Read 1
Samuel 15-16 & Luke
14:25-35
To discover:
As you read consider what God desires from his kings.
To ponder:
With chapter 13, chapter 15 acts as
a second witness to Saul’s disobedience of God, with the general unfitness of
his character displayed in-between. The war against the Amalekites is one of
divine judgement for standing against Israel
after she left Egypt
(Ex 17v8-16). Indeed, Saul’s warning of the Kenites shows it was specific to
the Amalekites, and Agag’s death, a just punishment of a violent man (15v2,
33). The event fulfils God’s word to Moses (Ex 17v14), his promise to curse
those who curse (ie. are against) Abraham’s descendents (Gen 12v1-3), and his
prophecy through Balaam that an Israelite king would destroy Amalek (Num
24v27-20). The very act therefore showed the authority and certainity of God’s
word. However, Saul, again, disobeyed it, taking Agag alive and keeping the
best of the plunder.
So
the LORD is “grieved” that he made Saul king, describing his disobedience as
“turning away” from him as God. Samuel’s night in prayer probably reflects his
confusion, having previously been told to make Saul king. The fitness of God’s
decision however is proved the next morning when it is reported Saul has made
“a monument in his own honour,” like those at Babel
seeking glory for himself not God. And Saul just doesn’t get the seriousness of
disobedience. When confronted, he first claims to have carried out Samuel’s
instructions, then that the animals were spared to be sacrificed. He goes on to
assert again that he “did” obey, before admitting his disobedience but blaming
it on peer pressure! The conversation sounds much like that between a parent
and a child refusing to admit their fault. It is a terrible thing to deny or
excuse our disobedience before God who sees all. Rather we should confess and
repent of it.
Samuel is clear:
The LORD delights in obedience far more than the worship of offerings and
sacrifices. The latter shows little of the heart, whereas rejecting God’s word
is to reject him. And so in response, God rejects Saul. Indeed, Samuel promises
God will tear the kingdom from him and give it to a “better” neighbour. And
this is certain, because (contrasting Saul) God does not lie or change his
mind. With a hint of compassion Samuel then changes his mind about not going
back with Saul, and goes with him to worship. He then executes Agag and never
sees Saul again. So there is a rebuke here for those who go through the motions
of worship but are not prepared to accept and obey God’s word. However we’re
also reminded that with repentance, there is always the possibility of
restoration as a worshipper of God.
One detects
something of the frankness of Jesus in God’s rebuke of Samuel for wallowing in
his grief over Saul (16v1). Being sent to Jesse with the anointing oil, Samuel
calls the Bethlehemites to a sacrifice. In being “consecrated” for this, the
people would have ensured they were clean, perhaps by offering sacrifices for
personal sin, or by various washings for other uncleanness (Num 19). Thinking
as a mere man Samuel assumes Eliab would be king because his stature. But God
stresses whereas “man looks at the outward appearance, he looks on the heart.”
Emphasizing the point, the youngest and so least humanely suitable is therefore
chosen, brought in from tending sheep. The LORD declares “he is the one,” David
is anointed with his brothers and probably other Benjamites as witnesses, and
from that day “the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.” The final
event sees him introduced to Saul, patient in not asserting his right to rule,
tender in ministering to his torment, and supreme in being a means of being
able to relieve Saul from the evil spirits. In each sense he is a pattern of
Christ.
Praying it home:
Praise God for the perfect
obedience and character of Christ as his king. Pray for conviction of where you
might be excusing sin, and repent of it before God.
Thinking further: Does God
change his mind?
Today’s passage helps us resolve an
apparent contradiction in God’s word. 15v11 tells us how God changes his mind
over having Saul as king. But 15v29 tells us God does not change his mind! The
wider narrative helps us understand. God had always been using Saul to teach
the people a lesson about their motives in wanting a king, and about the sort
of king they really need. In other words, it had always been in God’s purpose
that Saul would fail and be replaced by David. The times when we read of God
changing his mind therefore describe the working out of what he has always
intended, but from the human perspective. God genuinely acts in one way, and
then because of human decision, changes to act another. In describing this in
human language it is therefore entirely right to say God changes his mind or
relents. However, we should know that behind the scenes this is all as God
always intended, for he “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of
his will” (Eph 1v11). Indeed, David can declare that “all the days ordained for
me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139v16). So
it was never the case within God’s eternal purpose that Saul might have obeyed,
his kingdom endure and David never come to rule. However, as our passage shows,
God so governs everything that he ensures Saul still acts willingly and so is
rightly held to account for his disobedience.
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