Saul Pleads For Forgiveness

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.