I Samuel 15 contains the story of how Saul almost got it right, but didn't get it right at all. Samuel anoints Saul King of Israel. Saul is instructed by God to destroy the enemies of God, and all their possessions. (Ignore with me the harshness of the violence. I don't think that is what the story is encouraging.) Saul goes to war, but he keeps sheep and cattle for himself. When Samuel confronts Saul, he claims that the sheep and cattle are for a sacrifice to the Lord.
During this season of Lent, we devote time and effort to examining ourselves and our sin. One definition of sin is to miss the mark. Saul misses the mark. He is heading in the right direction, he is aimed at the bull's eye, but lands off target.
Sometimes our sin consists not so much of the acts in which we turn directly opposite of God, but of those situations in which we are heading the right way, but don't get there.
Being almost right isn't the same as being right. Being better than others isn't the same as being good. Read the story of Saul for yourself. Consider its lesson for you and the way that you conduct yourself in the days to come.
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