1 Samuel 15:17-35

Intro: Today we’re gonna finish up the portion of scripture that focuses on Saul’s reign as King of Israel

Recap: God gives Saul very clear command, He commanded Saul to completely wipe out the Amelikites for their wicked dealings with the children of Israel 400 years ago…and God says wipe them out! yet Saul only choses to partially obey, he destroys all the the lowly things but choses to keep the best of the sheep and Oxen and most importantly, the king (Agag) alive and take them back to camp

This would be the last straw for God who would eventually say “I regret making Saul king over Israel” and this showed the broken heart of God over the sinfulness of Saul and the people

Now, Samuel no doubt was tired because he had been weeping and crying out to the Lord all night, yet he makes the 15 mile journey to Carmel to speak with Saul, yet Saul is a different picture all together…He’s so proud of what he’s done, he’s built and monument for himself, and when he says Samuel he says “blessed be you to the Lord, I have preformed the Lord’s commandment” (v.13)

Thats called “self-depiction” - When pride and compromise leads you to have a in accurate account of yourself

Then Samuel says “Why then do i hear sheep and oxen?” (v.14)…in other words Saul had been found out

(Pr

(Prop) So what we’re gonna see today Is God rejecting Saul as king...

The layout:

1 sam 15:15-

1 Samuel 15:15 ESV

Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.”

1 sam 15:15

Notice 2 words “They” and “We” Saul says “They...the people brought the spoils” and then he lumps himself in with the spiritual ones “We devoted the rest to destruction” here’s a picture of Saul being unwilling to take responsibility for the sin he has commited…this is the 2nd time he has blamed the people for his decision

Now, the rest of this passage lays out as if it’s a real court room trial:

Samuel states the charges v.17-19

Saul gives his defense v. 20-21

Samuel give the verdict v.22-31

Judgment day v.32-35

Theme: The need for true repentance

Samuel states the charges v.17-19

So Saul has been caught in his sin…and Samuel is waiting for a response...We’re gonna pick it up from here and continue to see why Saul had grieved God so much...

Here’s the question: How does Saul respond to getting caught?

1 Samuel 15:17–19 ESV

17 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. 18 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.’ 19 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?”

1 Samuel 15:15–21 ESV

15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.” 17 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. 18 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.’ 19 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?” 20 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. 21 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.”

Notice a couple of things Samuels says here...

(17) though you are little in your own eyes - In Saul’s life, theirs perhaps no clearer flaw then the one of insecurity - With his Son, With David, with the people…insecurity is the source of things like jealousy and pettiness, and sinful behavior…but this statement is what insecurity is in a nut shall “he had a inferiority complex

Did he need too? no…because anointed him

This sounds real spiritual…but thats not Godly humility at all

During that time when He was little…God was big…his commandments were big…now some time has Past, Saul authority has grown and his pride with it

App: understand insecurity is the opposite to whsats really needed in our lives…Godly humility

Godly humility is having biblically accurate estimation of who you are - I’m Flawed…nothing to boast in…But I’m chosen, loved, anointed, longed for…backed by the greatest power in the universe

(17) you are little in your own eyes - In Saul’s life, theirs perhaps no bigger flaw then the one of insecurity - With his Son, With David, with the people…insecurity is the source of things jealousy and pettiness, and sinful behavior…but this statement is what insecurity is in a nut shall “You are little in your own eyes”

Here’s the charge...

(19) Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? - Here’s the charge…Disobedience…God said “devote the amelikites to destruction” but they kept the best and destroyed the rest…

(19) Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? - Disobedience…God said “devote the amelikites to destruction” but they kept the best and destroyed the rest…

(19) Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? - Here’s the charge…Disobedience…God said “devote the amelikites to destruction” but they kept the best and destroyed the rest…

This sounds real spiritual…but thats not Godly humility at all

Notice Saul obeyed in someways…but not in all ways - FB Meyers said “Partial obedience is complete disobedience”

Godly humility is having biblically accurate estimation of who you are - I’m Flawed…nothing to boast in…But I’m chosen, loved, anointed, longed for…backed by the greatest power in the universe

Many are like this - We obey God in the places where it’s easy to obey God…and we think thats enough

To be obedient is not only to surrender the “rest” but to surrender the “best”- Abraham and Isaac

To be obedient is not only to surrender the “rest” but to surrender the “best”

FB Meyers said “Partial obedience is complete disobedience”

Abraham and Isaac

App: How about you? are only obedient in the with rest…our are you willing to obey with the best?

Abraham and Isaac

App: Whats the “best” to you? and are you willing to surrender it to Jesus?

