“Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.” – 1 Samuel 10:6
Some passages in Scripture shine like a spotlight on the human heart, and 1 Samuel 10 is one of them. Saul was given what few men in history ever received—divine privilege, divine calling, and divine empowerment. Scripture says, “Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you… and you will be turned into another man” (1 Samuel 10:6, NKJV). God gave Saul another heart, signs to confirm His word, and a clear path of obedience. Yet Saul stands as one of the most sobering warnings in the Bible: a man who experienced God’s presence, heard God’s voice, tasted God’s power—and still refused to submit. Throughout Scripture, we see that God not only uses the enemy to refine His children, but at times He allows Satan to discipline those who have been given great spiritual privilege yet remain unmoved and unrepentant.
Israel’s story mirrors Saul’s. They were a theocracy—led directly by God, protected, provided for, and set apart. No other nation had what Israel had. Yet comparison poisoned their contentment. They looked at the nations around them and said, “Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5, NKJV). They didn’t want to be holy—they wanted to be normal. And the modern church often walks the same path. Instead of being shaped by Scripture, we chase the world’s models: corporate strategies, celebrity platforms, and entertainment-driven gatherings. None of these things are inherently wrong, but when they replace dependence on God, they become dangerous. God told Samuel, “They have not rejected you, but… Me” (1 Samuel 8:7, NKJV). When the church imitates the world, it is not simply a strategic mistake—it is a spiritual rejection of God’s leadership.
And so God gave Israel what they demanded. Saul looked impressive—tall, strong, charismatic—but spiritually he was empty. He hid among the baggage, uninterested in the things of God, yet God still drew him close, still gave him opportunity, still placed him in a position of privilege. Saul is a warning to every believer and every church: privilege without submission leads to judgment. Exposure to God’s truth is not the same as obedience to God’s will. Saul had the Spirit come upon him, he had signs, he had calling—but he never surrendered. And in the end, the very enemy God once used to refine him became the instrument of his downfall.
Spiritual privilege is not spiritual protection. Being around the things of God is not the same as submitting to the will of God. Saul teaches us that gifts, calling, opportunity, and even spiritual experiences mean nothing without obedience. So instead of craving what the world has, or elevating human leaders, or trusting in outward strength, let’s return to the true King. Let’s walk in humility, holiness, and surrender. Because the safest place in any spiritual battle is not in our strength—it’s under God’s leadership.
“The most dangerous thing a man can do is to hear God’s truth and remain unchanged.” — A.W. Tozer
surrendered devotions 