Written by: Alison Booker

1 Samuel 15 v 1-3
Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to appoint you king over Israel. Now listen to his message. This is what the LORD All-Powerful says: ‘When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Amalekites tried to stop them from going to Canaan. So I will punish them. Now go, attack the Amalekites and destroy everything they own as an offering to the LORD. Don’t let anything live. Put to death men and women, children and small babies, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ”

Notes 
The Bible is many things. It is a wonderful gift but its not always nice! I hope you finished your cornflakes before you read this. It seems strange for Christians to find their God of love giving orders like ‘Put to death men and women, children and small babies…’ To our 21st Century ears that just seems impossible. 

In the days since 11 September there has been much talk of violence in the name of God. Many have talked of the Crusades. There are not many people I know who would agree with that, but we have to face the fact that it is passages like today’s reading that mean people have come to the conclusion it is acceptable to go to war in the name of God, a so called ‘Holy War’.

As a Christian I personally struggle with any idea of War on behalf of God. I believe that in times of war we should take the situation to God in prayer. I would want to see leaders praying for God’s wisdom and guidance and, out of that, seeking every possible peaceful resolution.

So what are we to learn? I believe there are lessons about obedience. As Christians we must be obedient to God, even when we don’t understand it. However, there is something which stops us getting mislead, we must be in line with the whole message of the Bible not just one verse or story. Looking back at the action of the Israelites we think that they had a lot to learn about God’s character, in 3,000 years time there may be others who think the same about us. All we can do is seek to obey God and to constantly learn more about God’s character, through reading the Bible, Prayer, Worship and being with other Christians.

1 Samuel 15 v 4-9
So Saul called the army together at Telaim. There were two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. Then Saul went to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the ravine. He said to the Kenites, “Go away. Leave the Amalekites so that I won’t destroy you with them, because you showed kindness to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
Then Saul defeated the Amalekites. He fought them all the way from Havilah to Shur, at the border of Egypt. He took King Agag of the Amalekites alive, but he killed all of Agag’s army with the sword. Saul and the army let Agag live, along with the best sheep, fat cattle, and lambs. They let every good animal live, because they did not want to destroy them. But when they found an animal that was weak or useless, they killed it.

Notes
Now that sounds better! Not wanting to kill suits our 21st Century ears much better than God’s command yesterday, but we must be careful not to have too much sympathy for Saul!

Whatever we think God had told Saul to kill everything and everyone. By not doing so he is disobeying God. I know some people who would immediately say ‘ah but God is a loving God and he would forgive Saul’s disobedience because he loved people and put them first’. 

I agree that God is a loving God, but I’m not sure Saul’s motives were about putting people first. If we read carefully Saul killed all the people except the most important and he killed all the weak animals but kept the best. Saul not only disobeyed God; he also did it because he wanted to keep the best. Only God knows why things are done. We can’t tell why other people do things but we can be aware of our own motives for doing things and try to be open to God speaking to us about our behaviour.

In this passage Saul keeps the best and destroys the weakest. As I read those words it reminded me that not only was Saul disobeying a direct order he was disobeying the general theme that runs through both the Old Testament and the New. God is always concerned for the weakest, God has a special care for those who are poor and weak. God wants to lift them in his arms and care for them. God calls us, as Christians, to do the same.

Today could you show God’s love to someone who is poorer or weaker than yourself? Perhaps they are lonely or not very popular. How could you show them God’s love?

1 Samuel 15 v 10-13
Then the LORD spoke his word to Samuel: “I am sorry I made Saul king, because he has stopped following me and has not obeyed my commands.” Samuel was upset, and he cried out to the LORD all night long.
Early the next morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul. But the people told Samuel, “Saul has gone to Carmel, where he has put up a monument in his own honor. Now he has gone down to Gilgal.”
When Samuel came to Saul, Saul said, “May the LORD bless you! I have obeyed the LORD’s commands.”

Notes
Ever played that card game cheat? I don’t know if you are any good at it or not but Saul was playing a very similar game it seems. We are told in today’s reading that he’s gone to Carmel and put up a monument in his own honour, yet when he meets Samuel he says ‘I have obeyed the Lords commands’.

