The Road to Gilboa

Gilboa, situated a few miles west of Bethshean, near the plain of Jezreel, is a hilly area in Israel west of Jordan where Saul and his sons were slain in battle. In consideration of the tragic events that have overtaken evangelical protestantism in our nation of late I want to consider Gilboa in a spiritual context, so as to get an understanding of the present times in which we live as born again believers.

Over the space of the next few blogs, we are going to trace the 'Road to Gilboa', the 'Ruin at Gilboa ' and the 'Recovery from Gilboa'. I want to particularly trace the course of evangelical protestantism here in Ulster over the past fifty to sixty years, and draw certain unmistakable parallels between first and second generation Free Presbyterianism, or Paisleyism, and Israel under Saul.

The road that Israel started on under Saul's command looked promising enough, it showed great potential and certainly did not appear to lead into humiliation and lamentable defeat. The Scriptures say of Saul, 'there went with him a band of men whose heart God had touched'; and so the parallel begins with those that supported Rev Ian Paisley in the Free Presbyterian Church back in the nineteen fifties and early sixties. Saul's former position was one of separation unto God and His Word, and uncompromising opposition to the Philistines of his day; and the same parallel could be drawn with Paisleyism a few decades ago, as it championed evangelical protestantism and opposed Papal error.

The path that led Saul and Israel to defeat, humiliation and immeasurable loss at Gilboa is easily enough found in first Samuel and is punctuated with the same turns that have led to the terrible situation that has overtaken evangelical protestantism in Ulster today. The opening verses of chapter 13 reveal Saul's personal ambition to be held in high esteem of men; ' and all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the Philistines'; vain glory soon led to the fear of man, and the fear of man led to rash self willed disobedience where Saul offered sacrifice rather than waiting on the LORD and showing respect to Samuel's office (ch13:4-16)

These subtle yet significant incidents soon turned Israel, under Saul, out the path of obedient service to God and into the road that led to Gilboa and reproachful defeat. 1Samuel 14 shows rash oaths bringing faintness and uncertainty among God's people; such rash and callous behaviour soon led to wrong judgement being visited upon the faithful labourers by a headstrong nonspiritual oversight. 1Samuel 15 reveals how Israel under Saul's leadership adopted political expediency and rejected the Word of God. Israel became more politically astute and less spiritually minded; this is born out by Saul yielding to political pressure, sparing Agag and the best of the herds, and disobeying the commandment of Almighty God.

After this political alliance, Israel followed Saul more than they followed God; this resulted in jealousy and rivalry in the camp of God's people. When David defeated the Philistine giant, rather than united rejoicing among the saints of God, there was spite, envy and bitterness among the oversight. Such treacherous behaviour in the camp of Israel resulted in people like David being persecuted and chased out into the open field; then there was Doeg, slaying the priests at Saul's command.

While Israel, in Saul's day devoured one another, the enemy were gaining strength and encouragement. Unnoticed to Saul, the Philistines were equipping themselves with better weaponry; they were studying the evident weaknesses in the camp of Israel and preparing to strike terror among God's people; while Saul ridiculed, persecuted and destroyed Israel, the Philistines were closing rank and planing their attack.

By the time Saul went to Endor, the Philistines were in a very strong position and Israel were weak beyond measure. At Endor, Saul promised amnesty to the guilty lawbreaker, typified in the witch; God's law said she should die, Saul promised her life. Political association always demands compromise, and here are the actions of a man that had changed; once he destroyed the lawbreakers now he was instrumental in their release and protection. In a very short time, Saul was found on Gilboa, surrounded by fallen Israel.

We can trace the parallel path of evangelical protestantism in Ulster throughout this Biblical narrative ; it is easy to see how that when evangelical protestants seek a political mandate more than Divine approval, then what is sown by the flesh must be reaped. Ulster's Endor can be pin pointed at Belfast and St Andrews, where criminals were released from prison and even put into government; where humanistic equality legislation received evangelical protestant approval; then, on the other hand, Gilboa is found at Hillsburgh, where the justice system is to be handed over to a terrorist inclusive government, which is again supported by evangelical protestants. How can evangelical protestants support any form of terrorist inclusive government and claim to love the things that Christ loves and hate the things that Christ hates? In the next blog we will consider the Ruin at Gilboa.