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SAUL’S INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE (2)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15
1 Samuel 15

Romans 13:1-4

 

“Let every soul be subject unto

the higher powers…”

 

SAUL’S INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE (2)
 
After that separation, Saul smote the Amalekites. Israel attacked in a large territory and overcame them. Saul had won but he began to modify the commandment of the Lord.
 
They took Agag the king alive. In addition, they took the best of the sheep, fatlings, lambs, oxen and all that was good. The people of Israel did this with Saul’s full approval. This was directly against the command of the Lord. The office of a king is a key position and the performance of the king depended on how he kept the commandments and guided the people in war. The Lord gave Israel victory in that war. But the initial failure of Saul pointed at the direction his future would go. Saul needed to know that he had to seek wisdom from God in order that his rule would not fail. In this instance, he chose human wisdom over God’s instructions.
 
The road to rejection began. The word of the Lord came to Saul through Samuel. It was not pleasant news to the king. It came because of his disobedience, was obvious. The Lord said to Samuel over this matter, “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night” (1 Sam 15:11). The Lord rejected Saul, and Samuel was grieved.
 
Samuel then sought for Saul, and the king reported that he had performed the commandment of the Lord. The Lord had spoken to Samuel, and the prophet also witnessed what the king had done. Samuel knew all that had happened and he spoke to Saul to show him the mind of the Lord. Saul should have learnt the lesson from Achan in the time of Joshua. Saul failed in this regard.
 
THOUGHT: Effective leadership comes by wise counsel.

PRAYER: Father, may I not ignore the counsel of Thy Word.

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