I don’t know if Saul thought honestly that he had done what God wanted him to do or if he knew in his heart that he hadn’t but thought that Samuel didn’t know anything about it. Whichever it was, Samuel did know all about it because God told him. We have a lot to learn from Samuels reaction to Saul’s statement.

Samuel had every reason to be cross with Saul and to complain about him, yet when God says Saul’s been disobedient, Samuel is upset and cries out to the Lord all night long. If we want to be God’s servants as Samuel, was rather like Saul, we need to learn two things. Firstly we must learn obedience through listening to God, which Samuel displays from being a very small boy. Secondly we must develop a heart for others. On hearing of Saul’s disobedience Samuel could so easily have spoken to God of a suitable punishment, judging that Saul had been wrong. 

We too must learn to listen, to obey and to cry out to God for others rather than judging their actions. God is the judge of all of us. However, those who have followed God’s ways have always cried out to God on behalf of others. The most memorable of course is Jesus who in the gospel of Luke, stands looking down on Jerusalem and weeps for the people God loves.

1 Samuel 15 v 14-19
But Samuel said, “Then why do I hear cattle mooing and sheep bleating?”
Saul answered, “The soldiers took them from the Amalekites. They saved the best sheep and cattle to offer as sacrifices to the LORD your God, but we destroyed all the other animals.”
Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”
Saul answered, “Tell me.”
Samuel said, “Once you didn’t think much of yourself, but now you have become the leader of the tribes of Israel. The LORD appointed you to be king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission. He said, ‘Go and destroy those evil people, the Amalekites. Make war on them until all of them are dead.’ Why didn’t you obey the LORD? Why did you take the best things? Why did you do what the LORD said was wrong?”

Notes 
Caught red handed! Saul says he has done everything God asked of him and then… MOOOO, BAAAA – oops!!

Samuel we read yesterday, cried for Saul, he still cares about what Saul does and yet he is not afraid to confront Saul. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night” says Samuel, Saul either has the hide of a Rhino and the most arrogance imaginable or else he really has fooled himself completely and is refusing to face all that he has done. Saul simply answers, “Tell me”

Samuel goes on to explain that the Lord has told him everything Saul did. However, as is always the way of God, after confronting Saul with the truth there is a chance to respond. Saul has disobeyed God – Big Time – and yet after revealing what he has done God does not then pass judgement. Samuel asks ‘Why did you do it?’ This gives Saul the chance to respond with sorrow at his actions.

God has always given people the opportunity to respond. No matter how many times we get it wrong God gives us a chance to respond. Ultimately this meant sending his own Son, Jesus, so that despite the fact that every person who has ever lived has got things wrong there is a chance to respond to God. In the death and resurrection of Jesus God provided a way to respond by accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour and so enter into a relationship with God. 

If you’ve not done that yet talk to a Christian you know (alternatively send us an email, or use the discussion boards at www.word-on-the-web.co.uk/main/discuss.htm ). If you have already done that and you are a Christian take time today to give special thanks to God for your chance to respond.

1 Samuel 15 v 20-23
Saul said, “But I did obey the LORD. I did what the LORD told me to do. I destroyed all the Amalekites, and I brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
But Samuel answered,
“What pleases the LORD more:
burnt offerings and sacrifices
or obedience to his voice?
It is better to obey than to sacrifice.
It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of sheep.
Disobedience is as bad as the sin of sorcery.
Pride is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols.
You have rejected the LORD’s command.
Now he rejects you as king.”

Notes 
Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! Saul knows now that he can’t say he didn’t do it so instead he decides to say he did it for the best motives and that will make everything all right.

Have you ever heard people arguing that as long as you are doing something for the right reasons it makes everything ok? So if you do something wrong out of love for someone else then that makes the wrong thing right! Saul was of the same opinion; he was arguing that because he kept the animals to sacrifice to God then that made everything all right.

Samuel is not fooled! Samuel points out that God would rather have obedience than sacrifice. Samuel even says disobedience is as bad as sorcery. God takes this very seriously, and today’s reading ends with the warning that as Saul has rejected God’s command so God will reject him as king.