(19) Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? - Here’s the charge…Disobedience

(19) Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? - Here’s a question , does God really not know? of course not…this is God’s way of giving Saul a chance to repent - God’s who’s rich in mercy and abounding in love always willing to extend a chance to repent

Here’s a question , does God really not know? of course not…this is God’s way of giving Saul a chance to repent - God’s who’s rich in mercy and abounding in love always willing to extend a chance to repent

Here’s a question, Why is God compelling Samuel to ask why? does God really not know? of course not…this is God’s way of giving Saul a chance to repent - God’s who’s rich in mercy and abounding in love always willing to extend a chance to repent…yet even though Saul has a chance to repent and be honest…instead, he does what we do often, wrap himself in a robe of self righteousness and activate the inner Lawyer

Here’s a question , does God really not know? of course not…this is God’s way of giving Saul a chance to repent - God’s who’s rich in mercy and abounding in love always willing to extend a chance to repent

Saul has a chance to repent and be honest…but instead, he does what we do often, wrap ourselves in our own righteousness and activate our inner Lawyer

App: Thats for you today

1 Samuel 15:20–21 ESV

20 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. 21 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.”

Notice 3 things about Saul here...

Notice 3 things that Saul does here...

He denies his sin - (20) 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.

This is the 2nd time he’s said “I did what the Lord told me to do!” even though He clearly hadn’t…you get the sense that he really believed that…

Why did he believe that? - because his pride had brought him to a place of spiritual deception

Pride makes you delusional…It make you blind to reality

Think about Satan - His pride, fooled him into to thinking that He would take down Jesus

Saul’s pride made him oblivious to the fact that

He’s downplaying his sin and this leads to Saul saying “yeah i know i brought back the king, but it’s not that big of a deal, I’ve still obeyed most of what God has asked me to do”

Here’s the picture: Saul’s pride has created deception in his heart which became the incubator for disobedience

App: Be very carful with pride...

He blames others for the sin - (15) Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen (21) But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction...

Saul said it was the people who commited the sin! but remember…he brought the king back which was more dangerous then any sheep or ox…but whats he doing? instead of owning his sin, he’s trying pin it on others

App: Have you ever done this?

He downplays -

He defers

He downplays -

He

This is the 2nd time he’s said “I did what the Lord told me to do!”…you get the sense that he really believed that…Why because his pride had brought him to a place of spiritual deception

Pride creates self deception and will make you oblivious to facts even when their staring you right in the face

Remember Dumb and Dumber...

Think about Satan - His pride, fooled him into to thinking that He would take down Jesus

Saul’s pride made him oblivious to the fact that

He’s downplaying his sin...Pride and compromise has brought about spiritual deception in Saul…and this leads to Saul saying “yeah i know i brought back the king, but it’s not that big of a deal, I’ve still obeyed most of what God has asked me to do”

20 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. 21 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.”

Here’s the picture: Saul’s pride has created deception became the incubator for disobedience

App: Be very carful with pride...

He tries to justify his sin - 21 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.”

So he says “sure, we didn’t obey…but it was for good reason…we wanted to offer up a sacrifice to the Lord with these gifts…Saul tries to squirm out of his sin by trying to play it off as a spiritual act”

App: Many people have tried to justify sins by way of spiritual talk and religious work

Bob Marley said....”you can fool some people sometimes…but you can’t fool other people all the time”…and Saul is not fooling GID

look what Samuel says...

1 Samuel 15:22–23 ESV

22 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. 23 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.”

1 sam 15:22-

Here’s Saul, who’s essentially trying to pay God off with a sacrifice…but Samuel says…”no, to obey is better then sacrifice”

All the religious postering in the world will never be sweeter to God then simple obedience

For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry - Now think about Saul when he heard this, I mean he had sinned but at least he wasn’t those wicked amelikites or those philistines, those pagans…with there Idol worship and witch craft! He’s a rather religious king…

but Samuel says “No Saul, your disobedience is just as wicked to God…in-spite of all your religious observance”

App: All the churchiness and religious activity in the world will never mean more to God then obedience

Micah 6:6–8 ESV

6 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king (23) - This is the verdict, “Saul…God now longer recognizes you as the Lead of Israel anymore

Look at what God has to say to the nation of Israel years later...

Look at Saul’s response to the verdict

Now, you might say “Thats a harsh verdict for this one little slip up!…cmon give him a break God”

Here’s the what you need to remember: There’s more to Saul’s sin then the action…His real issues we’re the ones of the Heart

Saul was like a weed - There were the leaves that we see above the ground…but the roots that were buried out of sight we’re the issue

Remember Samuel had already said to him

1 Samuel 13:14 ESV

14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

You may ask “how come God pronounces the same judgement twice?” - Grace - This was God’s way of offering a chance to repent

App: Every breath is a chance to repent

Isaiah 1:11–19 ESV

“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

Look at Saul’s response to the verdict…he kinda asks for a mistrial

1 Samuel 15:24–25 ESV

24 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. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.”

1 sam 15:24-

So in one way, Saul owns his sin, but in another way you can see that the urgency of the matter has not fully set in…

“I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice - what he does here is justify one sin, another sin…But you get the sense that He’s still trying to pass the blame

“Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord” - What was he asking for here? He’s asking Samuel to be his human advocate, and get him on God’s good side

Here’s the picture: He was turning to a person to do only what God could do - He asks Samuel to “pardon his sin” this is a picture of how spiritually immature Saul was

We’ve all had friends, who have chosen to follow the Lord that when the tough times hit or the consequences of life come barring down on them…you get a call

Sometimes it’s helpful

Sometimes it’s them doing what Saul did...”Could you out a good word in for me?”

