1 Samuel 15

David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin

1 Samuel 15

Guzik - We are close to God’s heart when the things that grieve Him grieve us, and the things that please God please us. Bob Roe has an interesting comment - In verse 11 Samuel himself is greatly distressed that God regrets having made Saul king. Why? Samuel, a known prophet of God, has publicly anointed Saul and publicly declared to the people, "This is the king God has given you." Well, remember Samuel is oriental. He is Mideastern and "face" is very important to them. He has publicly proclaimed, "This is God's man." Now God has said, "This is not God's man." How does that make him look? The flesh is still the flesh even in a prophet of God. Turned back (turn away) (07725) shub/sub s is a common verb (over 1000x) which has the basic meaning of the verb is movement back to the point of departure. Thus the idea is to turn, to return, to go back, to do again, to change, to withdraw, to bring back, to reestablish, to be returned, to bring back, to take, to restore, to recompense, to answer, to hinder. Distressed (became angry) (02734) charah primarily refers to anger, to burn or be kindled with anger, and in the Hithpael, charah is used 4x (Ps 37:1, 7,8, Pr 24:19) always meaning "to worry" and describing the agitation, irritation or vexation resulting from active worry. Charah is used in reference to the anger of both man and God. Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask - scroll to page 126 1 SAMUEL 15:11—How can God say that He regretted setting up Saul to be king in Israel? PROBLEM: After Saul had failed to carry out God’s command to utterly destroy the Amalekites, God said to Samuel, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king” (1 Sam. 15:11). However, in 1 Samuel 15:29, Samuel states that God is not a man that He should repent. How can God say that He regretted setting up Saul as king when other passages assert that God does not repent or change His mind? SOLUTION: The statement which God made to Samuel does not mean that God relented or changed His mind, but that God was expressing deep emotional sorrow over Saul’s failure and the trouble that it would bring upon Israel. God selected Saul to be king in Israel to accomplish certain tasks for which Saul was well suited. To regret some course of action which had to be taken is an experience we have all had. God does not actually change His mind (see comments under Ex. 32:14), but He does experience deep emotional sorrow over the things which people do. Gleason Archer - Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties - Scroll to page 178- In 1 Samuel 15:11 God is said to be sorry that He had ever set up Saul as king over Israel. Does this imply that God did not know in advance how poorly Saul would perform and that He had made a mistake in choosing him in the first place? Could this be a mere human interpretation of God’s feelings in this matter? Even though God, who knows all things, surely knew in advance that Saul the son of Kish would utterly fail in his duties of kingship during the later years of his reign, He nevertheless saw fit to use Saul in his earlier years to deliver Israel from its pagan foes. Saul proved to be an effective leader in coping with the Ammonites, the Amalekites, and the Philistines and inspiring the Twelve Tribes to new courage and pride in their nationhood. But God foreknew that Saul would fall into disobedience and rebellion and that He would have to discard Saul completely in favor of David the son of Jesse. In fact, God made it clear through Jacob’s deathbed prophecy (Gen. 49:8–10) that Judah was to supply the permanent royal line for the covenant nation of Israel. Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin, not Judah (as David was); so there could have been no doubt as to what God’s choice would be. Nevertheless, it was a matter of deep regret that Saul would disregard the instructions God had given him through Samuel and that he would substitute his own will for the revealed will of God. The Lord therefore said to Samuel, “I regret that I have made Saul king” (using the verb niḥam, a term that implies deep emotion and concern about a situation involving others). This does not imply that God was deceived in His expectations about Saul but only that He was deeply troubled about Saul and the suffering and failure that would come on Israel because her king had turned away from the path of obedience. Yet v.29 uses the same verb to state that God does not change His mind and adopt some plan other than that which He had originally conceived: “The Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind” (NASB). This statement was unquestionably made by the prophet Samuel under divine inspiration and does not represent some fallible human interpretation, either in v.11 or v.29. Two somewhat different meanings occur for niḥam in the one and same chapter—a not uncommon occurrence in Hebrew words with two or more meanings. QUESTION - What is an anthropomorphism? ANSWER - The word anthropomorphism comes from two Greek words, anthropos, meaning “man,” and morphe, meaning “form.” In theological terms, anthropomorphism is making God in some way into the form of man. Mostly, it is the process of assigning human characteristics to God. Human traits and actions such as talking, holding, reaching, feeling, hearing, and the like, all of which are chronicled throughout both the Old and New Testaments, are ascribed to the Creator. We read of God’s actions, emotions, and appearance in human terms, or at least in words we normally accept and associate with humans. In several places in the Bible, God is described as having the physical attributes of man. He “sets [his] face” against evil (Leviticus 20:6); the Lord will make “His face” to shine on you (Numbers 6:25); He “stretched out his hand” (Exodus 7:5; Isaiah 23:11), and God scattered enemies with His strong arm (Psalm 89:10). He “stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth” (Psalm 113:6). He “keeps his eye” on the land (Deuteronomy 11:12), the “eyes of the Lord” are on the righteous (Psalm 34:15), and the earth is His “footstool” (Isaiah 66:1). Do all these verses mean that God literally has eyes, a face, hands and feet? Not necessarily. God is spirit, not flesh and blood, but because we are not spirit, these anthropomorphisms help us to understand God’s nature and actions. Human emotions are also ascribed to God: He was “sorry” (Genesis 6:6), “jealous” (Exodus 20:5), “moved to pity” (Judges 2:18), and “grieved” over making Saul Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 15:35). We read that the Lord “changed His mind” (Exodus 32:14), “relented” (2 Samuel 24:16), and will “remember” when He sees a rainbow in the sky (Genesis 9:16). God is “angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11), and He “burned with anger” against Job’s friends (Job 32:5). Most precious to us is God’s love, in which He predestines us to salvation (Ephesians 1:4-5) and because of which He gave His only Son in order to save the world (John 3:16). Anthropomorphisms can be helpful in enabling us to at least partially comprehend the incomprehensible, know the unknowable, and fathom the unfathomable. But God is God, and we are not, and all of our human expressions are intrinsically inadequate in explaining fully and properly the divine. But human words, emotions, features, and knowledge are all that our Creator provided us, so these are all that we can understand in this earthly world at this time. Yet anthropomorphisms can be dangerous if we see them as sufficient to portray God in limited human traits and terms, which could unintentionally serve to diminish in our minds His incomparable and incomprehensible power, love, and mercy. Christians are advised to read God’s Word with the realization that He offers a small glimpse of His glory through the only means we can absorb. As much as anthropomorphisms help us picture our loving God, He reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”GotQuestions.org 1 Samuel 15:12 Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told Samuel, saying, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal." BGT 1 Samuel 15:12 καὶ ὤρθρισεν Σαμουηλ καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς ἀπάντησιν Ισραηλ πρωί καὶ ἀπηγγέλη τῷ Σαμουηλ λέγοντες ἥκει Σαουλ εἰς Κάρμηλον καὶ ἀνέστακεν αὐτῷ χεῖρα καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν τὸ ἅρμα καὶ κατέβη εἰς Γαλγαλα πρὸς Σαουλ καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτὸς ἀνέφερεν ὁλοκαύτωσιν τῷ κυρίῳ τὰ πρῶτα τῶν σκύλων ὧν ἤνεγκεν ἐξ Αμαληκ LXE 1 Samuel 15:12 And Samuel rose early and went to meet Israel in the morning, and it was told Saul, saying, Samuel has come to Carmel, and he has raised up help for himself: and he turned his chariot, and came down to Galgala to Saul; and, behold, he was offering up a whole-burnt-offering to the Lord, the chief of the spoils which he brought out of Amalec. KJV 1 Samuel 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. NET 1 Samuel 15:12 Then Samuel got up early to meet Saul the next morning. But Samuel was informed, "Saul has gone to Carmel where he is setting up a monument for himself. Then Samuel left and went down to Gilgal." CSB 1 Samuel 15:12 Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, "Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal." ESV 1 Samuel 15:12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal." NIV 1 Samuel 15:12 Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal." NLT 1 Samuel 15:12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, "Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal." NRS 1 Samuel 15:12 Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, and Samuel was told, "Saul went to Carmel, where he set up a monument for himself, and on returning he passed on down to Gilgal." NJB 1 Samuel 15:12 In the morning, Samuel set off to find Saul. Samuel was told, 'Saul has been to Carmel, to raise himself a monument there, but now has turned about, moved on and gone down to Gilgal.' NAB 1 Samuel 15:12 Early in the morning he went to meet Saul, but was informed that Saul had gone to Carmel, where he erected a trophy in his own honor, and that on his return he had passed on and gone down to Gilgal. YLT 1 Samuel 15:12 And Samuel riseth early to meet Saul in the morning, and it is declared to Samuel, saying, 'Saul hath come in to Carmel, and lo, he is setting up to himself a monument, and goeth round, and passeth over, and goeth down to Gilgal.' Carmel: 1Sa 25:2 Jos 15:55 1Ki 18:42 set up a monument: 1Sa 7:12 Jos 4:8,9 2Sa 18:18 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Samuel 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day. | See Gilgal Just to West of Jordan River THE CRUCIAL MEETING OF PROPHET AND KING Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul - Samuel must have been exhausted having cried to the LORD the entire night. And it was told Samuel - NET = "But Samuel was informed." Who told Samuel we are not told. Saying, "Saul came to Carmel - This is not Mount Carmel of Elijah's day (cf 1Ki 18:20ff), but the city of Carmel located in the territory of Judah about 7 miles south of Hebron (see map above for Hebron located just west of the Dead Sea) and on Saul’s route home after defeating the Amalekites. Saul decided to stop and set up a trophy in light of his victory. and behold (hinneh), he set up a monument (yad) for himself - NIV = "set up a monument in his own honor" NJB = "to raise himself a monument" NAB = "he erected a trophy in his own honor" If this were not the inspired Word of God, it would be difficult to believe this statement. But it is prefaced with a "behold" calculated to get our attention, and that it does! Saul made a monument to SELF, which is another sign of Saul's crumbling spiritual character. What a sad, striking contrast Saul makes with Samuel who made a memorial in 1Sa 7:12+ "Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” Saul's monument said "Thus far as Saul helped us!" Woe! THOUGHT - Which monument have you set up in your life - one like Saul or one like Samuel? God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6+). It's too bad the proverbs were not yet written when Saul reigned! Pr 18:12 says "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor." Pr 11:2 says "When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom." Pr 16:18 says "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling." Pr 29:23 "A man’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor. " Gordon: “After his victory over the Amalekites Moses raised an altar (Ex. 17:15f.); Saul in a fit of apparent self-congratulation erects a stele (lit. ‘hand’; cf. Absalom’s monument, 2 Sa. 18:18).” (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel) Life Application Study Bible (borrow) - Saul built a monument in honor of himself. What a contrast to Moses and Joshua, who gave all the credit to God. THOUGHT - When you experience success, spiritual or secular, to whom do you "set up a monument" - God or Self? TSK has an explanation for monument which is literally the Hebrew word for "hand" - Yad, literally means (as the LXX. render [cheira,]) a hand; probably because the trophy or monument of victory was in the shape of a large hand, the emblem of power, erected on a pillar. These memorial pillars were anciently much in use; and the figure of a hand, by its emblematical meaning, was well adapted to preserve the remembrance of a victory. Niebuhr, speaking of the Mesjed Ali, or Mosque of Ali, says that, "at the top of the dome, where one generally sees on the Turkish mosques a crescent, or only a pole, there is here a hand stretched out, to represent that of Ali." Another writer informs us, that at the Alhamra, or red palace of the Moorish kings in Grenada, "on the keystone of the outward arch [of the present principal entrance] is sculptured the figure of an arm, the symbol of strength and dominion." What a difference from the words of Saul in 1Sa 9:21 (in response to Samuel's announcement in 1Sa 9:19-20) “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?” Can a humble person grow into a prideful person? That is a rhetorical question as Saul is a perfect illustration of this tragic change in one's heart from humility to pridefulness. Saul is no longer the same man who hid in the baggage (1Sa 10:22) the day he was anointed king, but is now into "self-promotion."

