“Circumstantial Morality”

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 28

“…when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. The Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”” (1 Samuel 28.6-7a)

Saul’s life was in a tailspin, and he wanted it to stop. But God had rejected him, both personally and by proxy (1 Samuel 28.6, 16). In his desperation, Saul violated not only his own command (28.3, 9), but another of God’s commands (Leviticus 19.31).

Saul’s life could be summed up with the mantra, “It is better to ask forgiveness than permission” and the results were devastating. His circumstantial morality consistently positioned him to make inconsistent and impulsive decisions. Saul knew the right thing to do, and he simply did not do it.

The scriptures make clear that no amount of confession or repentance would change his outcome. Even though he was wanting to listen now (1 Samuel 28.15), Samuel explains that he should have listened the first time (28.17-18, cf. 1 Samuel 15.1-3). Each time Saul willfully disobeyed there were consequences of increasing severity (presumably to turn him back to right, but with little effect), culminating in his death in battle (28.19; 31.4).

“..if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10.26-27)

Saul’s story is an object lesson for this principle and a powerful witness to the effects of willful disobedience. His rejection of God and his law brought about definite consequences that could not be undone.

There are times we act out of ignorance, but many times sin occurs in a context where we know better. While grace is immense through Christ, it is limited by our choices in these moments of awareness. The writer of Hebrews continues:

“Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10.28-29)

We must not allow grace to salve our conscience. We know how God expects us to behave, and the moments we tend to struggle. Usually it’s when we’re frustrated, upset or emotional. We revert to selfish, defensive behavior. Too often we decide these are the moments to excuse our behavior. God is not only displeased by this choice but is outraged when we decide we’ll just ask for forgiveness later. This choice is contrary to God’s nature and negligent of what he has revealed to us. For this reason, our moral choices must be rooted in his character and not simply in our circumstances.

When we know what is right, we must do it (James 4.17). God will not tell us twice without discipline or consequence (Hebrews 12.5-11).

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