Not the Way
A History of Christ and His Church
October 25, 2026
Rev. Dr. Gabe Sylvia
Using 1 Samuel 9 and the story of Saul, the sermon warns that resisting God's blessing and disobeying the covenant out of selfishness or fear leads to ruin, while true blessings are God's providence that draw us nearer to Christ and call for faithful obedience and reliance on Christ's redeeming grace.
Summary
The sermon reflects on 1 Samuel 9 and Saul's failed kingship as an unusual but instructive example: despite being anointed by Samuel and given signs of God's choice, Saul acted selfishly and disobeyed God's command—keeping the valuable spoil and destroying only the useless—showing how blessings are not earned by appearance or tribe but given by God's choice. The preacher contrasts modern examples of hired executives with Saul's unpredictable, forceful, and disobedient leadership, emphasizes that true blessings are those that draw the soul nearer to God rather than merely earthly benefits, warns that fear often drives our disobedience, and reminds listeners that Christ covers our failures and that we must receive God's providential blessings with open hands and faithful obedience.
Key Points
- Context: Walking through 24 Old Testament people and events; Saul (1 Samuel 9) is an important, unusual example.
- Modern parallels: compares Saul to business leaders hired to lead but who can fail morally and spiritually.
- Saul's profile: son of Kish, anointed king by Samuel, given signs, but motivated by selfishness and fear.
- Proofs and anointing: Samuel provided evidence of God's choice, yet Saul focused on himself.
- True nature of blessings: blessings are God's providence that draw us nearer to Christ, not merely earthly benefits.
- Blessings aren't earned: God gives blessings by choice; none are good enough to merit them, but none are beyond reach.
- Obedience required: the covenant requires obedience; intentional disobedience brings God's discipline.
- Saul's disobedience exemplified: he destroyed useless spoil but kept the best, directly contravening God's command.
- Fear and sin: fear often drives disobedience; we must resist reacting from fear and instead trust God.
- Hope in Christ: although we fail, Christ makes up for our failures; receive blessings with open hands and faith.
- Pastoral note: sermon closes at the Lord's table with a prayerful affirmation of Christ's victory and kindness.
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