1 Samuel 15

Guzik - Pride and disobedience make us blind—or deaf—to our sin. What was completely obvious to Samuel was invisible to Saul. We all have blind spots of sin in our lives, and we need to constantly ask God to show them to us. We need to sincerely pray the prayer of Psalm 139:23–24: Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. THE INSIGHT OF SAMUEL 15:14–23 A. The BLEATING of the Sheep vs. 14–19 B. The BLAMING of Saul vs. 20–23 1 Samuel 15:15 Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed." BGT 1 Samuel 15:15 καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ ἐξ Αμαληκ ἤνεγκα αὐτά ἃ περιεποιήσατο ὁ λαός τὰ κράτιστα τοῦ ποιμνίου καὶ τῶν βοῶν ὅπως τυθῇ τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ σου καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐξωλέθρευσα LXE 1 Samuel 15:15 And Saul said, I have brought them out of Amalec, that which the people preserved, even the best of the sheep, and of the cattle, that it might be sacrificed to the Lord thy God, and the rest have I utterly destroyed. KJV 1 Samuel 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. NET 1 Samuel 15:15 Saul said, "They were brought from the Amalekites; the army spared the best of the flocks and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD our God. But everything else we slaughtered." CSB 1 Samuel 15:15 Saul answered, "The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we destroyed." ESV 1 Samuel 15:15 Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction." NIV 1 Samuel 15:15 Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest." NLT 1 Samuel 15:15 "It's true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle," Saul admitted. "But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else." NRS 1 Samuel 15:15 Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the cattle, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed." NJB 1 Samuel 15:15 Saul said, 'They have been brought from Amalek, the people having spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice them to Yahweh, your God; the rest we have consigned to the curse of destruction.' NAB 1 Samuel 15:15 Saul replied: "They were brought from Amalek. The men spared the best sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the LORD, your God; but we have carried out the ban on the rest." YLT 1 Samuel 15:15 And Saul saith, 'From Amalek they have brought them, because the people had pity on the best of the flock, and of the herd, in order to sacrifice to Jehovah thy God, and the remnant we have devoted.' for: 1Sa 15:9,21 Ge 3:12,13 Ex 32:22,23 Job 31:33 Pr 28:13 to: Mt 2:8 Lu 10:29 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries EXCUSE NUMBER ONE "THEY DID IT!" Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God. - Note the statement "they have brought them" and "the people spared" so that Saul avoids taking personal responsibility for the bleating sheep, etc. And then he rationalizes it (or justifies his disobedience) by saying they did it for the LORD, in order to sacrifice to Him. This would be like Al Capone saying he was going to donate some of his filthy money to the church for the work of the LORD. It is what we would call "dirty money" and the sheep and oxen are "unclean" clean animals, unclean because they should have already been "devoted" (this is one of the meanings of utterly destroy - charam) to the LORD. Note the phrase the LORD your God - This phrase is used 3 times by Saul in this chapter (1Sa 15:15, 21, 30). Surely this speaks volumes about his personal relationship with Jehovah! All the people of Israel had used the same description of God when they had asked Samuel to pray for them "Pray for your servants to the LORD YOUR God, so we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king." (1Sa 12:19+). THOUGHT - What a contrast Saul is with David, a man after God's own heart, who declared "The LORD is MY rock and MY fortress and MY deliverer, MY GOD, MY Rock, in Whom I take refuge; MY shield and the horn of MY salvation, MY stronghold." (Psalm 18:2) Eight times David referred to God using the personal possessive pronoun MY! What say you dear reader...YOUR God or MY God? Guzik comments that "The LORD was not Saul’s God. Saul was Saul’s God. The Lord was the God of Samuel, not Saul. In his pride, Saul removed the Lord God from the throne of his heart." Rod Mattoon - Samuel more or less says “You performed what? I hear sheep! Don’t lie to me boy!” This brings us to Saul’s next substitution. Saul replaces confession and admission of disobedience and sin with a bunch of worthless excuses. Saul says, “I spared the best animals for a sacrifice to the Lord!” This first excuse reminds us that it is never right (sacrifice to the Lord), to do wrong (keep the animals), in order to do right (sacrifice to the Lord). Common statements that are made by folks today are.… “I am doing this for the Lord or God lead me to do this!” when what they are doing contradicts the Bible. Beloved, God never leads us to contradict and disobey His Word! He does not contradict His own Word! In Saul’s case, “How could God bless a sacrifice that He has condemned?” (1 Samuel Commentary - RECOMMENDED - 616 pages - Go to page for list of multiple illustrations on page 596) MacArthur on your God - Saul’s blatant disobedience at least pained his conscience so that he could not claim God as his God. (Borrow MacArthur Study Bible) What a contrast is Saul "a man after man's heart" and David "a man after God's heart" - Saul says "YOUR GOD" three times in chapter 15. In striking contrast David says "MY" (first person, possessive pronoun) 8 times in 1 verse! Psalm 18:2 The LORD is MY rock and MY fortress and MY deliverer, MY God, MY rock, in whom I take refuge; MY shield and the horn of MY salvation, MY stronghold. THOUGHT - Dear reader, is your declaration more like Saul or more like David? Your answer, reveals the state of your heart! but the rest we have utterly destroyed (charam) - Note the "we" indicating he now includes himself in the "obedience." This is weak rationalization at best, complete lying at the worst. Utter destruction meant total destruction, not partial. Bob Roe on the pronouns THEY and WE - Notice again how beautifully the flesh rationalizes, how it never accepts responsibility for its actions. Saul says, "WE carried out the command of the Lord, but THEY spared the best." Typically the flesh will obey God as long as it does not cost anything. The people didn't mind killing the men, women, children, infants and worthless of the flocks, but when it came to the best of the flocks what happened? This is when the flesh will never obey God. When it really costs what you want, then the flesh springs into action. That is exactly what you see here. Guzik on the rest we have utterly destroyed - As it turned out, not even this was true. There were still Amalekites left alive. David later had to deal with the Amalekites (1Sa 27:8+, 1Sa 30:1+, 2Sa 8:12). Haman, the evil man who tried to wipe out all the Jewish people in the days of Esther, was a descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1+). Most ironic of all, when Saul was killed on the field of battle, an Amalekite claimed to deliver the final thrust of the sword (2 Samuel 1:8–10). When we don’t obey God completely, the “left over” portion will surely come back and trouble us, if not kill us. Brian Bell - Saul lied to himself(thinking he could get away w/this deception); to Samuel(who already knew the truth); & to God(by saying he spared the animals for sacrifice). 1. With Saul, it was always somebody else’s fault. Note: They, the people, we (1Sa 15:15,21) He was commander-in-chief, he could have controlled them. Rising To The Top Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit. — Philippians 2:3 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:17-30 “Lacks ambition.” That is not a phrase you want to see on your performance review. When it comes to work, employees who lack ambition seldom rise to the top of an organization. Without a strong desire to achieve something, nothing is accomplished. Ambition, however, has a dark side. It often has more to do with elevating self than with accomplishing something noble for others. This was the case with many of the kings of Israel, including the first one. Saul started out with humility, but he gradually came to consider his position as something that belonged to him. He forgot that he had a special assignment from God to lead His chosen people in a way that would show other nations the way to God. When God relieved him of duty, Saul’s only concern was for himself (1 Sam. 15:30). In a world where ambition often compels people to do whatever it takes to rise to positions of power over others, God calls His people to a new way of living. We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition (Phil. 2:3) and to lay aside the weight of sin that ensnares us (Heb. 12:1). Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things: Give heart and mind and soul and strength To serve the King of kings. —Merrill Ambition is short-sighted if our focus is not on God. 1 Samuel 15:16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Wait, and let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak!" BGT 1 Samuel 15:16 καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ πρὸς Σαουλ ἄνες καὶ ἀπαγγελῶ σοι ἃ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρός με τὴν νύκτα καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ λάλησον LXE 1 Samuel 15:16 And Samuel said to Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord has said to me this night: and he said to him, Say on. KJV 1 Samuel 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. NET 1 Samuel 15:16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Wait a minute! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." Saul said to him, "Tell me." CSB 1 Samuel 15:16 "Stop!" exclaimed Samuel. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," he replied. ESV 1 Samuel 15:16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me this night." And he said to him, "Speak." NIV 1 Samuel 15:16 "Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," Saul replied. NLT 1 Samuel 15:16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!" "What did he tell you?" Saul asked. NRS 1 Samuel 15:16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." He replied, "Speak." NJB 1 Samuel 15:16 Samuel then said to Saul, 'Stop! Let me tell you what Yahweh said to me last night.' He said, 'Go on.' NAB 1 Samuel 15:16 Samuel said to Saul: "Stop! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Speak!" he replied. YLT 1 Samuel 15:16 And Samuel saith unto Saul, 'Desist, and I declare to thee that which Jehovah hath spoken unto me to-night;' and he saith to him, 'Speak.' Stay: 1Sa 9:27 12:7 1Ki 22:16 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries UH-OH! HERE COME'S THE HAMMER! To drop the hammer means to punish someone, to crackdown on a certain violation or injustice! Then Samuel said to Saul, "Wait, and let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." - ESV, et al = "Stop!" BE QUIET! Samuel is teeing up the ball so to speak and he is getting ready the ball with his biggest driver!" What he was about to say was not his opinion, but God's verdict. And he said to him, "Speak!" - It is difficult to tell if Saul is so self-deceived that he is really eager to hear what the LORD had to say. Note Samuel does not say that it was related to him, so he may even be thinking that this was some positive news. 1 Samuel 15:17 Samuel said, "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, BGT 1 Samuel 15:17 καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ πρὸς Σαουλ οὐχὶ μικρὸς σὺ εἶ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἡγούμενος σκήπτρου φυλῆς Ισραηλ καὶ ἔχρισέν σε κύριος εἰς βασιλέα ἐπὶ Ισραηλ LXE 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said to Saul, Art thou not little in his eyes, though a leader of one of the tribes of Israel? and yet the Lord anointed thee to be king over Israel. KJV 1 Samuel 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? NET 1 Samuel 15:17 Samuel said, "Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD chose you as king over Israel. CSB 1 Samuel 15:17 Samuel continued, "Although you once considered yourself unimportant, have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel ESV 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, "Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. NIV 1 Samuel 15:17 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. NLT 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel told him, "Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. NRS 1 Samuel 15:17 Samuel said, "Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. NJB 1 Samuel 15:17 Samuel said, 'Small as you may be in your own eyes, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh has anointed you as king of Israel. NAB 1 Samuel 15:17 Samuel then said: "Though little in your own esteem, are you not leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king of Israel YLT 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel saith, 'Art not thou, if thou art little in thine own eyes, head of the tribes of Israel? and Jehovah doth anoint thee for king over Israel, When: 1Sa 9:21 10:22 Jdg 6:15 Ho 13:1 Mt 18:4 the Lord: 1Sa 15:1-3 10:1 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Samuel 9:21+ Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?” 