25 Saul Rejected as King – Part 2

The Lord had long determined He would use Saul as the instrument to inflict destruction upon the Amalekites. In doing so, the Lord would not only avenge the Amalekites for their treatment of Israel, but it would be a test of obedience, for the ever-self-willed king Saul.

Therefore, the Lord had the prophet Samuel instruct Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites, including the women, children and all their animals. In addition, they weren’t take any of their spoils.

1 Saul Takes Action

1 Samuel 15:7-9

Saul’s army was very successful in defeating their enemy, driving them back even as far as the Shur Desert. So, while Saul showed that he was an outstanding military leader, the passage shows that Saul only showed initial obedience.

Even though Saul’s army had defeated the Amalekites, he didn’t completely follow the Lord’s instructions, as he spared their king, Agag, and allowed the people to keep the best of their flocks, and spoils.

While Saul was the leader, sadly, the people had learned from the poor examples set by their king.

Unfortunately, both the king and the people had destroyed that which they “despised” but they spared what they considered to be valuable.

While it would have been natural for armies of that day to receive their pay from the spoils of victory, the Israelites should have remembered they were God’s people, and under the mandate to obey him.

Unfortunately, the attitude of the Israelites is no different than what is often seen, when man disregards God’s will, and does what he desires:

Proverbs 14:12

2 God’s Words to Samuel

While Saul and the people disregarded the Lord’s desire, He was completely aware of all they had done, as we see from His words to Samuel:

1 Samuel 15:10-11

The Lord told Samuel that He regretted having set up Saul as king.”

We shouldn’t think of “regret” in terms of the Lord believing He’d erred in making Saul king.

The Lord knew Saul’s weaknesses when He established him as king. But God’s purpose wasn’t that Saul be an example of the “best” king, but rather how foolish it had been for the people to desire a mortal man to rule them, rather than the Lord Himself.

The Lord was showing that He didn’t take any pleasure in removing Saul. We see the Lord’s words to Ezekiel in another instance:

Ezekiel 33:11

Even so, the Lord’s decision grieved Samuel, who cried out to the Lord all night.

3 Samuel and Saul Meet

Rather than displaying regret for disobeying the Lord, Saul had been ready lauding himself for the victory over the Amalekites:

1 Samuel 15:12-15

Saul had busied himself setting up a monument to himself.

This version of Saul was so much different than the fearful, timid man prior to his coronation as king.

However, now he was so consumed by pride, that he easily dismissed the Lord’s commands.

In verse 13, Samuel was finally able to track down Saul, who then greeted him in a very deceitful manner:

1 Samuel 15:13

Saul apparently still didn’t understand that he’d only partially obeyed the Lord.

Saul pleaded his case to Samuel, stating that he’d actually obeyed the Lord, and that while he kept Agag alive, it was the people who decided to keep the best of the Amalekite animals to offer as sacrifices to God.

Therefore, the king who had so often attempted to show much in control that he was, was now blaming the people for the disobedience to the Lord.