Saul’s Rejection

Hello:

In our text today, we are studying the response of Samuel to Saul’s disobedience.  

Here is our text:

I Samuel 15: 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. 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.” 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.” 33 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.

As you can see in our text, Samuel has rebuked Saul for his disobedience in dealing with the Amalekites.   Saul admits he has sinned and begs that his sin be forgiven.   He grabs Samuel’s robe and tears it and Samuel’s instructs him that just as his garment is torn, the Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from him today and will give it to another.  

Samuel demanded that Agag, the king of the Amalekites be brought to him so that Samuel could personally see that he be destroyed according to the original plan of the Lord.  The text says that from that day forward, Samuel did not visit Saul again yet he grieved over him so Samuel really did love Saul and it hurt him that God had rejected him.

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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