There was no simple pardon from Samuel that would change the crux of the situation…He needed a changed heart which could only come from God

1 Samuel 15:26–31 ESV

26 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.” 27 As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 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. 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30 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.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord.

1 Samuel 15:26 ESV

26 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.”

1 sam

Why wouldn’t Samuel with Saul to bow before the Lord? because this would have no doubt included the sacrifice of those animals brought from the Amelikites…but here He once again confirms the verdict…”Saul, God doesn’t see you as king anymore”

1 Samuel 15:27–28 ESV

27 As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 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.

Here’s a powerful picture of what Saul’s sinful and unrepentant heart did…as useless as that piece of torn robe was in his clinched fist, so was the power, authority and praises he craved so deeply…why? because now he was ruling against God not for him

App: So many people have said in their own heart, I can’t give up this sin…the cost is too great…all the while your not thinking about what it cost to hold onto the sin

You might lose everything

Samuel continues...

1 Samuel 15:29–31 ESV

29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30 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.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord.

1 sam 15:

This is an interesting statement by Samuel, He speaks of God as “the Glory of Israel” which is the only time in all the scriptures God is referred too like that…what was Samuel trying to say to Saul?

First he’s saying God’s not gonna change his mind on this

Second he’s reminding Saul that God is the strength of the nation of Israel not him

This is where God judges sinful parties…sometimes God’s judgment comes swiftly…sometimes it come slowly, but make no mistake, it always comes…and it comes by way of some unfinished business

1 Samuel 15:32–33 ESV

32 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.” 33 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.

1 Samuel 15:33 ESV

33 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.

1 Samuel 15:32 ESV

32 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.”

1 SAM 15:32-

1 SAM 15:

So here’s this murderous king, no doubt he’s feeling like he’s got nine lives, he was spared by the big barely king, and now this old weathered emotionally tired prophet wants to see him…and maybe he think “alright, i think I just might escape this alive”…so he comes old man Samuel cheerfully

but sometimes God’s judgment comes quick

1 Samuel 15:33 ESV

33 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.

Wow…this is horrifically thorough…You know looks may have been deceiving with Samuel, sure he wasn’t a solder carrying a big sword…But he was in charge of the Sacrifices…so he was surgical with the knife…and he proceeded to hack him into pieces…

Think about this - Long - bloody - to some it may have seem extreme...

And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal - Notice this wasn’t before Saul, it was before the Lord…this is how important Obedience was to Samuel

App: He was passionate about obedience. are we?

1 Samuel 15:34–35 ESV

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 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.

Notice that Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death - How sad is this? they only lived around 10 miles from one another…but Samuel knew that it wasn’t his place to see Saul.

Understand - He still loved Saul, grieved for Saul…why didn’t he ever see him? - It was Saul’s place to come to him in humble repentance before the LORD. This probably would not restore the kingdom to Saul but it could restore his heart before God

It was Saul’s place to come to him in humble repentance before the LORD. This probably would not restore the kingdom to Saul but it could restore his heart before God

But Saul never came - WHY? Because Saul’s repentance was more about keeping his kingdom than his relationship with God…But it so sad because even though He lost the kingdom…He didn’t lose God’s love…he could have been restored

R

Thats why Davids heart was so pleasing to God

This teaches us something about Saul’s motives: His repentance was dependent upon him keeping his kingdom, not on his relationship with God

He failed…but His repentance was different…It was more about the heart restoration than…kingdom presservation

Psalm 51:10–13 ESV

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Psalm 51:10–12 ESV

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Conclusion: And here’s the big takeaway for today

This teaches us something about Saul’s motives: His repentance was dependent upon him keeping his kingdom, not on his relationship with God

Here was God’s ultimately judgment upon Saul - He let him be who he wanted to be...

Conclusion: So is the big things this passage teaches us?

So what are the big things this passage teaches us?

As long as you live…repentance will be needed...

The need for true repentance

Sin will cost you

Henry Jennings wrote, “If God's today be too soon for thy repentance, thy tomorrow may be too late for His acceptance”

It will take years off of your life

Repentance will bless you

David would say...

Psalm 32:3 ESV

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

Psalm 32:1–3 ESV

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

Repentance will bless you

nothing brings peace like a clean conscience...

Todays a chance to repent - Every moment of the day, God's grace awaits us behind the door of repentance. Without repentance, it is impossible to access grace

But cost or blessing are not the primary motivation for repentance…It has to be about Love

Thats why David’s heart was so pleasing to God…because David loved God

"It is not repentance that saves me; repentance is the sign that I realize what God has done in Christ Jesus”

Question: What then does that say about God’s heart toward us? - He loves us

Super important: "It is not repentance that saves me; repentance is the sign that I realize what God has done in Christ Jesus."

Understand Jesus loves you…let that love propel you to repentance

Todays a chance to repent - Every moment of the day, God's grace awaits us behind the door of repentance. Without repentance, it is impossible to access grace

1 Samuel 15:17-35

The charges v.17-19

The defense v. 20-21

The defense v. 20-21

The defense v. 20-21

The verdict v.22-31

The day of retribution v.32-35