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Games People Play. NASCAR racing, the most watched sport in America. Soccer most popular game in the world. Other popular games – basketball, football, baseball, etc. None of these games, or activities, is the “game” most often played. “I Have Played the Fool!”.
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Games People Play • NASCAR racing, the most watched sport in America. • Soccer most popular game in the world. • Other popular games – basketball, football, baseball, etc. • None of these games, or activities, is the “game” most often played.
“I Have Played the Fool!” • I Samuel 26:21: “Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and erred exceedingly. • Fact: No man ever had better opportunity, nore failed more miserably!
Background Information: • Israel Demanded a King, I Samuel 8:1-5. • In this request, they “rejected” God that He should not reign over them, I Samuel 8:6. • Even so, God told Samuel “hearken unto their voice, and make them a king,” I Samuel 8:22.
Saul Had Many Advantages: • Son of Kish, I Samuel 9:1. • “Choice and Handsome,” I Sam. 9:2. • From his head and shoulders he was taller than the people, I Samuel 9:2. • An obedient son, I Samuel 9:3,4. • A Concerned Son, I Samuel 9:5.
Saul’s Advantages (continued) • He was Humble, I Samuel 9:20-21. • After being anointed King, he had a conversation with his uncle, but said nothing about his having been anointed king, I Samuel 10:14-16. • He was anointed to serve as king, I Samuel 10:1,2. • The Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied, I Samuel 10:9-11.
After Becoming King, Saul Committed Grievous Sin! • Offered Sacrifice when he should not, I Samuel 13:8,9. cf. I Sam. 10:8. • He Disobeyed God, I Samuel 15:3,9. • He Lied, I Samuel 15:13 • He Blamed “the people” for his failures, I Samuel 15:15,21. • He became Jealous and Envious, I Samuel 18:7-9.
Saul Committed Grievous Sin (con’t). • Began a prolonged effort to kill David, I Samuel 18:10. • Threw Javelin at David, I Sam. 18:10-11; I Samuel 19:10. • Tried to kill him by putting him at a disadvantage, I Samuel 18:20-25. • Tried to hunt David down as if he were a common criminal. Yet David twice spared his life, 24:3-6; 26:11-12!
Saul Committed Grievous Sin (con’t). • He patronized the Superstitions He had Forbidden, I Samuel 28:3-7. • He Committed Suicide, I Sam. 31:1-4. • After he deliberately fell upon his sword, the Philistines cut off his head, and sent it into the land of the Philistines..to publish it in the houses of their idols. • In addition to this, his thee sons were killed & Israel lost the battle, 31:3-7.
Saul’s Life Summarized: • He was very handsome, but he acted very ugly; he was very tall, but he stooped very low; he was anointed by God, but was possessed by Satan. He was a king, yet he was a slave to his own passions. • In His own Words, he “played the fool!”
People Today Play “the fool” when they commit the same Sins! • Disobedience to God, I Sam. 15:22,23. • When filled with envy and jealousy, I Samuel 18:7-9; James. 3:16. • When anger remains in their hearts. • When they seek direction from the wrong source, I Samuel 28. • When right feelings are not translated into the right deeds, I Samuel 24: 16,17.
People Today “Play the Fool” when: • They refuse to use their abilities for God’s glory, Luke 12:48; Matthew 25:14-30. • They do not honor their wedding vows. Matthew 19:6; Eccl. 5:1,2. • They waste their bodies on alcohol and other drugs, Romans 13:14. • “I’m not hurting anyone but myself” is a big lie!
People Today “Play the Fool” when: • They put off obedience to the Gospel! • Worse than playing Russian Roulette! • They deny the existence of God, Psalm 14:1; Romans 1:20-22. • They do not Build upon the Proper Foundation, Matthew 7:24-27.
Conclusion: • Someone has said that “fools are not born; they are made, and generally they are self-made!” Hell will be filled with people who “played the fool,” with people who were “self-made” fools! • Don’t be a fool! • Obey God!