of the mysteries of this world is the human heart. Only God truly knows who repents and believes in Him.
From sister Becky
I see David conquering the Philistines as Jesus conquering sin. Jesus lived a perfect life without sin. David was praised by Saul/Jonathan just like God praised Jesus. In Jesus living a sinless life, not breaking any of God’s laws is in contrast to my life consistently breaking God’s laws. Saul saw his shortcomings when comparing himself to David. I see my shortcomings but look to Jesus to help my shortcomings. Jesus bears our shortcomings upon himself by dying on the cross for our sins.
God raised Jesus from the dead and He promised to give eternal life to all who believes in the death and resurrection of his son Jesus. I do believe God will ultimately save our soul and give us eternal life for those who believe in his Jesus death and resurrection just as he promised in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.” If God can raised Jesus from death to life then God can ultimately do the same for those who believe in Jesus’s death and resurrection. Our repentance of accepting Jesus as our God and Savior is out of true confession to God. God knows our heart and if we meant what we say.
People like King Saul can have eternal life if they believe in Jesus death and resurrection with true confession that only Jesus can save them and forgives their sins. Only God knows man’s heart. We can’t predict who has true confession and who doesn’t.
I believe that God will ultimately provide for us. It is difficult to say that He always does something for us with confidence, but I know His unconditional love and grace can change everything. I am not sure who can truly attain eternal life, but we cultivate faith in God during our earthly existence, trusting that God will choose those deserving of it.