The Fool

The Fool
Then Saul said, “I have sinned.… Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.” —1 Samuel 26: 21
Jealous of David’s popularity, Saul sought to kill him. One night, David snuck into Saul’s camp when he was asleep. But instead of killing him, David said, “That man has been anointed of God. Don’t touch him. If God wants to deal with him, that is God’s business.” Instead, he grabbed his cruse of water and his spear.
When he got a safe distance away, David called out to Saul’s bodyguard. Saul woke up and said, “Is that the voice of you, my son David?” David answered, “Why are you chasing me? Look, I’ve got your spear. The men who were with me wanted to kill you, but I wouldn’t let them.”
It is then that Saul said, “I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.” Saul had many natural advantages in life, but that did not guarantee him success. Saul’s life teaches us that it’s possible to squander God’s blessings. We learn that a man plays the fool when, like Saul, he tries to hide from the call of God upon his life, or takes credit for another man’s victories, or makes rash promises. A man plays the fool when he does not completely obey God, or offers outrageous excuses for his failure, or becomes jealous of godly, loyal friends, or seeks guidance from spirit beings.
***The real folly of Saul’s life was his failure to totally surrender his life to God. When you fail to surrender, you’re really saying, “I know better than God.” And only a fool would think that.
Father, we pray that You would help us surrender completely to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.