There is a really interesting correlation between Saul Vs. David, and The Law Vs. Grace. We know that Saul was rejected by God, and David took His place. Typically it was the son of the king who became the next ruler, but in this case God needed to do something completely different, and so He picked someone totally unrelated to Saul.
But go back with me to the moment where God ripped the kingdom from Saul. The week had started out pretty good! Saul was told by God to go completely destroy the Agagites. So he took his army, and they overcame them pretty easily. The problem was that they chose not to destroy them completely. There was a lot of bad, but they also found a lot of good. Or so they thought. They ended up keeping the good spoils, and destroying the rest. Not only that, but in his arrogance Saul brought back King Agag to show off.
Saul represents the law, because the law was unable to destroy sin. All the law did was magnify the severity of sin. Paul says in Romans 7:7 that he would not have known sin except through the law. Saul had the opportunity to do the right thing, but was unable to see it through. In fact, Saul magnified HIS OWN sin by disregarding God's command.
So Samuel comes on the scene and tells him what's up. He makes it clear that regardless of his motives, it is better to obey than to sacrifice. Our reasons can never trump God's expectations. In that moment, he tells Saul that God is going to lose the kingdom. But watch what happens as Samuel tries to leave:
1 Samuel 15:27-29 - And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”
Pay attention to the fact that Samuel's robe was torn as Saul grabbed hold of it. Samuel looks at him and says, "The Lord has TORN the Kingdom from you today, and given it to a neighbor who is better than you." Not a relative, your family is done sitting on the throne Saul! We're starting a whole new family!
The law that magnified our sin was never competent enough to completely destroy sin. The law was good, in fact Paul calls it holy. But it couldn't bridge the divide between God and man through the blood of goats and bulls. It's kingdom was not an everlasting Kingdom. At some point, the kingdom would have to be torn from the law for something better. Not a relative, but a whole new family!
Take a look with me at Mark 5 -
Mark 5:25-34 - Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
A woman comes to Jesus who has had an issue of blood for 12 years. Throughout the Bible, there is a repetition of certain numbers that usually have to do with a specific topic. In this case, the number 12 usually represents "government." The 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 disciples who will sit at the right hand of Christ, Jesus said that He had the power to call upon 12 legions of angels. In the New Jerusalem there will be 12 gates with 12 foundations. There are MANY more examples.
This woman had been suffering for 12 years (the old government), with an issue of blood. Hebrews tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. The problem was that this woman was suffering. The issue of blood here was NOT GOOD.
Do you see it? The law and it's requirement of blood was only making us realize how far from God we were. The law was unable to save.
So the woman comes to Jesus, and falls at his feet, touching the hem of his robe. Immediately, Jesus' power flows from Him into her, and she is healed. Jesus turns around, wanting to know who touched Him, and when He finds her, He says "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction."
This is an incredible moment where we see that Jesus is ripping the Kingdom away from the law, the old government, and it's requirement of blood that was never satisfied. The blood that kept having to be shed! For this woman who had suffered for so long, he heals her in a moment and the issue is stopped.
In 1 John 3:8, we are told that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. But unlike Saul, Jesus didn't compromise. He accomplished that which He set out to do.
The woman touched His garment. Notice that it did not rip. Why? Because His kingdom is everlasting, and no one will rip it away. Jesus is from the line of David, but He's more than David. He's the King that will reign forever. What the law could not do by shedding the blood of goats and bulls, Jesus did by shedding His own blood and fully destroying the works of the devil.
And then He hands the kingdom over to us. It wasn't just for those who had suffered under the law, it was also for those to come.
As soon as Jesus turns to leave the woman, He finds out that the ruler of the synagogue's daughter is dead. The ruler of the synagogue also represented the law because he was a teacher of the law. It's interesting that a man who represented the law knew that what He had wasn't enough to save His daughter's life. It went against the rest of the scribes and pharisees and even the high priest - but it wasn't the law He was interested in saving, it was His child.
The law produces death in it's children. Paul says that apart from the law, sin is dead. Interesting that the man's daughter was 12 years old.
And Jesus goes to her, and raises her back to life.
Jesus had just redeemed the woman who represented those who were currently suffering under the law, but then He raises back to life the child who represented the hopeless of future generations under the law. Where sin would have gained opportunity through the law to bring death, Jesus trumps sin and brings life.
And then He hands the Kingdom to us. John 14:12 - “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
In the Bible, Esther is one of my favorite heroes called out of a normal life. Her declaration of commitment to the cause of saving her people, even if it cost her her very life is the stuff heroes are made of - "IF I PERISH, I PERISH!"
