As the United States is laboring under the selection of a new President it would be well to remember some Bible history – the story of King Saul.

“Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?” – 1 Samuel 10:1

“And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.” 1 Samuel 10:24

Saul was outstanding among the people and God even chose him to be king. God even anointed him with His Spirit –

“And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” – 1 Samuel 10:6

Though Saul genuinely tried to live up to the high-calling he received, we know he failed but the question is why?

“And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” – 1 Samuel 13:13,14

If you read the whole story, you will see that in a moment of stress Saul took things in his own hands –

“And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.” – 1 Samuel 13:9

He was supposed to wait for Samuel to make the offerings to God because God had given Samuel alone this authority but, in a moment of great stress, he relied on religion rather than on God’s word and it cost him the kingdom. Just like the people had done in appointing a king in the first place so Saul did – he trusted in the “arm of flesh” rather than in God!

Saul had made a good start with the Lord. The Lord had even made him into “another man”. – we would call that today a born-again experience but, it was not enough. The word of God says we must go on –

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God “ – Hebrews 6:1

“For we have become partakers of Christ  if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end“ – Hebrews 3:14

The people also failed to trust God and they looked to the world for wisdom instead of to God. They wanted a king like the other nations instead of God.

“And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.” – 1 Samuel 10:19

God gave them the desires of their heart and they ultimately paid a high price for it – they lost their liberty as well as the fullness of God’s blessings. God would continue working with them, but the cost was great.

Now, how does this story apply to us in these days? Much in every way. Many are looking to some political figure to solve all our problems when it is God alone who can save us. As our first President declared, it was the “smiles of heaven” that brought this nation forth and He alone can meet our every need.

But, if we continue on our politically correct rejection of God’s laws of conduct, even denying His existence or His right to impose His rules of conduct upon us, we will condemn ourselves and our country to an existence without His blessings. If you think Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, or any other leader, can lead us into the “promised land”, so to speak, without God’s divine help, you are a fool who deserves what you are going to reap.

In the United States, our vote is precious, and we should not give it without considering the lesson of Saul. We should want someone who exhibits the characteristics of a king David rather than a king Saul –

“as My servant David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes” – 1 Kings 14:8

If the political parties will not give us such a candidate – then we should look for a party that will!