Obedience is better than sacrifice
1 Sam 15:1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
Samuel was God's voice to King Saul. It was through Samuel that Saul was made king, Now hearken unto the voice, the words of the LORD. Samuel wanted it to be clear to Saul that he was hearing from God.
There are many false voices in the world, some claiming to hear from God and some claiming to be God. We must discern and know the voice of the LORD.
1 Sam 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
1 Sam 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
God remembers the sin of the wicked, he is long suffering, but a time comes when he says no more. Time had run out for the Amalekites. They had not repented since the time when they attacked the children of God's covenant. This attack had taken place 400 years earlier, but the sins were not removed. God had sworn an oath against them.
Exo 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Exo 17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
Exo 17:16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Just what had they done?
Deu 25:17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;
Deu 25:18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.
Deu 25:19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.
They were as the devil is towards us, they came after the separated ones. Those who were weak or grieving or afflicted, these the enemy of our souls comes after, as a wolf separating and killing. The Shepherd truly was the LORD GOD, he promised to avenge his people when they came into their rest, the promised land. When the LORD says it is time to utterly destroy the enemies strongholds? Then it shall be.
We are free from God's wrath because of Jesus.
We come to our rest in Jesus, in the name of Jesus we tear down strongholds. Praise God for our rest in Jesus. In Jesus our sins are blotted out, God remembers them no more. God has given His word to us.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
The Amalekites did not fear or respect God and his people.
We know we are forgiven, in Christ Jesus.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
2 Cor 6:16 ... for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
The LORD used Saul as army commander in chief.
Samuel spoke to Saul, that he was to utterly destroy all that they have, and to spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. Destroy All of the people who opposed God's people, including their valuable animals. The ways of satan bring destruction. God wishes to make a point, utterly destroy the Amelekites, his word is to be obeyed.
God is just and wise and merciful, we do not need to question if this was fair because he is the judge.
Gen 18:25 ... Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Gen 18:26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
This was a test for Saul and it was a judgment on the Amalekites. They came against a weak people with their army, now a strong army of Israel would come against them.
1 Sam 15:4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
1 Sam 15:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
1 Sam 15:6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
The Kenites were of the same tribe as Jethro, Moses' father in law. He was called a Midianite, so They were probably the same people. They showed kindness to Israel in their journey through the wilderness, they accompanied them in their march as far as Jericho.
Judg 1:16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
God had not condemned the Kenites, so Saul allowed them to flee from among the Amalekites.
1 Sam 15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
1 Sam 15:8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
1 Sam 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Had Saul obeyed God in this great victory?
1 Sam 15:10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
1 Sam 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
The LORD repenteth, this word in the Hebrew meant: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted. The LORD regretted giving Saul power, for he was not obedient to him. Disobedience is what Satan did, in trying to take the LORD's position of authority. On board a ship, this would be called mutiny. When someone has submitted to another's authority, then disobeys the one in authority, many regrets come for having chosen them.
When we decide to follow Jesus, we don't look back, nor do we serve our own interests above the will of God.
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
A church full of disobedient members, who oppose the leadership are a curse. God calls those who sow discord among brethren, an abomination. (Prov 6:19)
Do we decide on our own way, or another way other than Jesus to be forgiven of sins? This is how important it is to obey God in all things. Saul's disobedience was no surprise to the LORD, yet his heart was grieved. Sin grieves the heart of the Holy Spirit.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
1 Sam 15:12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
A once humble Saul sees no wrong doing in himself, in fact he has set up a monument to himself. Another trait of a disobedient heart is to seek ones own glory, making themselves as if they were to be worshipped. In the Iraq war one of the first things to be pulled down was Sadaams' statues honoring himself. In a Christians life we must pull down self pride and follow God's gentle Spirit.
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
1 Sam 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
Saul praises the LORD, and sees no fault in himself. " I have performed the commandment of the LORD." Too many claim to hear from God, when they are following their own hearts, seeking their lusts, their own power and prominence.
1 Sam 15:14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
1 Sam 15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
Saul blames the people, but says it was for God they did this, to give him sacrifices. The rest we (including himself) destroyed, but he says it was all for spiritual reasons. He was speaking to justify himself, usually others see through our attempts to justify ourselves.
1 Sam 15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
Samuel was a true prophet, he does not say he has heard from the Lord unless he truly has heard. So many claim to hear from God, but not all are prophets. He spoke saying: stay, be quiet, and I will tell you what the LORD has said to me this night.
1 Sam 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
Saul was so humble at first that he hid himself in the stuff.
1 Sam 10:22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
1 Sam 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
Sam 15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
1 Sam 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
Samuel asks, why did you fly upon the spoil, plundering the best of the Amelekites? Saul speaks his own self deception, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, here is the king, and I destroyed them all. Not so, the king was alive and history proves that he did not destroy the Amalekites.
Later David would fight against the Amalekites.
1 Sam 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
1 Sam 30:2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
Saul was killed by an Amalekite.
