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GOD REJECTED SAUL AS KING
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16
1 Samuel 15:10-35

Hebrews 12:25-29

 

“See that ye refuse not him

that speaketh.”

 

GOD REJECTED SAUL AS KING
 
As a consequence of Saul’s disobedience, the Lord said, “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king…” (1 Sam 15:11). Gill commented, “This is not to be understood of any change of mind, counsel, purpose, or decree in God, which is not consistent with his unchangeable nature; but of a change of dispensation, and outward dealings, and is spoken after the manner of men, who, when they repent of anything, change the course of their conduct and behaviour; and so the Lord does without any change of his mind and will, which alters not; and though he changes the outward dispensations of his providence, yet he never changes and alters in the matters and methods of his grace; though he repented he made Saul king…” (Source: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible)
 
The disobedience was obvious. Samuel could hear the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen. When Samuel came to Saul, the king appeared innocent and declared before Samuel that he had performed the commandment of the Lord (1 Sam 15:13). Then Samuel asked where the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen came from. Saul justified his actions of sparing them by saying that the people were going to sacrifice to the Lord God (1 Sam 15:15). The command was to destroy till they were consumed, but Saul modified God’s command. He spared those animals and also King Agag because he feared the people. He was assured of victory in the war, but his disregard of God’s command made him a failure as king.
 
Samuel said to Saul, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam 15:22). It was a sin on the part of the king. His rebellion was like witchcraft and stubbornness. Saul tried to hold on to Samuel, and his skirt was rent. Samuel pronounced this as a sign of the renting of the kingdom from him. The rejection of Saul was complete as he did not understand that kingship required total obedience to God.
 
THOUGHT: In spiritual leadership or any such position, obedience to God must take a prominent place.

PRAYER: Father, help Thy children to take heed to all Thy commands.

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