God would rather have followers who listen than who give good things. This echoes some of the words in the New Testament where in Matthew’s gospel (Chapter 9 verse 13) Jesus tells people to go away and learn what it means when God says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”. It is this change of emphasis after Jesus perfect sacrifice, that means the kind of sacrifice God wants from us is not animals but rather a sacrifice of ‘praise’ (Hebrews 13:15) 

We are often quick to see ‘big sins’ like sorcery or the worshipping of idols would have been for the Israelites but God doesn’t rate sins like that God is just as concerned about our pride or disobedience. Think about what it is that God wants from you and how can you follow God’s will in your life today. 

1 Samuel 15 v 24-31
Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I didn’t obey the LORD’s commands and your words. I was afraid of the people, and I did what they said. Now, I beg you, forgive my sin. Come back with me so I may worship the LORD.”
But Samuel said to Saul, “I won’t go back with you. You rejected the LORD’s command, and now he rejects you as king of Israel.”
As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors who is better than you. The LORD is the Eternal One of Israel. He does not lie or change his mind. He is not a human being, so he does not change his mind.
Saul answered, “I have sinned. But please honor me in front of the older leaders of my people and in front of the Israelites. Come back with me so that I can worship the LORD your God.” So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

Notes 
But it’s not fair! You could just hear Saul complaining, ‘I said sorry to God. Whatever happened to a God who forgives?’ 

Well if you’d only read the first half of today’s reading you could quite easily agree with Saul. Here is Saul, yes he’s done lots of things wrong but then he realises it and begs for forgiveness. Samuel however refuses to go with Saul. 

This is not a sign that God doesn’t forgive because Samuel says he will go back with Saul and the two of them will worship God together. There is forgiveness and reconciliation; Saul is able to come to God and worship, and his relationship with God is still there. Does God now support him as King again? No, so how can this be a forgiving God?

Saul’s story shows us clearly the difference between forgiveness and consequences. God forgave Saul; Samuel worshipped God alongside Saul but God rejected him as King, a consequence of his disobedience. 

We often say sorry and want the consequences of our actions to go away as well. God promises forgiveness but God never promises to take away the consequences of our actions. Here our true relationship with God is shown. It is easy to accept God’s forgiveness, but to accept that we still live with the consequences of our wrong actions takes more grace. If we wish to live as Christians we must pray for God’s Holy Spirit to give us the grace which we need to live with the consequences of our actions. Harder still, we need to live graciously with the consequences of other people’s actions even when that is painful.

One famous example is Corrie Ten Boom in her attitude to those who held her prisoner. If you don’t know her story it’s worth reading in her book called ‘The Hiding Place’.

1 Samuel 15 v 32-35
Then Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites.”
Agag came to Samuel in chains, but Agag thought, “Surely the threat of death has passed.”
Samuel said to him, “Your sword made other mothers lose their children. Now your mother will have no children.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.
Then Samuel left and went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah. And Samuel never saw Saul again the rest of his life, but he was sad for Saul. And the LORD was very sorry he had made Saul king of Israel.

Notes
Why did it all go so badly wrong? At the end of our reading today we have the words ‘and the LORD was very sorry he had made Saul king of Israel’. I think these are sad words. 

God had given to Saul the gifts he gives to each one of us, independence and free will. Saul had made a mess of being King and caused a great deal of pain and hurt to himself and others.

I wonder sometimes if God has ever looked down and thought ‘I’m sorry I gave you that job to do’. I hope not, but I’m not perfect and I know there have been times when I have failed to do what God has asked of me.

My encouragement, however, is that God is described in terms of parents, God’s word contains pictures of God a Mother and as a Father. These are images of a loving parent who wants their children to do well. I think of my own relationship with my children. Sometimes I do craft activities or games with my toddler Emily. Emily has had a role to play and being only two years old she doesn’t always get the hang of it. I have at times found myself thinking, I wish I hadn’t started this! However, no matter how many times I think I gave Emily the wrong job I never wish she wasn’t there; I always love her. If as an imperfect human mother I feel like this then I can be really confident that God who loves us, feels like that about us. 

I am sure that God loved Saul as a person always, and no matter what we do wrong God loves us too. Give thanks for that today.


word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes