1 Samuel 15:17-35 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 15:17-35. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
1 Samuel 15:17-19 (NIV)
17 Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.
18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’
19 Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?”
On verses 17-19: Samuel reminds Saul of three important facts: (1) it was because of God that Saul became king of Israel (v17); (2) even as king, Saul was still accountable to God for his actions (v18); (3) by not doing what God told him to do, Saul disobeyed God (v19). What can we learn from this? We are all accountable to God. All of us — including the most “successful”, powerful or experienced among us — must answer to God for the way we live our lives. As Paul says, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
1 Samuel 15:20-21 (NIV)
20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.
21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
On verses 20-21: By taking the best of the Amalekites’ livestock and sacrificing some of it to God, Saul thought that his sacrifices could pay for his disobedience, or at least draw attention away from his disobedience. Saul tried to sugar-coat his sin by making it seem like he was being very devout and faithful to God when in fact he was being the opposite. We too must be careful not to conceal sinful attitudes and actions under a shroud of sugar-coated spirituality.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NIV)
22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”
On verses 22-23: Saul was playing games with God, his pastor Samuel and the people. Saul thought he could compensate for his disobedience by making some spiritual sounding sacrifices. But Samuel saw right through the game Saul was playing. Samuel perceived that underneath Saul’s sacrifice lingo was an attitude of rebellion and arrogance (v23). Samuel’s words in verses 22-23 cut right to the heart: “to obey is better than sacrifice…For rebellion is like the sin of divination and arrogance like the evil of idolatry” (v22).
What can we learn from this? Beware arrogantly thinking that your “sacrifices for God” give you the right to disobey Him. We play similar games as Saul when we think things like:
– “I served in church last week so it’s okay if I skip church this week. I’ve earned that right.”
– “I gave a big offering earlier this year so it’s okay if I don’t tithe.”
– “Look how much I have sacrificed for God. God wouldn’t mind if I get into that affair.”
– “Look how good of a person I am. God should let me into heaven regardless of whether I have Jesus or not.”
When we start thinking in these ways, we play the same game Saul was playing, playing up our spirituality when actually we are rebelling against God’s Word. This arrogant and rebellious attitude led God to reject Saul as king (v23). Let’s be careful not to have the same arrogant and rebellious attitude, for it can do serious damage to us and our families if we are not careful.
There is no way we could ever pay for our sins by our own sacrifices. That is why Jesus Christ had to die for us. Only His sacrifice, not ours, was able to pay for our mistakes. So instead of bargaining with God or trying to impress Him with our sacrifices, may our focus be on obeying the One who sacrificed it all for us.
1 Samuel 15:24 (NIV)
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.
On verse 24: Saul finally acknowledges that he had sinned. Then Saul reveals why he failed to destroy everything as God had commanded — he was afraid of what the people would say. He was afraid that the people would not like him because it seemed like he was wasting wealth that they could have easily taken for themselves. Like the Pharisees in John 12:43, Saul loved people’s praise more than praise from God, and so he did what pleased the people instead of what pleased God. Saul thought doing this would make him a popular king, but ironically it was the reason his kingship was taken away. As Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” Don’t be ensnared by a fear of people. Instead, put God first no matter what and you will be safe.
1 Samuel 15:25-29 (NIV)
25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.”
26 But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!”
27 As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.
28 Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors–to one better than you.
29 He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.”
On verses 25-28: Saul begs Samuel to forgive his sin and to come back with him to the victory celebration that Saul had planned (v25). But Samuel refuses. Samuel declares that just as Saul rejected God’s Word, God had rejected Saul as king over Israel (v26). As Samuel turns to leave, Saul grabs the hem, or corner, of Samuel’s robe and it tears (v27). This was a timely object lesson. For Numbers 15:38-39 required the Israelites to tie tassels to the corners of their robes as a reminder of God’s commands. That Saul would grab the corner of Samuel’s robe (and presumably the tassels along with it) and cause the robe to tear was an uncanny and timely object lesson illustrating exactly what Samuel was saying to Saul: that Saul had violated God’s commands. Samuel picks up on that object lesson and says that likewise God has torn the kingdom of Israel from Saul on this day and given it to someone better than him (v28). He indirectly rebukes Saul by comparing him to the Lord, Israel’s true king and glory, who does not lie or waver morally the way that Saul did (v29).
What can we learn from this? To reject God’s Word is to reject God’s will for your life.
1 Samuel 15:30-35 (NIV)
30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”
31 So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him confidently, thinking, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel put Agag to death before the LORD at Gilgal.
34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.
35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
On verses 30-35: Despite knowing how much he had displeased God and Samuel, Saul was still more concerned about looking good in front of the elders and the people. So he says to Samuel, “please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel” (v30) by going to the victory celebration. Had Saul genuinely repented, perhaps things would have ended up differently for Saul.
Samuel decides to go with Saul (v31) even though he previously said he wouldn’t (v26). Why would Samuel change his mind? I believe verses 32-33 give us the answer: it’s because Samuel realized that, contrary to God’s command, Saul had kept Agag king of the Amalekites alive, probably so that he could parade him around at the victory celebration like a trophy. So Samuel decides to execute Agag (v32-33), finishing the job that Saul was unwilling to do. This would be the last time Samuel and Saul would see each other, as each would return to their own hometowns (v34-35).
What can we learn from this? There are good works which God made you to do. If you refuse to do them or if you are more concerned with how you look in front of others, you and those in your care will lose out, and God will have no choice but to find another way to accomplish those works through someone else.
Heavenly Father, may I not be arrogant and rebellious, thinking that my “sacrifices” for You somehow compensate for my disobedience to You. May I always remember that it was Your Son Jesus Christ and HIS sacrifice alone that paid for all of my sins. Since it is Jesus Christ who loved me, saved me and set me free, may I not be ensnared by a fear of people. Instead, may I focus on living for the One who sacrificed it all for me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
