Original Broadcast: August 2009
Monthly Theme: King Saul
And Samuel said to [Saul], "I will not return with you. For you have rejected the Word of the LORD,
and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."
(1 Samuel 15:26)
Another day, another sin by Saul. Saul was ordered to destroy the Amalekites for how they had harassed Israel during their wilderness wanderings, but he kept the king and the best of the livestock. He completely refused to honor God's wishes in this matter. Therefore God rejected Saul.
Rejection by other people is devastating enough, but rejection by God is completely different. Dante summarizes this as he begins his descent into the Inferno. The sign above the gate of Hell said (Canto III, 1-9):
I AM THE WAY INTO THE DOLEFUL CITY,
I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL GRIEF,
I AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN RACE.
JUSTICE IT WAS THAT MOVED MY GREAT CREATOR;
DIVINE OMNIPOTENCE CREATED ME,
AND HIGHEST WISDOM JOINED WITH PRIMAL LOVE.
BEFORE ME NOTHING BUT ETERNAL THINGS
WERE MADE, AND I SHALL LAST ETERNALLY.
ABANDON EVERY HOPE, ALL YOU WHO ENTER.
God created Hell for those who rejected Him, Satan and his angels. But Satan made sure that they would not be alone. He tricked Adam and Eve into thinking of a better Paradise than Eden, but it ends up being "the doleful city."
Rejection by God requires you to "abandon every hope" because there is no second chance. But the Good News is that Jesus came to earth to be rejected for you. He suffered the Hell your sins deserve while He hung on the Cross. By believing that His rejection means your acceptance, you will not enter "the doleful city" but the city where the streets are made of gold. Amen.
