A Journey to Easter - Day 13
- Debbra Stephens
- Mar 17
- 2 min read
Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.”
(1 Samuel 15:10-11a)
King Saul’s reign had a couple shining moments early on. Both times it was because God sent the Spirit upon him. The first time, he prophesied (1 Samuel 10:6-7). The next, he rightly gave glory to God for victory in battle (1 Samuel 11:13). But then the wheels fell off.
God sent Samuel to Saul with the long overdue task of ridding the land of the Amalekites. This was an act of justice toward the enemies of God’s people.
God gave the Israelite’s the victory—but . . .
But Saul didn’t carry out God’s clear instructions. All that was despised and deemed worthless they destroyed. But Saul kept the best for himself, reminiscent of Eli’s sons, the priests—except now a king was profiting from his calling (1 Samuel 15:9). And, to make matters worse, Saul erected a monument to himself—instead of building an altar to God for the victory (1 Samuel 15:12).
Saul’s disobedience grieved God. (Note to self.)
When confronted, Saul tried to pass off that he had kept the best “to sacrifice to the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:15). Then he tried the age-old Eden trick of shifting blame (1 Samuel 15:21).
Samuel revealed one of the most important truths in the Bible: “To obey is better than sacrifice.”
What is in the heart is of greater concern to God than our actions.
The downfall of many is precisely this: disobedience. God doesn’t want some... or second—but all. He does not want partial obedience. For partial obedience is really no obedience at all.
But Saul... He presented his actions as obedience (1 Samuel 15:13). He was either lying. Or that was how he viewed his sin.
Was he truly repentant? Or merely regretful that he got caught?
Eventually the Spirit departed the fallen king (1 Samuel 16:14) and Saul descended into utter madness.
Saul was unworthy of the throne and the great privilege of leading the people of God—proving God’s word right and true. God warned Samuel, who in turn shared this solemn warning with the people of what would happen with a human as their king (1 Samuel 8:10-17).
Saul rejected God’s instruction, as did his forefathers in the Garden of Eden. And the people rejected the rule and wisdom of God. Wisdom in our own eyes isn’t always wisdom at all. And selective obedience isn’t obedience, either.
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