1 Samuel 10:22+ Therefore they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” So the LORD said, “Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.” SAMUEL FIRST SPEAKS OF THE PAST FAVOR OF GOD Samuel said, "Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes (1Sa 9:21+), you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed you king over Israel - Samuel begins with two rhetorical questions to which Saul could only answer affirmatively. This is clearly an allusion to Saul's current sin, the root of pride, which had brought forth evil fruit. Saul was not "big" in his own eyes! THOUGHT - The problem with pride and us growing bigger in our own eyes, is that, by default, Jesus will grow smaller. The throne in our heart has only one chair and Jesus must sit on that throne! Is He your King? Underestimating Ourselves 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.” 1 Samuel 15:17 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Samuel 15:10–18 The young man became his team’s captain. The professional sports squad was now led by a mild-mannered kid who barely needed to shave. His first press conference was underwhelming. He kept deferring to the coach and to his teammates, and mumbled clichés about just trying to do his job. The team performed poorly that season, and by the end of it the young captain had been traded. He didn’t grasp that he’d been entrusted with the authority to lead, or maybe he never believed he could. Due to his failures, Saul was “small in [his] own eyes” (1 Samuel 15:17)—which is a funny thing to say about a guy who’s described as being tall. He was literally head and shoulders above the rest (9:2). And yet that wasn’t how he saw himself. In fact, his actions in the chapter show him trying to win the approval of the people. He hadn’t fully grasped that God—not people—had chosen him and given him a mission. What assignment has God given you that you don’t think you have the power to do? Why is it vital to have your identity based in what God says is true? Dear Father, give me eyes to see myself as You see me, and grant me the grace to faithfully carry out the calling You’ve entrusted to me. The Slippery Slope Of Success When you were little in your own eyes, . . . did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? —1 Samuel 15:17 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:10-23 Among the more than 19,000 original epigrams penned by chemist and writer Dr. O. A. Battista is this wise observation: “You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become uninterested in money, compliments, or publicity.” Unfortunately, just the opposite often happens when something we have done is praised and rewarded. A humble heart can quickly become a swelled head. Just before Saul was anointed king, he saw himself as a member of an insignificant family in the smallest tribe of Israel (1 Sam. 9:21). Within a few years, however, he had erected a monument in his own honor and had become the supreme authority for his conduct (15:11-12). The prophet Samuel confronted Saul for his disobedience to God by reminding him, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel?” (v.17). Self-importance is the first step down the slippery slope of what we call success. It begins when we claim credit for God-given victories and modify His commands to suit our desires. Help me, O Lord, lest my heart become proud, For all of my talents by You are endowed; Nothing I have can I claim as my own— What mercy and grace in my life You have shown! —D. De Haan True humility credits God for every success. 1 Samuel 15:18 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.' BGT 1 Samuel 15:18 καὶ ἀπέστειλέν σε κύριος ἐν ὁδῷ καὶ εἶπέν σοι πορεύθητι καὶ ἐξολέθρευσον τοὺς ἁμαρτάνοντας εἰς ἐμέ τὸν Αμαληκ καὶ πολεμήσεις αὐτούς ἕως συντελέσῃς αὐτούς LXE 1 Samuel 15:18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said to thee, Go, and utterly destroy: thou shalt slay the sinners against me, even the Amalekites; and thou shalt war against them until thou have consumed them. KJV 1 Samuel 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. NET 1 Samuel 15:18 The LORD sent you on a campaign saying, 'Go and exterminate those sinful Amalekites! Fight against them until you have destroyed them.' CSB 1 Samuel 15:18 and then sent you on a mission and said: 'Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.' ESV 1 Samuel 15:18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and said, 'Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' NIV 1 Samuel 15:18 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.' NLT 1 Samuel 15:18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.' NRS 1 Samuel 15:18 And the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' NJB 1 Samuel 15:18 When Yahweh sent you on a mission he said to you, "Go and put those sinners, the Amalekites, under the curse of destruction and make war on them until they are exterminated." NAB 1 Samuel 15:18 and sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction. Fight against them until you have exterminated them.' YLT 1 Samuel 15:18 and Jehovah sendeth thee in the way, and saith, Go, and thou hast devoted the sinners, the Amalekite, and fought against them till they are consumed; the sinners: Ge 13:13 15:16 Nu 16:38 Job 31:3 Pr 10:29 13:21 they be consumed: Heb. they consume them 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAMUEL NOW ADDRESSES THE PRESENT CHARGE FROM GOD and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go and utterly destroy (charam; Lxx - exolethreuo) the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated - Note 4 actions were required - go, utterly destroy, fight, exterminate. There is no response recorded from Saul regarding Samuel's reminder of Yahweh's clear command. Note the emphasis on utterly destroy and exterminated leaving no doubt that Saul was to leave no survivors. Samuel presumably expects an affirmative response from Saul, but he doesn't give him time to reply. 1 Samuel 15:19 "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?" BGT 1 Samuel 15:19 καὶ ἵνα τί οὐκ ἤκουσας τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου ἀλλ᾽ ὥρμησας τοῦ θέσθαι ἐπὶ τὰ σκῦλα καὶ ἐποίησας τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου LXE 1 Samuel 15:19 And why didst not thou hearken to the voice of the Lord, but didst haste to fasten upon the spoils, and didst that which was evil in the sight of the Lord? KJV 1 Samuel 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? NET 1 Samuel 15:19 Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the LORD's estimation." CSB 1 Samuel 15:19 So why didn't you obey the LORD? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD's sight?" ESV 1 Samuel 15:19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?" NIV 1 Samuel 15:19 Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?" NLT 1 Samuel 15:19 Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD's sight?" NRS 1 Samuel 15:19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?" NJB 1 Samuel 15:19 Why then did you not obey Yahweh's voice? Why did you fall on the booty and do what is wrong in Yahweh's eyes?' NAB 1 Samuel 15:19 Why then have you disobeyed the LORD? You have pounced on the spoil, thus displeasing the LORD." YLT 1 Samuel 15:19 and why hast thou not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah -- and dost fly unto the spoil, and dost do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah?' fly upon: Pr 15:27 Jer 7:11 Hab 2:9-12 2Ti 4:10 didst evil: 2Ch 33:2,6 36:12 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE FOR DISOBEDIENCE? Why then did you not obey (shama; Lxx = akouo) the voice of the LORD - Samuel's questions assumed affirmations from Saul, which lead to the crucial "why then..." question! but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?" - Samuel gives Saul the facts of the matter, to help him answer the question. The question is in effect a declaration of Saul's guilt of pouncing on the plunder, instead of obliterating the plunder, an act that was evil in the LORD's sight. As someone has said, secret (hidden) sin on earth is open scandal in heaven. Samuel is saying Saul was guilty of open scandal in the court of the Almighty in Heaven! At this point there was an opportunity for Saul to confess and repent, but as we see he missed the opportunity! "I Will Be Good" Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? —1 Samuel 15:19 Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:10-23 When Queen Victoria was a child, she didn’t realize that she was in line for the throne of England. Her instructors, trying to prepare her for the future, were frustrated because they couldn’t motivate her. She just didn’t take her studies seriously. Finally, her teachers decided to tell her that one day she would become the queen of England. Upon hearing this, Victoria quietly said, “Then I will be good.” The realization that she had inherited this high calling gave her a sense of responsibility that profoundly affected her conduct from that day forward. Our Scripture reading for today tells how Saul had been chosen from among the people of Israel as their anointed king (1 Samuel 15:17). Almighty God had honored him greatly in giving him this position as leader of His special nation. But Saul didn’t think about the kind of attitude that should accompany his high calling. If he had, he would not have pounced on the loot of battle as if he were the leader of an outlaw band (v.19). O Lord, you see what's in my heart, There's nothing hid from You; So help me live the kind of life That's honest, good, and true. —D. De Haan A child of the King will want to display the manners of the court. 1 Samuel 15:20 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I did obey the voice of the LORD, and went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. BGT 1 Samuel 15:20 καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς Σαμουηλ διὰ τὸ ἀκοῦσαί με τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἐπορεύθην ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἀπέστειλέν με κύριος καὶ ἤγαγον τὸν Αγαγ βασιλέα Αμαληκ καὶ τὸν Αμαληκ ἐξωλέθρευσα LXE 1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said to Samuel, Because I listened to the voice of the people: yet I went the way by which the Lord sent me, and I brought Agag the king of Amalec, and I destroyed Amalec. KJV 1 Samuel 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. NET 1 Samuel 15:20 Then Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the LORD! I went on the campaign the LORD sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites. CSB 1 Samuel 15:20 "But I did obey the LORD!" Saul answered. "I went on the mission the LORD gave me: I brought back Agag, king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. ESV 1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said to Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. NIV 1 Samuel 15:20 "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. NLT 1 Samuel 15:20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul insisted. "I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. NRS 1 Samuel 15:20 Saul said to Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. NJB 1 Samuel 15:20 Saul replied to Samuel, 'But I did obey Yahweh's voice. I went on the mission which Yahweh gave me; I brought back Agag king of the Amalekites; I put Amalek under the curse of destruction; NAB 1 Samuel 15:20 Saul answered Samuel: "I did indeed obey the LORD and fulfill the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought back Agag, and I have destroyed Amalek under the ban. YLT 1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul saith unto Samuel, 'Because -- I have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and I go in the way which Jehovah hath sent me, and bring in Agag king of Amalek, and Amalek I have devoted; I did obey: 1Sa 15:13 Job 33:9 34:5 35:2 40:8 Mt 19:20 Lu 10:29 18:11 Ro 10:3 have brought: 1Sa 15:3,8 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AMAZING ANSWERS! SAUL IS SO DECEIVED Then - Marks progression in this dialogue, Saul now taking the defendant's stand so to speak. Saul said to Samuel, "I did obey (shama; Lxx = akouo) the voice of the LORD - If Saul truly believed that he had obeyed, then he was truly deceived. On the other hand, he could be trying to rationalize his sin. After all he has now been caught "red handed" and cannot deny the evidence against him. and went on the mission on which the LORD sent me - In one sense he is correct. He was sent and he went. The problem of course was going on the mission is not the same as completing the mission, which he clearly did not accomplish! and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed (charam) the Amalekites.- What did Saul just say? This is an amazing admission that he brought back an Amalekite king and yet still has the nerve (or stupidity or self-deception) to say that he utterly destroyed the Amalekites. The evidence that he did not accomplish this was standing right before them!