2 Sam 1:8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
Saul was irresponsible.
1 Sam 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
Saul puts the blame on the people, but he did nothing to stop them. Earlier Saul was willing to kill his own son when he unknowingly disobeyed him by eating honey. Saul willingly disobeys God and covers it with lies.
1 Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.
This is a well known scripture. God wants us to obey him and not cover up our disobedience with a self inspired good work. Obey God.
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Saul's heart had become rebellious and stubborn against God. We don't do our own thing. It is not making things right by doing some religious thing. Rebellion against God's known will is as bad as witchcraft or following a satanic practice. Stubbornness is as idolatry, placing your own will as god above the will of the LORD. Saul had become no better than the Amalekites, because he did not serve the living God in truth. He did not seem to fear God. The spirit of disobedience was at work in him. We must obey God as obedient children.
Samuel and Saul
1 Sam 15:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
Saul gives a half hearted confession, but really it was not true repentance. Instead of being responsible for his actions, he shifts the blame. As Adam shifted the blame on Eve, Saul pretended to be an innocent victim of the wishes of the people, instead of being of the same heart. Saul was commanded by God to utterly destroy the Amaleks, instead of obeying, he did what he wanted to do, this was why Saul was in trouble. He made excuses, blaming others. We must not continue to sin by blaming others when we fail.
1 Sam 15:25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
This was not a true confession of a changed heart. God new that he was just saying words, with no inward change.
1 Sam 15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
Part of worship was to offer animals as a sin offering. Was Saul seeking to have Samuel sacrifice the animals of the Amaleks to justify himself? It didn't work. Samuel refuses to return with him. Does God change His mind? He had already judged Saul in verse 23.
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1 Sam 15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
1 Sam 15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
Oh, this must have filled Saul with anger and jealousy. For even though God had removed Saul from his anointing and appointed another as king, the flesh and the wicked heart of Saul would continue to hold onto power for another 20 years. We have witnessed evil rulers who hold on in power, they do much damage inflicting bondage to those under them.
We are bought with a price, Jesus has removed us from Satan's bondage. Let's use the authority he has given us to stay free.
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
1 Sam 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
The LORD GOD, s the strength of Israel, yes even today. Any power that would oppose Israel will meet with the strong arm of God.
Baalam, prophesied God's blessings on his people.
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Num 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
Yet, this wicked prophet for hire, gave advice to the enemy on how to cause Israel to turn from their God. Entice them through the flesh with their women. This way they will serve the foreign gods. What will satan use to try to get you to turn from the God of your strength? Samuel was a true prophet with a heart of love and obedience for his LORD.
1 Sam 15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
Saul's real desire was not to please God, but to be honored by the elders of the tribes and by the people. He sought political power at the expense of his relationship to the LORD God. Too often people "sell out" for the immediate gain of friendship, wealth or favor with man. his all belongs to the devil. In order to receive the world, you first must sell yourself to the devil. The apostle James reminded us of this.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
The devil tried to get Jesus to serve him, with the promise of all that is in the world.
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Saul was falling into satan's trap by disobeying God, he was turning to the things that would perish and ultimately it would cost him all that he is.
1 Sam 15:31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
Perhaps in worship Saul would seek to be closer to God. But, God had removed his spirit from Saul, he was on his own. When we are left to ourselves, we are in bad company. We need the Spirit of the Lord.
1 Sam 15:32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
Agag, was confident that this old prophet would let him gone. He pours on the charm. The Living Bible expresses the thought well: Agag arrived all full of smiles, for he thought “surely the worst is over and I have been spared.”
Agag would not escape God's judgment. The death sentence was still upon him.
1 Sam 15:33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
He was a wicked king governing a wicked people, the judgment of God under the law was death. As Elijah, the prophet, slew the prophets of Baal, Samuel carried out the judgment of God.
1 Sam 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 1 Sam 15:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
This was the last time Samuel and Saul would be together. God had removed his anointing from Saul, Samuel had no more personal dealings with Saul. Saul went to Ramah and Saul to Gibeah, a distance of only ten miles. They would never again see each other walking on the earth. Samuel continued to mourn and pray for Saul, perhaps he would yet return seeking to worship the LORD, for the sake of his soul. As for the LORD, he had forever removed the anointing from Saul as king. The LORD regretted having to make Saul King, was he fooled, no never. He regretted the peoples choice of Saul from the beginning. Sometimes we get the leader we deserve as punishment. The LORD regrets having to place such a one in power, but the people demanded their will to be done.
LORD, your will be done in my life. Bless us Lord, for we seek to glorify you. May we never bring sorrows or regrets to you.
What had happened here?
Samuel had given Saul God's direct command and Saul did not fully obey all that God commanded. He had not utterly destroyed Amalek and its possessions. These things were involved.
1 Self will, I will do what I feel is best2. Covetousness, they took the best of the spoil
3. Rebellion, seeking his own way
4. Blaming others
5. No true repentance
6. Desiring the favor of the people more than God.
7. Being content with worldly honor and power
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