Rejected As King

REJECTED AS KING

a prayer to open

My Lord, my God, show me your heart. Ground me in your presence.

Draw me near and hold me close.

One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the LORD who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. . . . This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”

So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. . . . Then Saul and his army went to a town of the Amalekites and lay in wait in the valley. . . .

Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites. . . . He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. . . .

Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.

Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. . . . When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the LORD bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the LORD’s command!”

“Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.

“It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else.”

Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!”

“What did he tell you?” Saul asked.

And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’ Why haven’t you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight?”

“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

But Samuel replied,

“What is more pleasing to the LORD:

your burnt offerings and sacrifices

or your obedience to his voice?

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,

and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,

and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.

So because you have rejected the command of the LORD,

he has rejected you as king.”

Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the LORD.”

But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the LORD’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.”

As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe. And Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you. And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”

It’s hard not to cringe as we see Samuel confronting Saul for disobeying God’s clear instruction to destroy completely the Amalekites, a people who rejected God, opposed the Israelites, and generally terrorized other nations. Saul tried to rationalize his disobedience by blaming his soldiers and redefining God’s command. His attempt at repentance fell on deaf ears because what he really cared about was saving face with the people, not being restored to relationship with God. We are not strangers to this strategy. When we disobey God, whether knowingly or not, our first response is rarely repentance. We want to defend and deflect out of pride or fear or simple stubbornness.

• What do you notice about Saul’s response when Samuel calls him out on his failure to obey God’s command? When has someone called you out on a failure to obey God? How did that feel?
• Why is obedience to God’s Word and ways important?
• Reflect on a time when you have disregarded God’s ways—whether intentionally or not—and then sought to rationalize your conduct by defending yourself or deflecting blame. What do you think was motivating you? What do you think God desires in these circumstances?

Father, thank you for being a loving Father and providing a way to you through Jesus Christ despite all my disobedience and waywardness. Help me to follow you, and remind me that your Word and ways lead to life. Illuminate my disobedience or partial obedience, and by your grace, turn me back to you. Amen.