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1 S A MU EL 1 5
13 When Samuel finally found him, Saul
greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless
you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s
command!”
14 “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and
goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel
demanded.
15 “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.”
16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to
what the Lord told me last night!”
“What did he tell you?” Saul asked.
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17 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. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy
the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all
dead.’ 19 Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why
did you rush for the plunder and do what was
evil in the Lord’s sight?”
20 “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.
21 Then my troops brought in the best of the
sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to
the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
22 But Samuel replied,
• Excuses
1 SAMU E L 1 5 :1 5 , 2 1
Saul was told to destroy everything, but
he kept part of the spoils, including the
choicest cattle. When Samuel arrived,
he could see and hear the evidence of
Saul’s wrong actions. When confronted,
Saul said that the spoils taken were to
be sacrificed to God. This is like saying,
“But I only stole the money so I could put
it in the offering plate!” When Saul saw
that excuse fall through, he gave another
one (1 Samuel 15:21), blaming his men
for making him keep the spoils. Was he
the king, able to make his own decisions,
or wasn’t he? A life full of excuses lacks
credibility. Taking responsibility for your
actions is the only way to be trusted by
others and used powerfully by God.
• Decisions
1 SAMU E L 1 5 :2 2 -2 3
Choices have profound consequences.
In Saul’s case, he gave up the privilege of
being king, not only for himself but also
for all his heirs to come. What price tag
could be put on that loss? What did Saul
get for it? Temporary ownership of a few
sheep and cattle. We are prone to think
that a little decision, no matter how wrong,
will not really hurt us. Is a one-night stand
worth an unwanted pregnancy, venereal
disease, or the breakup of a family? Is
one dishonest act at work worth the
loss of reputation or the possibility of
imprisonment? Is a little lie to a loved one
worth the wall of distrust that is erected
when you are found out? Every day we
choose, many times and in many ways,
what the quality of our lives will be.
23
“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.”
Saul Pleads for Forgiveness
24 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. 25 But
now, please forgive my sin and come back with
me so that I may worship the Lord.”
26 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.”
27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold
him back and tore the hem of his robe. 28 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.
29 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!”
30 Then Saul pleaded again, “I know I have
sinned. But please, at least honor me before the
elders of my people and before Israel by coming
back with me so that I may worship the Lord
your God.” 31 So Samuel finally agreed and went
back with him, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
Samuel Executes King Agag
32 Then Samuel said, “Bring King Agag to me.”
Agag arrived full of hope, for he thought,
“Surely the worst is over, and I have been
spared!”* 33 But Samuel said, “As your sword
15:32 Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read Agag arrived
hesitantly, for he thought, “Surely this is the bitterness of death.”