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More I Samuel commentaries
I Samuel 12:1-5
Transfer from Samuel to Saul
I Samuel 12:6-25
Samuel’s Speech at Saul’s Coronation
I Samuel 13:1-14
Saul Rebels Against God
I Samuel 13:15-23
Saul’s Predicament
I Samuel 14:1-15
Jonathan Defeats the Philistines
I Samuel 14:16-30
Saul’s Rash Oath
I Samuel 14:31-52
Jonathan is Rescued by the Troops
I Samuel 15:1-15
Saul’s Rebellion Concerning Agag
I Samuel 15:16-35
Saul Pleads for Forgiveness
I Samuel 16:1-13
Samuel Goes to Bethlehem
I Samuel 16:14-23
David anointed the new King
I Samuel 17:1-11
Goliath Challenges the Israelites
I Samuel 17:12-30
David sees a Mortal man defying God
I Samuel 17:31-40
God Controlled, Motivated, and Guided David
I Samuel 17:48-58
David Kills Goliath
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Saul Pleads for Forgiveness
I Samuel 15:16–35
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Svetlana Stalin, the daughter of Josef Stalin tells how her father lay dying, plagued with terrifying hallucinations, he suddenly sat halfway up in bed, clenched his fist toward the heavens once more, fell back upon his pillow, and was dead. The incredible irony of his whole life … More
In these verses Samuel tells Saul that he has a message for him from the Lord and Saul tells him to speak (v. 16). Samuel goes on to tell him that the Lord anointed him king over Israel (v. 17) and sent him on a mission to destroy the Amalekites until they were all killed (v. 18). Samuel questions Saul as to why he did evil by taking the spoil and not obeying the voice of the Lord (v. 19). He tried to justify his disobedience by claiming that the animals were taken to use as a sacrifice to the Lord, and were brought because of the insistence of the soldiers (vv. 20-21). But Samuel responded with a statement of principle that is timeless in its application: “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (v. 22). In addition to disobeying, Saul was guilty of rebellion ...? arrogance, and rejecting God’s word (v. 23).
Saul said he was afraid of the people and so he obeyed their wises (v. 24). He wanted to please everyone. Many people are like Saul. Even lots of preachers try to please everyone. It is true that he confesses that he has transgressed, but his repentance is not genuine (v. 25). The result for Saul was the Lord’s rejection of him as king (v. 26), symbolized by Saul’s tearing of Samuel’s robe (vv. 27-28). This repudiation of Saul and selection of a replacement (David) did not mean that God had misled Samuel or even changed His mind (v. 29). Saul has sinned and so God must deal with him accordingly (vv. 30-31). God had from the beginning chosen another, one who would be “after His own heart” (cf. 13:14; 16:1). Though still recognized by the people as their king for about 15 more years, Saul was deposed by the Lord right then, and Samuel executed Agag (vv. 32-33). The finality of it all was not missed by Samuel for from that day Samuel never visited the king again (vv. 34-35).
Saul begged Samuel to go with him to worship in a public demonstration. However, it was not because he had a truly repentant heart but because he wanted the people to think that Samuel still supported him. Samuel mourned for Saul when God told him he was taking his kingdom away.
Application
Samuel demonstrates a great example of love. I should never give up on people no matter how terrible and sinful they act. I need to continue to pray for their repentance and restoration to Jesus Christ.
I Samuel 15:16-35 (English Standard Version)
Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me this night." And he said to him, "Speak." 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. 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.' 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?" 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. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." And Samuel said, "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 listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may worship the LORD." And Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. And Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret." 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." So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the LORD. 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." 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. Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 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.
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