1 Samuel 15

Guzik - Religious observance without obedience is empty before God. The best sacrifice we can bring to God is a repentant heart (Psalm 51:16–17+) and our bodies surrendered to His service for obedience (Romans 12:1+). i. One could make a thousand sacrifices unto God, work a thousand hours for God’s service, or give millions of dollars to His work. But all these sacrifices mean little if there is not a surrendered heart to God, shown by simple obedience. ii. In sacrifice we offer the flesh of another creature; in obedience we offer our own will before God. Luther said, “I had rather be obedient, than able to work miracles.” (Cited in Trapp)

1 Samuel 15

Guzik - A rebellious, stubborn heart rejects God just as certainly as someone rejects God by occult practices or idolatry. It would be easy for Saul to point his finger at the Amalekites or the Philistines and say, “Look at those Godless idolaters. They don’t worship the true God like I do.” But Saul didn’t worship the true God either because the real worship of God begins with surrender. Because - Term of explanation. This seems to be a double explanation. On one hand, Samuel is explaining why Saul is guilty of rebellion and insubordination. On the other hand, this because introduces the clause that explains why God rejected Saul. The latter is probably the primary meaning in this context. You have rejected (ma'as; Lxx = exoutheneo = despised, treated with contempt) the Word of the LORD, He has also rejected (ma'as; Lxx = exoutheneo = despised, treated with contempt) you from being king - To reject God's word is tantamount to rejecting God (cf Jesus = the Word - Jn 1:1+). You have rejected (ma'as) is translated in the Lxx with a strong verb (exoutheneo) which means to despise, disdain, consider of no account, treat with contempt, all of these nuances presenting a horrible picture of Saul's response to the Word of the LORD. In addition the Greek verb (exoutheneo) is in the active voice indicating that Saul made a volitional choice, a choice of his will to voluntarily reject God's Word! Incredible! Given statements like this, one has to question whether Saul was truly saved and headed for Heaven? Mark it down - if a person continually rejects God, God will forever reject that person! Guzik points out that "it would be almost 25 years before there was another king enthroned in Israel. Saul’s rejection was final, but it was not immediate. God used almost 25 years to train up the right replacement for Saul." Bob Roe suggests an interesting application of this verse - In verse 23 we have seen God reject Saul as king of Israel and yet Saul actually reigns for some time to come. We are going to see Saul used as a training tool for David. God chooses David and Samuel anoints him in the very next chapter, but Saul still reigns. In our lives why does God leave the flesh? God can do anything, so, why doesn't he remove the flesh from our lives and leave just Jesus Christ, the Holy One of God, as our new nature with no "Old Man" hanging around? We learn through struggle. We learn faith and obedience. God is going to teach that to David, and we are going to see a man after God's own heart as he learns it. Rebellion (04805) meri obstinacy, stubbornness, rebelliousness. "The term consistently stays within this tight semantic range and most often describes the Israelites' determined refusal to obey the precepts laid down by the Lord in His Law or Torah. This characteristic attitude was a visible manifestation of their hard hearts. Moses had the Book of the Law placed beside the ark of the covenant to remain there as a witness against the Israelites' rebelliousness after he died (Deut. 31:27; Nu 17:10). The Lord rejected Saul as king over Israel because of his rebellion against the command the Lord had earlier given him (1 Sam. 15:23). Continually in Ezekiel, the Lord refers to Israel as the "house of rebelliousness" (= rebellious people; Ezek. 2:5-8; 3:9, 26, 27; 12:2, 3, 9)." (Baker - CWD) Divination (07081) qesem is a masculine noun meaning divination. This word described the cultic practice of foreign nations that was prohibited in Israel (Deut. 18:10); and considered a great sin (1 Sam. 15:23; 2 Kgs. 17:17). False prophets used divination to prophesy in God’s name, but God identified them as false (Jer. 14:14; Ezek. 13:6); and pledged to remove such practices from Israel (Ezek. 13:23). Several verses give some insight into what this actual practice looked like: it was compared to a kingly sentence (Prov. 16:10); and was used to discern between two choices (Ezek. 21:21[26], 22[27]).(Word Study OT) Insubordination (06484)(patsar) means to push, to press, to peck at. It can describe a literal pushing (Ge 19:9). Figuratively it means to urge someone to do something (Ge 33:11, Jdg 19:7). Negatively it means to rebel against someone - defiance to authority, refusal to obey orders (it is like "spiritual mutiny"). Gilbrant - Pātsar occurs in relation to one person or group urging on another to a particular action. For example, Lot urged the two angels to stay with him instead of spending the night in downtown Sodom (Gen. 19:3); the homosexual men of Sodom then urged Lot to bring out his guests so they could have sexual relations with them (v. 9); Jacob urged Esau to accept his gift and make peace between them (33:11); the company of prophets persisted in urging Elisha to search for Elijah, who had been taken away (2 Ki. 2:17). Finally, Elisha rejected Naaman's gift of money after he was healed of leprosy (2Ki 5:16). Brown-Driver-Briggs maintains that the only instance of pātsar in the Hiphil stem, found in 1 Sam. 15:23, gives the sense of arrogance and presumption, or literally, "to display pushing." The context of this passage is that because Saul rejected the commands of the Lord, the Lord, in turn, would reject Saul as king. Samuel stated that the offerings and sacrifices of Saul were in vain, because his heart was full of rebellion and arrogance (vv. 22f). (Complete Biblical Library) Patsar - 7v - insubordination(1), pressed(1), urged(5). Gen. 19:3; Gen. 19:9; Gen. 33:11; Jdg. 19:7; 1 Sam. 15:23; 2 Ki. 2:17; 2 Ki. 5:16 Rejected (cast off, despised) (03988) ma'as means to reject, to despise, to abhor, to refuse. The primary idea is to treat as loathsome (that which is repulsive, detestable, causing disgust). Ma'as is used of men rejecting God's law, ordinances or statutes (2Ki 17:15, Lev 26:15, 43, Isa 5:24, Ezek 5:6, 20:13, 16, 24, Amos 2:4. Saul rejected God's word - 1Sa 15:26. Isa 30:12, cp Hos 4:6), of rejecting Him (Nu 11:20 = Lxx = apeitheo - disobeyed, 1Sa 10:19), the promised land by the first generation (Nu 14:31, cp Ps 106:23). God told Samuel "they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them." (1Sa 8:7) 2Ki 17:20 says Jehovah "rejected all the descendants of Israel." (cp Hos 9:17) Used of Jehovah saying He would "cast off Jerusalem." (2Ki 23:27 contrast Jer 31:38-40) We are not to "despise the discipline of the Almighty." (Job 5:17, Pr 3:11, 15:32) After Job sees God, he says "therefore I retract and I repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:6) Used of a reprobate (Ps 15:4). In a clear Messianic prophecy Psalms 118:22 = "The stone which the builders rejected (apodokimazo - regard as unworthy after testing) Has become the chief corner stone." Evil should be refused or rejected (Isa 7:15, 16). Ma'as - 67v - abhorred(1), cast them away(1), cast away(1), cast off(2), completely rejected(1), despise(6), despised(4), despises(2), despising(1), disdained(1), refuse(2), reject(8), rejected(37), rejects(1), reprobate(1), retract(1), utterly rejected(1), waste away(1). Lev. 26:15; Lev. 26:43; Lev. 26:44; Num. 11:20; Num. 14:31; Jdg. 9:38; 1 Sam. 8:7; 1 Sam. 10:19; 1 Sam. 15:23; 1 Sam. 15:26; 1 Sam. 16:1; 1 Sam. 16:7; 2 Ki. 17:15; 2 Ki. 17:20; 2 Ki. 23:27; Job 5:17; Job 7:16; Job 8:20; Job 9:21; Job 10:3; Job 19:18; Job 30:1; Job 31:13; Job 34:33; Job 36:5; Job 42:6; Ps. 15:4; Ps. 36:4; Ps. 53:5; Ps. 78:59; Ps. 78:67; Ps. 89:38; Ps. 106:24; Ps. 118:22; Prov. 3:11; Prov. 15:32; Isa. 5:24; Isa. 7:15; Isa. 7:16; Isa. 8:6; Isa. 30:12; Isa. 31:7; Isa. 33:8; Isa. 33:15; Isa. 41:9; Isa. 54:6; Jer. 2:37; Jer. 4:30; Jer. 6:19; Jer. 6:30; Jer. 7:29; Jer. 8:9; Jer. 14:19; Jer. 31:37; Jer. 33:24; Jer. 33:26; Lam. 5:22; Ezek. 5:6; Ezek. 20:13; Ezek. 20:16; Ezek. 20:24; Ezek. 21:10; Ezek. 21:13; Hos. 4:6; Hos. 9:17; Amos 2:4; Amos 5:21 G Campbell

