Rejection Continued
Alternate Title - King Agag gets a splitting Head ache
1 Samuel 15
- The LORD through Samuel gave Saul a straight forward task, leaving nothing open to Saul’s own interpretation. Agag and all the Amalekites were devoted to destruction, nothing and no one was to be spared. These people were judged just like the inhabitants of Jericho, Ai, and many of the other places. They had more than ample time to flee or change and they chose to stay and fight.
- Saul disobeys GOD yet again opting for his own version of what is right in his own eyes, and the eyes of the people.
- Notice in verse nine its recorded that what they (the people) considered despised and worthless they devoted to destruction and GOD had said it was all devoted to be destroyed. The Amalekites were part of that impure mixture, the line of rebels from before the flood, that though diluted through Ham’s line and Canaan’s curse were not allowed to continue, impure mixture.
- When GOD told Samuel what Saul had done, Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night. The next day when Samuel went to for look for Saul we read that Saul first went to Mt. Carmel and set up a monument for himself and then continued on to Gilgal. The first thing Saul says to Samuel when they meet, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.”, Samuel answered with why then do I hear sheep and cow noises? Saul tries for an explanation, but Samuel tells him to stop! Saul’s excuses and answers are not going to work this time.
- “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
- Saul willingly rejected (did not follow) GOD’s word, hence GOD rejected him from being King over Israel. This is not so different from people who will willingly reject GOD’s son and his free gift because they think their own way is better or because they choose to go along with others, who think their way is better than GOD’s.
- Samuel then turns to leave and Saul grabs his robe and it tares and Samuel says this is exactly what GOD was doing to Saul, he would tear the kingdom from him.
- Saul admits to sinning by fearing the people and obeying their voice over GOD’s word, but this does not help his case. Saul then pleads with Samuel to go with him to honour him before the elders, notice what Saul says next - “return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” This statement is very telling, it is not “my” or “our” God, but “your God.”
- This is an example that one persons saving faith can’t be used by another to follow or pay lip service to GOD. It won’t help to know your parents God, your Mentor’s God, your Pastor’s, lay leader’s, a friend’s God. It will always only be theirs and not yours if you choose like Saul to ignore him and go your own way.
- Finally Samuel passes the LORD’s judgement on King Agag. The kings sword was credited with making women childless (he killed men and children) now Samuel wasn’t splitting hairs, instead he split King Agag in pieces and finished the job Saul was suppose to do.
- Both Samuel and Saul parted ways, physically and spiritually and didn’t see each other again until the day of Samuel’s death. Samuel grieved for Saul, which is a picture I think of what GOD does for those who wilfully reject him and like Saul they choose to go their own way.
This reminds me of the verse in 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. In the end the choice is yours.
Next – Outward Inward and Oil
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