Articles
Saul Rejects The Word of the LORD - 1 Sam. 15
Saul Rejects The Word of the LORD - 1 Sam. 15
Having refused to obey the LORD, Saul is again instructed concerning what the LORD desires him to lead Israel to do. Again, the instructions are clear and understood: "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys’" (1Sm. 15:3).
Tragically, the record simply states: "These they were unwilling to destroy completely" (vs. 9). This was not a matter of ignorance, misunderstanding, or even weakness. This was rebellion!
Yet, in Saul's mind it appears different: "I HAVE obeyed the LORD" (vs. 13).
Saul's failure in leadership is again seen as he gives his 'explanation' for this rebellion: "“The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest" (vs.15). Leadership is leading, not following the whims of the people.
Add to this, Saul's pride and arrogance as he went to Carmel and "set up a monument in his honor" (vs. 12).
When confronted with his disobedience, Saul again argues: "I DID obey"... "I completely destroyed the Amalakites..." (vs. 19).
I am afraid that many people today would stand in defense of Saul and the people:
· "In the end all would be dead and destroyed. It's the same thing. What difference does it make?"
· "We were doing this in worship of God, surely it must be acceptable".
"Enough!" said Samuel! Here is what the Lord says about Saul's changing the commands of the LORD: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king" (vs. 22-23).
Several observations should be obvious to us:
· Partial obedience is rebellion. It is doing what YOU see as right, and rejecting the rest of what God says.
· To change is to not obey for again it is doing what YOU see as right.
· To change is to put man's thoughts above God's word.
· To change is REBELLION.
In what ways do we see people acting like Saul today? We then need to ask: "In what ways have I acted like Saul?"
Hugh DeLong