1 Samuel 15

Guzik has an interesting thought - Why would Samuel say, “I will not return with you” when Saul just wanted him to worship with him? Because that worship would no doubt include sacrifice, and offering some of the animals that Saul wickedly spared from the Amalekites. Life Application Study Bible (borrow) - Saul's excuses had come to an end. It was the time of reckoning. God wasn't rejecting Saul as a person; the king could still seek forgiveness and restore his relationship with God, but it was too late to get his kingdom back. If you do not act responsibly with what God has entrusted to you, eventually you will run out of excuses. All of us must one day give an account for our actions (Romans 14:12; Revelation 22:12). Partial Obedience By Rev. Richard S. Sharpe, Jr. Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1–23, especially from verse 22 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 heed than the fat of rams. Introduction: Anyone who has children knows what partial obedience is. We can send our children to clean their rooms and they come out after a couple of minutes and say it’s all done. When we check, we find they’ve taken all the toys off the floor and thrown them into the closet; and that’s their idea of cleaning. The Lord gives us commands to obey. We think that we can just obey part way and the Lord will be happy. Saul discovered the hard way that the Lord doesn’t want partial obedience. As we look into this text, we learn what He expects from His people. 1. The Orders (vv. 3–5). God was not vague in His command: “Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” These people had not given the Israelites help when they were traveling from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan. The Lord waited until they had conquered the land of Canaan and established a king before He sent them on this mission. The orders were plain. We might think it’s cruel of God to have all the people of a nation killed, but the Lord knew what the descendants of this nation would do in the future if they stayed alive (Esth. 3:1). God, then, was more merciful to cut off the offspring of a rebellious nation than to allow them to continue to reproduce. They had passed “Redemption Point.” In any case, God knows every detail, and we can only guess at why He commanded as He did, but there’s no guessing as to whether it was the right thing! 2. The Battle (vv. 5–9). King Saul went to the valley outside the city of Amalek. He told the Kenites to leave the area before the battle because they had treated the Israelites well when they came out of Egypt. The Kenites left. Saul slew some of the Amalekites, but he took the king of the Amalekites, Agag, captive. They also saved the best of the sheep and other animals “… and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.” They didn’t obey the command. They saved the best of the animals and the king of the Amalekites. 3. The Confrontation (vv. 10–23). Samuel was told of the Lord to go to King Saul. He told Samuel, I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me (v. 11a). It grieved Samuel so much that he cried to the Lord all night (v. 11b). Samuel rose early in the morning and went to Saul. Saul claimed to have kept the command of God by winning the battle. What Saul didn’t realize is that God wasn’t interested in who won; He was interested in His will being done! Saul claimed he had saved the cattle to sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel’s response is an excellent lesson for us, “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 heed than the fat of rams” (v. 22). Conclusion: This historical account in the history of Israel has a lesson for us to learn. The Lord has not changed between Testaments. He is the same. He wants us to obey His commands on a regular basis. Samuel compares rebellion against the commands of the Lord with witchcraft and stubbornness against the commands of the Lord with idolatry. After accepting Christ as our Savior, we are to live in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. That life would include obeying the commands He has given us. Are we obeying the commands we find in the Word of God? Are we attending church on a regular basis? Are we tithing to the Lord on a regular basis? Are we witnessing to others about our Lord on a regular basis? Are we manifesting the fruit of the Spirit to each other on a regular basis? Incomplete obedience always boomerangs, and the sins we secretly tolerate in our lives can rise up when we least expect it and ravage us. One man told of a boa constrictor he had for a pet. His family had taken it in when just a baby snake and had raised it. It had become the family pet, and they had a cute name for it. But one day, he walked into the nursery to find that the boa constrictor had coiled around the child and was squeezing the life from the baby. It took all the man’s strength to pull it away and, in the nick of time, to save his child. He said, “We had thought it a cute thing, a pet; we thought we could control it, but it nearly ruined our lives.” I wonder if someone here today is tolerating some habit you think you can control. Ephesians 4:27 says, “Do not give the devil a foothold” (NIV). Ron Handley, the head of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, speaking at a conference in New Mexico, said that the subtlety of sin and of compromise is so great that he meets with a group of friends each Monday and they ask each other these ten questions: 1. Have you spent daily time in Scriptures and in prayer? 2. Have you had any flirtatious or lustful attitudes, tempting thought or exposed yourself to any explicit materials that would not glorify God? 3. Have you been completely above reproach in your financial dealings? 4. Have you spent quality time with family and friends? 5. Have you done your 100% best in your job, school, etc.? 6. Have you told any half-truths or outright lies, putting yourself in a better light to those around you? 7. Have you shared the gospel with an unbeliever this week? 8. Have you taken care of your body through daily physical exercise and proper eating and sleeping habits? 9. Have you allowed any person or circumstances to rob you of your joy? 10. Have you lied to us on any of your answers today.1 F B

