1 Samuel 15:1-35
Q.1. What mission was Saul given? Why was he to destroy Amalek? Why were the Kenites spared? Did Saul obey? How did God and Samuel respond? – (1 Sam.15:1-11)
Saul’s mission was laid out very clearly by Samuel – 1 “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; now therefore, listen to the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel, and donkey (1 Sam.15:1-3). Amalek was the grandson of Esau who despised his birthright, by selling it for a bowl of soup (Gen.25:34; 36:12). Why did they oppose the vulnerable of Israel? Because – they had no fear of God (Deut.25:17-19). God was so incensed, that He told Moses – 14 … “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 16 Because his hand was against the throne of God – He said, “The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.” (Exo.17:14 & 16). The sons of Agag, king of the Amalekites, survived, through Haman, an Agagite (see book of Esther), who tried to annihilate the Jews. Later descendants included the Idumean Herod’s who tried to kill baby Jesus and had the apostle James beheaded in the Acts of the Apostles. They were sworn enemies of God. Clearly the command from God through Samuel to utterly destroy them was justified. God saw to it that the Kenites, friends of Israel, were all spared (1 Sam.15:6). The Kenites were a nomadic tribe related to Jethro (also known as Hobab), the priestly father-in-law of Moses (Jdgs.1:16). They survived the exile of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria, and the captivity of Judah to Babylon. After the successful campaign against the Amalekites, Saul disregarded the specific instruction from God through Samuel (1 Sam.15:8-9). God sent word to Samuel immediately about Saul’s disobedience. He declared – “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lord all night (1 Sam.15:11).
Q.2. How did Saul celebrate his victory? How did he greet Samuel? What question did Samuel ask? Did Saul repent? What was God’s message to Saul? – (1 Sam.15:12-23)
Rather than give the credit to God – Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself … (1 Sam.15:12). When Samuel arrived, Saul lied – “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.” (1 Sam.15:13). Samuel responded with the perceptive question – What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen I hear? (1 Sam.15:14). Rather than repent, Saul excused his disobedience, and passed on the blame to his soldiers (1 Sam.15:15). Samuel then brought the Word of the Lord to Saul, and lamented the huge change in the king – 17 … “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed you king over Israel,18 and the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.’19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” (1 Sam.15:17-19). Saul still refused to repent. He deflected blame to everyone but himself. Samuel’s response was classic – “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Sam.15:22-23)
Q.3. What does God require from us? Where was the focus of Saul’s confession? What was prophesied about him? Why did Samuel execute Agag? (1 Sam.15:22-35)
Samuel’s response reminds us that God is much more interested in a person’s obedience, than in his religious activities. To disobey is insubordination and no better than witchcraft (1 Sam.15:22-23). Eventually Saul stopped arguing and revealed how self-absorbed he was – because I feared the people and listened to their voice (1 Sam.15:24). He was still more concerned about impressions than truth, and cried – Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord … I have sinned; but please honour me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God (1 Sam.15:25, 30). He just did not grasp the seriousness of his sin. Samuel refused to go with him, and to pretend that all was right – … I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel (1 Sam.15:26). So intent was Saul on gaining Samuel’s public approval, that he seized his robe as the prophet went to go (1 Sam.15:27). This tore Samuel’s robe. Samuel responded – The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbour, who is better than you. 29 Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind (1 Sam.15:28-29). Though Agag thought he had avoided execution, Samuel obeyed where Saul had disobeyed, and beheaded the Amalekite king (1 Sam.15:32-33). This closed a sorrowful chapter in the life of Israel and its first king. It was recorded – Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel (1 Sam.15:35).