Scripture to Read: 1 Samuel 15:10–35
Saul had disobeyed God again. God told Samuel that He regretted making Saul king because Saul disobeyed His command to destroy the Amalekites. Samuel confronted Saul again about his willful disobedience. Saul claimed he obeyed the Lord, then said he had spared only King Agag and had taken the best of the livestock to offer as sacrifices to the Lord. Samuel exposed Saul’s disobedience with the question about the bleating sheep and rebuked him. God led Samuel to say in 1 Samuel 15:22–23, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” Saul shifted the blame to the people and then he begged for forgiveness, but Samuel declared that the Lord had rejected Saul as king. Samuel told Saul that the kingdom would be torn from him and given to someone better (of course, we know that would be David). Saul asked Samuel to honor him before Israel. Samuel returned with Saul and Saul worshipped. But then, Samuel had King Agag brought before him and Samuel executed him. Then, we read in 1 Samuel 15:35, “Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.” Sin always exacts a cost beyond anyone’s ability to pay—that is why Christ had to come and make the payment Himself.
Challenge & Application
What did Saul do to cause God to reject him as king?
What has God done for all mankind so that we can be accepted by Him and be in right relationship with Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!