1 Samuel 15

Guzik - As useless as the torn piece of robe was in his hand, so now his leadership of the nation was futile. Now he ruled against God, not for Him. Just as the robe tore because Saul grasped it too tightly, so his tight grip on pride and stubbornness meant the kingdom would be taken away from him. In this respect Saul was the opposite of Jesus, of whom it is said He had always been God by nature, did not cling to His prerogatives as God’s Equal, but stripped Himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as a mortal man (Philippians 2:6–7, J.B. Phillips translation). Jesus was willing to let go, but Saul insisted in clinging on. So Saul lost all, while Jesus gained all. Brian Bell - What was the losses Saul incurred for disobeying God’s word? 1. He lost his character; He lost his friend Samuel; He lost his crown. 2. He had so many advantages, but he didn’t cultivate his spiritual life. Have you ever thought, If I obey God & serve Him devotedly in all these areas of my life, surely He will let me have my way in this one area! James Smith - SAUL, THE CASTAWAY 1 Samuel 15 “Presume not to serve God apart from such Appointed channel as He wills … … He seeks not that His altars Blaze—careless how, so that they do but blaze.” —BROWNING. There is a zeal that is not according to knowledge, but which is a defiance of knowledge, a violation of the Word of God and of conscience. In seeking to serve God with our own will, while we reject His, we are as it were offering swines’ flesh upon His altar. The Lord will have His altar blaze, but the sacrifice must be blameless. It would seem from these words, “Now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord” (v. 1), that God was loath to withdraw His favour from Saul. Such is His lingering grace which gives room for repentance. Saul is to have another chance to show himself faithful to God. Notice his— I. Commission. “Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all” (v. 3). His orders were plain and explicit. Amalek, like Jericho, was to be entirely devoted to destruction (Joshua 6:17, marg.). Neither his feelings nor reason must stand in the way of the fulfilment of the divine purpose. When we have the Lord’s bidding to go, even though it should be on the water, it is ours confidently to obey. II. Disobedience. “But Saul spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, … and all that was good” (v. 9). The command was spare not, but he spared. He allowed his eye to govern his actions, so he walked not by faith but by sight. His natural instincts, as a judge of and dealer in cattle, overruled the direct Word of God; so he spared the best, and utterly destroyed the vile and the refuse. It is always easy to devote to God that which we do not want. Will He be pleased with the vile and the refuse while we spare the best for our own purposes? Whenever self-interest is allowed a place in our service for the Lord it is sure to be at the cost of faithfulness to Him. III. Self-Justification. This is a very sad and melancholy episode in the life of Saul. May we take it as a trumpet-warning against self-deception. The Lord said to Samuel, “Saul hath not performed my commandments” (v. 11). And when Samuel met Saul, after he had been triumphantly setting up a monument of his victory, he said with the utmost complacency, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord” (vv. 12, 13). At the same time the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen that he had spared as spoil were a solemn mockery in the sight of God. Like the crowing of the cock to Peter, they might have reminded Saul of his sin. But this was not all. When Samuel charged him with “not obeying the voice of the Lord,” he answered, “Yea, I have obeyed” (v. 20). It is pitiful in the extreme to be seeking at any time to persuade ourselves that we are right with God when He had emphatically declared that we have “turned back.” “Be not deceived, God is not mocked” (Gal. 6:7). The eyes of the Lord are upon us, as they were on Saul, watching whether we are faithful to Him and His Word. Every act of disobedience is an act of rebellion against God. IV. Confession. Samuel had to be faithful with Saul, although he was deeply grieved at his failure, and had spent the whole night in “Crying unto the Lord” (v. 11). “To obey is better than sacrifice,” he said, and “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” (vv. 22, 23). Saul discovered that the secret, selfish motives of his heart had blossomed and brought forth fruit that was sure to grow fearfully bitter, so he confessed, “I have sinned: I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord: because I feared the people and obeyed their voice” (v. 24). Ah I the secret is out. He feared the people, and the fear of man ensnared his soul (Prov. 29:25). Are there not multitudes of young, vigorous, gifted lives around us that are wrecked and ruined for the service of God through the very same reason—the fear of man. “Who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shalt die?” (Isa. 51:12). Any backboneless soul can be a coward. Put on the armour of God, and ye shall be able to stand in the evil day (Eph. 6:13). V. Rejection. “Samuel said unto Saul, Thou hast rejected the Word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king” (v. 26). To reject God’s Word is to be rejected of God (Luke 9:26). He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar. Saul’s seeming repentance and confession had come too late. The moorings of God’s guiding presence was cut; Saul’s life was now a drifting wreck. “There is a line by us unseen, That crosses every path; The hidden boundary between God’s patience and His wrath.” “The Strength of Israel will not lie” (v. 29). He abideth faithful. He cannot deny Himself. What a vain show our life must be if it is not lived for the glory of God. Saul may still retain the favour of the people, but, alas, the Spirit of God had departed from him (chap. 16:14). It is possible to be a Christian, and, like Saul, a “partaker of the Holy Ghost,” vet the life, through being disobedient to the heavenly vision, may become a wilderness waste to itself, a stumbling-block to others, and an offence to God. 1 Samuel 15:29 "Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind." BGT 1 Samuel 15:29 καὶ διαιρεθήσεται Ισραηλ εἰς δύο καὶ οὐκ ἀποστρέψει οὐδὲ μετανοήσει ὅτι οὐχ ὡς ἄνθρωπός ἐστιν τοῦ μετανοῆσαι αὐτός LXE 1 Samuel 15:29 And Israel shall be divided to two: and God will not turn nor repent, for he is not as a man to repent. KJV 1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. NET 1 Samuel 15:29 The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind." CSB 1 Samuel 15:29 Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes his mind." ESV 1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret." NIV 1 Samuel 15:29 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." NLT 1 Samuel 15:29 And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!" NRS 1 Samuel 15:29 Moreover the Glory of Israel will not recant or change his mind; for he is not a mortal, that he should change his mind." NJB 1 Samuel 15:29 (The Glory of Israel, however, does not lie or go back on his word, not being human and liable to go back on his word.) NAB 1 Samuel 15:29 The Glory of Israel neither retracts nor repents, for he is not man that he should repent." YLT 1 Samuel 15:29 and also, the Pre-eminence of Israel doth not lie nor repent, for He is not a man to be penitent. Glory of Israel De 33:27 Ps 29:11 68:35 Isa 45:24 Joe 3:16 2Co 12:9 Php 4:13 will not: Nu 14:28,29 23:19 Ps 95:11 Eze 24:14 2Ti 2:13 Tit 1:2 Heb 6:18 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE GLORY OF ISRAEL'S IRREVOCABLE DECREE Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind - NET = Preeminent One of Israel" CSB = Eternal One of Israel" KJV = Strength of Israel This Name for God, Glory of Israel, is used only here (albeit cf Micah 1:15+). Glory in general means to give a proper opinion of and in this context the proper opinion is that God does not lie or change His mind. This would be like a divine exclamation point on the rejection of Saul. Ryrie on “the Glory of Israel" - A unique designation for God, emphasizing His eternal nature. The title is particularly appropriate in this context, which stresses His immutability.” for He is not a man that He should change His mind - God is not like men who change their mind. The judgment on Saul was final. Guzik - This reminds Saul that the Lord is determined in His purpose and is strong in His will. There will be no change. NET NOTE on will not lie or change His mind - This observation marks the preceding statement (1Sa 15:28) as an unconditional, unalterable decree. When God makes such a decree he will not alter it or change his mind. This does not mean that God never deviates from his stated intentions or changes his mind. On the contrary, several passages describe him as changing his mind. In fact, his willingness to do so is one of his fundamental divine attributes (see Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). For a fuller discussion see R. B. Chisholm, Jr., “Does God Change His Mind?” BSac 152 (1995): 387–99. Related Resource: Immutability of God What is the immutability of God? | GotQuestions.org Walter Kaiser - Hard Sayings of the Bible - scroll to page 181 - 1Sa 15:29 God Does Not Change His Mind? Here in 1 Samuel 15 we have a clear statement about God’s truthfulness and unchanging character. But elsewhere in the Old Testament we read of God repenting or changing his mind. Does God change his mind? If so, does that discredit his truthfulness or his unchanging character? If not, what do these other Old Testament texts mean? It can be affirmed from the start that God’s essence and character, his resolute determination to punish sin and to reward virtue, are unchanging (see Mal 3:6). These are absolute and unconditional affirmations that Scripture everywhere teaches. But this does not mean that all his promises and warnings are unconditional. Many turn on either an expressed or an implied condition. The classic example of this conditional teaching is Jeremiah 18:7–10: “If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.” This principle clearly states the condition underlying most of God’s promises and threats, even when it is not made explicit, as in the case of Jonah. Therefore, whenever God does not fulfill a promise or execute a threat that he has made, the explanation is obvious: in all of these cases, the change has not come in God, but in the individual or nation. Of course some of God’s promises are unconditional for they rest solely on his mercy and grace. These would be: his covenant with the seasons after Noah’s flood (Gen 8:22); his promise of salvation in the oft-repeated covenant to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David; his promise of the new covenant; and his promise of the new heaven and the new earth. So what, then, was the nature of the change in God that 1 Samuel 15:11 refers to when he says, “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions”? If God is unchangeable, why did he “repent” or “grieve over” the fact that he had made Saul king? God is not a frozen automaton who cannot respond to persons; he is a living person who can and does react to others as much, and more genuinely, than we do to each other. Thus the same word repent is used for two different concepts both in this passage and elsewhere in the Bible. One shows God’s responsiveness to individuals and the other shows his steadfastness to himself and to his thoughts and designs. Thus the text affirms that God changed his actions toward Saul in order to remain true to his own character or essence. Repentance in God is not, as it is in us, an evidence of indecisiveness. It is rather a change in his method of responding to another person based on some change in the other individual. The change, then, was in Saul. The problem was with Saul’s partial obedience, his wayward heart and covetousness. To assert that God is unchanging does not mean he cannot experience regret, grief and repentance. If unchangeableness meant transcendent detachment from people and events, God would pay an awful price for immutability. Instead, God enters into a relationship with mortal beings that demonstrates his willingness to respond to each person’s action within the ethical sphere of their obedience to his will. When our sin or repentance changes our relationship with God, his changing responses to us no more affect his essential happiness or blessedness than Christ’s deity affected his ability to genuinely suffer on the cross for our sin. See also comment on GENESIS 6:6; JONAH 4:1–2. 1 Samuel 15:30 Then he said, "I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God." BGT 1 Samuel 15:30 καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ ἡμάρτηκα ἀλλὰ δόξασον με δὴ ἐνώπιον πρεσβυτέρων Ισραηλ καὶ ἐνώπιον λαοῦ μου καὶ ἀνάστρεψον μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ καὶ προσκυνήσω τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ σου LXE 1 Samuel 15:30 And Saul said, I have sinned; yet honour me, I pray thee, before the elders of Israel, and before my people; and turn back with me, and I will worship the Lord thy God. KJV 1 Samuel 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. NET 1 Samuel 15:30 Saul again replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the LORD your God." CSB 1 Samuel 15:30 Saul said, "I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the LORD your God." ESV 1 Samuel 15:30 Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the LORD your God." NIV 1 Samuel 15:30 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." NLT 1 Samuel 15:30 Then Saul pleaded again, "I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God." NRS 1 Samuel 15:30 Then Saul said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God." NJB 1 Samuel 15:30 'I have sinned,' Saul said, 'but please still show me respect in front of my people's elders and in front of Israel, and come back with me, so that I can worship Yahweh your God.' NAB 1 Samuel 15:30 But he answered: "I have sinned, yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Return with me that I may worship the LORD your God." YLT 1 Samuel 15:30 And he saith, 'I have sinned; now, honour me, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn back with me; and I have bowed myself to Jehovah thy God.' honour me now: Hab 2:4 Joh 5:44 12:43 that I may worship: Isa 29:13 Lu 18:9-14 2Ti 3:5 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MINOR FACE-SAVING CONCESSION This picturesque title is from Paul Apple. Then he said, "I have sinned - This is the second time Saul confesses that he had sinned. It strikes me that even here he still does not say he had sinned against the Most High God! but please honor (kabad) me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship (shachah; Lxx = proskuneo - bow down) the LORD your God - What incredible hubris (Overbearing pride,presumption, arrogance)! Saul makes two requests (in Hebrew both are commands!), to be honored before men (he is still focused on the "god" of SELF!) and to worship Samuel's God (the LORD your God.) This designation of God (YOUR GOD) makes one wonder if this man was ever truly regenerate? One writer actually uses this passage to say that "despite his flaws, he was a sincere believer in God." To call Samuel's God "your God" hardly is evidence to support that he was a true believer (I am not saying he wasn't but this verse does not truly support that premise). Guzik correctly points out that "Saul’s desperate plea shows the depths of his pride. He is far more concerned with his image than his soul." Matthew

1 Samuel 15

Guzik - Did this do any good? It did no “good” in gaining the kingdom back for Saul. That was a decision God had made and it was final. But it may have done Saul good in moving his proud, stubborn heart closer to God for the sake of saving his soul. At least it had that opportunity, so Samuel allowed Saul to come with him and worship the Lord. Brian Bell - LESSONS FROM OUR LORD! Here’s what we learn about our God: 1. He is slow to anger! a) God’s grace in giving Amalek so long a time in which to repent. b) He did not punish their sins the moment they transgressed. Ps103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. c) There came a time, however, when He decided to put an end to Amalek’s predatory raids. The cry of the weak & defenseless in Judah had come before Him. 2. God is sovereign in His power & authority. a) By giving Israel victory over an enemy far more powerful than themselves He demonstrated the awesomeness of His might! 3. God is also steadfast in keeping His covenant with those who revere Him. a) Whenever Israel kept his covenant, He gave them victory over their enemies, & rewarded them far in excess of what they deserved. 1 Samuel 15:32 Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites." And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." BGT 1 Samuel 15:32 καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ προσαγάγετέ μοι τὸν Αγαγ βασιλέα Αμαληκ καὶ προσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Αγαγ τρέμων καὶ εἶπεν Αγαγ εἰ οὕτως πικρὸς ὁ θάνατος LXE 1 Samuel 15:32 And Samuel said, Bring me Agag the king of Amalec: and Agag came to him trembling; and Agag said Is death thus bitter? KJV 1 Samuel 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. NET 1 Samuel 15:32 Then Samuel said, "Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites." So Agag came to him trembling, thinking to himself, "Surely death is bitter!" CSB 1 Samuel 15:32 Samuel said, "Bring me Agag king of Amalek." Agag came to him trembling, for he thought, "Certainly the bitterness of death has come." ESV 1 Samuel 15:32 Then Samuel said, "Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites." And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." NIV 1 Samuel 15:32 Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites." Agag came to him confidently, thinking, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." NLT 1 Samuel 15:32 Then Samuel said, "Bring King Agag to me." Agag arrived full of hope, for he thought, "Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!" NRS 1 Samuel 15:32 Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me." And Agag came to him haltingly. Agag said, "Surely this is the bitterness of death." NJB 1 Samuel 15:32 Samuel then said, 'Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites!' Agag came towards him unsteadily saying, 'Truly death is bitter!' NAB 1 Samuel 15:32 Afterward Samuel commanded, "Bring Agag, king of Amalek, to me." Agag came to him struggling and saying, "So it is bitter death!" YLT 1 Samuel 15:32 and Samuel saith, 'Bring ye nigh unto me Agag king of Amalek,' and Agag cometh unto him daintily, and Agag saith, 'Surely the bitterness of death hath turned aside.' Agag said: Jer 48:44 1Th 5:3 Rev 18:7 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AGAG'S ASSUMPTION: "I'M OFF THE HOOK!" To be off the hook is an idiom which means to allow someone who has been caught doing something wrong or illegal to go without being punished. Pardoned, vindicated, released; allowed or able to avoid blame, responsibility, obligation, or difficulty. Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites." - One has to wonder if this is one of the reasons Samuel returned with Saul, to compete the action which Saul had refused to carry out? And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." - The Living Bible says "Agag arrived all full of smiles, for he thought “surely the worst is over and I have been spared.” ESV = ""Surely the bitterness of death is past." Or as we hear people say "let's let bygones be bygones!" Agag assumes he is "off the hook!" THOUGHT - What are the "CANAANITES" or the "AGAGS" in your life? God gave Israel a promised LAND, but He gives believers a promised LIFE in Christ Jesus, by His Spirit and His Word. Are you living the abundant LIFE in Christ (Jn 10:10b)? If your answer "NO," could it be that you have refused to SLAY those SINS WHICH SO EASILY ENTANGLE YOU? (Hebrews 12:1+) (Are you entangled?) We think if we just pray, they'll go away. Yes, pray, but then take up the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD (Eph 6:17+) and slay them, kill them, have no mercy on those sins that come like raiders in the night (THAT'S OFTEN WHEN THEY ATTACK ME!) to steal, kill and destroy your promise of abundant LIFE in Christ. By the supernatural power of God's Holy Spirit and with the sword of the Spirit, slay every "AGAG" (See comments 1 Samuel 15:3ff, 1Sa 15:32-33+) that incessantly seeks to reign as "king" (Ro 6:12+) on the throne of your heart (MEMORIZE Romans 8:13+ so you can put that "SWORD" into daily practice -- and you will need to be alert daily, because these "KING AGAGS" are like cats with "9 lives"! Add the sharp sword of Colossians 3:5+ and use them daily!). Note very carefully the critical truth that killing the "Canaanites" and the "Agags" in your life is not "Let go, let God," but is more Biblically "Let God, let's go!" His part, your part. God's provision of power. Our practice utilizing His power. This is the Abundant Life Giving "Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible" (100/100) David Guzik makes a great point about destroying the Canaanites in the Promised Land in his comment on Deuteronomy 7+ You shall conquer them and utterly destroy them (Canaanites or "Agags"): Yet, God would not do it all for them. The extent of the work would depend on their faithful response to what God would do. Utterly destroy them … nor show mercy to them: This principle of battle until absolute victory is the key to victory as we take the Promised Land of blessing and peace God has for us in Jesus. We show no mercy to our enemies in the land, but we destroy them utterly. Many of us, truth be told, simply do not want to completely destroy the sins which keep us from God’s Promised Land of blessing and peace—we want to weaken them, and have some control over them, but we do not want to utterly destroy them. Destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images: We are especially to destroy anything which would lead us into a false or foreign worship. This radical, complete destruction was important because of the depraved nature of the worship of the Canaanites, who worshipped male and female gods of sex (ED COMMENT: THINK OF THE MODERN PARALLEL OF THE SCOURGE OF "FREE" [A LIE FROM THE PIT OF HELL - SIN IS NEVER "FREE" - SEE COST IN Ro 6:23+, James 1:13-15+] INTERNET PORN AMONG CHRISTIAN MEN AND WHICH SLOWLY GROWS LIKE KUDZU KILLING THE SPIRITUAL VITALITY OF GOD'S SOLDIERS, LEAVING THEM WOUNDED AND INEFFECTIVE IN THE SPIRITUAL WAR!) and who practiced human sacrifice with their own children. 1 Samuel 15:33 But Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. BGT 1 Samuel 15:33 καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ πρὸς Αγαγ καθότι ἠτέκνωσεν γυναῖκας ἡ ῥομφαία σου οὕτως ἀτεκνωθήσεται ἐκ γυναικῶν ἡ μήτηρ σου καὶ ἔσφαξεν Σαμουηλ τὸν Αγαγ ἐνώπιον κυρίου ἐν Γαλγαλ LXE 1 Samuel 15:33 And Samuel said to Agag, As thy sword has bereaved women of their children, so shall thy mother be made childless among women: and Samuel slew Agag before the Lord in Galgal. KJV 1 Samuel 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. NET 1 Samuel 15:33 Samuel said, "Just as your sword left women childless, so your mother will be the most bereaved among women!" Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces there in Gilgal before the LORD. CSB 1 Samuel 15:33 Samuel declared: As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women. Then he hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. ESV 1 Samuel 15:33 And Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. NIV 1 Samuel 15:33 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. NLT 1 Samuel 15:33 But Samuel said, "As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now your mother will be childless." And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. NRS 1 Samuel 15:33 But Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so your mother shall be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. NJB 1 Samuel 15:33 Samuel said: As your sword has left women childless, so will your mother be left childless among women! Samuel then butchered Agag before Yahweh at Gilgal. NAB 1 Samuel 15:33 And Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." Then he cut Agag down before the LORD in Gilgal. YLT 1 Samuel 15:33 And Samuel saith, 'As thy sword bereaved women -- so is thy mother bereaved above women;' and Samuel heweth Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal. sword: Ge 9:6 Ex 17:11 Nu 14:45 Jdg 1:7 Mt 7:2 Jas 2:13 Rev 16:6 18:6 Samuel: It has been a matter of wonder to many, how Samuel could thus slay a captive prince, even in the presence of Saul, who from motives of clemency had spared him; but it should be remarked, that what Samuel did here, he did in his magisterial capacity; and that Agag had been a cruel tyrant, and therefore was cut off for his merciless cruelties. hewed: Nu 25:7,8 1Ki 18:40 Isa 34:6 Jer 48:10 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAMUEL EXERCISES RIGHTEOUS RETRIBUTION But - Term of contrast. Here is another strategic use of this "hinge word" which results in a dramatic reversal of Agag's presumed pardon and Samuel's righteous retribution. Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal - Samuel points out that Agag is not some innocent victim, but to the contrary has murdered innocent victims! His punishment would fit the crime! Recall Samuel is an old man, advanced in years, and yet he is not too old or too weak to bring to completion the command of LORD to utterly destroy King Agag. As an aside, there was no record of Samuel worshiping with Saul, adding support to the premise, that his return with Saul was less about Saul and more about Agag! Guzik on before the LORD - Notably, Samuel did it before the Lord. This was not before Saul, to show him how weak and proud he was. This was not before Israel, to show them how strong and tough Samuel was. This was before the Lord, in tough obedience to the Lord God. This scene must have been shockingly violent; the stomachs of those watching must have turned. Yet Samuel did it all before the Lord. Bob Roe Here is a helpless man, probably in chains, whom Samuel chops up into little pieces while doing the will of God. That should give us some idea that our attitude toward the flesh should be utterly ruthless and without mercy. 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. BGT 1 Samuel 15:34 καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Σαμουηλ εἰς Αρμαθαιμ καὶ Σαουλ ἀνέβη εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ εἰς Γαβαα LXE 1 Samuel 15:34 And Samuel departed to Armathaim, and Saul went up to his house at Gabaa. KJV 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. NET 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, while Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. CSB 1 Samuel 15:34 Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. ESV 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. NIV 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. NLT 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house at Gibeah of Saul. NRS 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. NJB 1 Samuel 15:34 Samuel left for Ramah, and Saul went up home to Gibeah of Saul. NAB 1 Samuel 15:34 Samuel departed for Ramah, while Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. YLT 1 Samuel 15:34 And Samuel goeth to Ramath, and Saul hath gone unto his house -- to Gibeah of Saul. Gibeah: 1Sa 11:4 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SIN SEPARATES - SAMUEL & SAUL Then - This marks progression in the narrative. Samuel went to Ramah - He returns to his home with one great task remaining to be completed and that is to anoint Saul's replacement, a better man than Saul. but - This "hinge word" closes a door between Samuel and Saul. The name on the door is "SIN" because sin always separates! And don't miss the implications of this closed door! Samuel, the man of God, had the word of God from the LORD, which would have been invaluable to Saul in ruling Israel and fighting Israel's enemies, but now that door is closed and Saul is left to resort to his own mental machinations! THOUGHT- Beloved, don't shut the door on the "Samuel's" in your life! Find a Samuel (or Samuelette) and listen to their wisdom from the Word and your life will be all the better for it! (cf 2Ti 2:2+, 2Ti 2:22b+) Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul - Where he would finish up his reign as king, over roughly the next 20 years. For all sad words of tongue or pen The saddest are these: “It might have been!” --John Greenleaf Whittier: 1 Samuel 15:35 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. BGT 1 Samuel 15:35 καὶ οὐ προσέθετο Σαμουηλ ἔτι ἰδεῖν τὸν Σαουλ ἕως ἡμέρας θανάτου αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἐπένθει Σαμουηλ ἐπὶ Σαουλ καὶ κύριος μετεμελήθη ὅτι ἐβασίλευσεν τὸν Σαουλ ἐπὶ Ισραηλ LXE 1 Samuel 15:35 And Samuel did not see Saul again till the day of his death, for Samuel mourned after Saul, and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. KJV 1 Samuel 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. NET 1 Samuel 15:35 Until the day he died Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. CSB 1 Samuel 15:35 Even to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted He had made Saul king over Israel. ESV 1 Samuel 15:35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. NIV 1 Samuel 15:35 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. NLT 1 Samuel 15:35 Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the LORD was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel. NRS 1 Samuel 15:35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel. NJB 1 Samuel 15:35 Samuel did not see Saul again till his dying day. Samuel indeed mourned over Saul, but Yahweh regretted having made Saul king of Israel. NAB 1 Samuel 15:35 Never again, as long as he lived, did Samuel see Saul. Yet he grieved over Saul, because the LORD regretted having made him king of Israel. YLT 1 Samuel 15:35 And Samuel hath not added to see Saul till the day of his death, for Samuel mourned for Saul, and Jehovah repented that He had caused Saul to reign over Israel. Samuel: 1Sa 19:24 Samuel grieved: 1Sa 15:11 16:1 Ps 119:136,158 Jer 9:1,2 Ro 9:2,3 Php 3:18 regretted: 1Sa 15:11 Ge 6:6 1 Samuel 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Samuel 19:22-24 Then he himself (SAUL) went to Ramah and came as far as the large well that is in Secu; and he asked and said, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23 He proceeded there to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, so that he went along prophesying continually until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 He also stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” SIN CAUSES SORROW TO SAMUEL & GOD Another title might be "Saul Sans Samuel" - Sans is a preposition which means If someone or something is sans another thing, they lack the other thing. This passage could be summed up as Samuel's separation, sadness and sorrow over Saul! The Lord’s yoke never fits a stiff neck. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death - Saul reigned 40 years, but exactly when his fissure in their relation occurred is not certain. However clearly reigned much of his time without the input and counsel of the Word of God from the man of God, Samuel. Thus it should not surprise us to see foolish, godless, unwise behavior in the remaining days of Saul's reign. Note the time phrase until the day of his death which suggests he saw Saul again when he (Samuel) died. Ramah and Gibeah were less than ten miles apart, but they never saw each other again. Adam