BIG IDEA:
INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE = COMPLETE REBELLION
PARTIAL OBEDIENCE = TOTAL REBELLION
THE COST OF FAILING TO OBEY GOD FULLY IS SUPRISINGLY HIGH
(:1-3) INTRODUCTION: THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADERSHIP CARRIES WITH IT ACCOUNTABILITY TO EXECUTE SEVERE JUDGMENTS AS COMMANDED BY GOD
CLEAR COMMISSION: TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF AMALEK PER DIVINE JUDGMENT
Roe: Paul, talking about his ministry in I Corinthians 9: 24-27, says: Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
There is a graphic illustration in 1 Samuel, Chapter 15, of the disqualification of a believer whom God personally chose and anointed. Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit and filled “mightily.” God equipped him with everything needed to do the work of the King of Israel. He intended for Saul and his line to be the reigning kings of Israel from this point on. Saul was not set up to be knocked down; He disqualified himself.
A. (:1a) Privilege of Leadership
“The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel”
B. (:1b) Accountability to Obey God
“now, therefore, listen to the words of the Lord”
C. (:2) Instrument of Divine Judgment (cf. promise of Exod. 17:14)
“I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel”
D. (:3) Clarity and Severity of the Mission of Judgment
“utterly destroy all that he has”
Ryrie: “Lit, put under a ban. A ban involved devoting cities; persons, animals, and possessions to the Lord for destruction in accordance with Deut. 7:2-6; 12:2-3; 20:16-18. While this practice was severe, it was a just punishment.”
Roe: In examining this command to “exterminate” the Amalekites you may ask why? It is because the flesh is something like cancer cells in the body. When a doctor operates, he attempts to get every single one. To leave even one in your body could bring you back for another operation. Like cancer cells, the flesh must be continually cut out of our lives to prevent its recurrence. The flesh is incurably evil, incurably malicious. The word used to describe it sometimes is “pernicious.” [i.e., Webster, “destructive; having the power of killing, destroying, ruining or injuring; fatal; deadly]. It is also incurably deceitful. It does not broadcast, “Destroyer.” Instead it appears enticing and noble.
I. (:4-9) TRAGIC OMISSION – SAUL’S FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE MISSION SPOILED THE VICTORY
(The spoils of victory – from a human perspective – can easily be the snare of defeat –where there has been a failure to obey fully.)
A. (:4) Preparation for Battle – Marshalling the Troops
B. (:5) Plan of Attack – Ambush in the Valley
C. (:6) Avoiding Collateral Damage – Compassion in Warning the Kenites
Ryrie: “The Kenites = Nomadic Midianites who were well disposed toward Israel from ancient times (Exod. 2:16-18; 18:9-12; Num. 10:29-32; Judg. 1:16).”
D. (:7-9) Executing the Plan – Victory Coupled with Failure to Obey Fully
– sparing Agag – probably a prideful trophy of victory
– sparing what was good of the animals – probably motivated by greed and self-will; what would be the point of wasting such valuable resources??
II. (:10-19) PAINFUL CONFRONTATION – DISOBEDIENCE BRINGS SADNESS ALONG WITH A CALL TO ACCOUNTABILITY
A. (:10-11a) Sadness on the Part of God
“I regret that I have made Saul king”
B. (:11b) Sadness on the Part of Samuel
“Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lord all night”
C. (:12-13) Denial on the Part of Saul
1. (:12) Pridefully Celebrating Victory instead of Humbly Seeking Forgiveness
“he set up a monument for himself”
Gordon: “After his victory over the Amalekites Moses raised an altar (Ex. 17:15f.); Saul in a fit of apparent self-congratulation erects a stele (lit. ‘hand’; cf. Absalom’s monument, 2 Sa. 18:18).”
2. (:13) Out of Touch with Reality
“I have carried out the command of the Lord”
D. (:14) No Escaping the Testimony of Reality
“What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”
Blaikie: “Facts are stubborn things, and they make quick work of sophistry.”
E. (:15) Lame Excuses/Blameshifting Bring No Relief
“They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best”
Probably hypocrisy on Saul’s part since the motive was more one of greed than piety (Blaikie).
Roe: Notice again how beautifully the flesh rationalizes, how it never accepts responsibility for its actions. Saul says, “I carried out the command of the Lord, but they spared the best.” Typically the flesh will obey God as long as it does not cost anything. The people didn’t mind killing the men, women, children, infants and worthless of the flocks, but when it came to the best of the flocks what happened? This is when the flesh will never obey God. When it really costs what you want, then the flesh springs into action. That is exactly what you see here.
F. (:16-19) Perspective of the Lord – Review of the Clear Command and the Obvious Failure
1. (:16) Prophetic Communication of the Lord’s Perspective
“Wait, and let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night”
2. (:17) Background of Privilege of Divine Appointment to Leadership
“Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed you king over Israel.”
3. (:18) Review of the Clear Command
4. (:19) Call to Accountability Based on the Obvious Failure
“Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord?”
III. (:20-23) WEAK ARGUMENTATION – RELIGIOUS EXCUSES BETRAY A FAILURE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE NATURE OF REBELLION
A. (:20-21) Saul’s Argumentation – The End Justifies the Means
Noble Goal of Sacrifice?
Davis: “The shift in pronouns (from ‘I’ to ‘They’) is an obvious example of the ancient (and modern) art of ‘passing the buck.’ Saul attempted to justify the deeds of the people on the grounds that their intentions were good. In other words, the end had fully justified the means. He assumed that any sacrifice, whether prepared in disobedience or obedience, would be acceptable to God. How far he had missed the point!”
B. (:22-23) Samuel’s Response – “To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice”
Explanation of the Nature of Rebellion
Young: “Rebellion . . . witchcraft. Both are forms of apostasy, the one being denial of God’s authority, the other a recognition of supernatural powers distinct from God.”
IV. (:24-31) BELATED ADMISSION OF GUILT AND DECLARATION OF JUDGMENT
A. (:24-25) Belated Admission of Guilt – Too Little, Too Late
1. (:24) Desperate Last Ditch Confession
a. Admission of sin
“I have sinned”
“I have transgressed the command of the Lord and your words”
b. Explanation: Bowing to the Fear of Man instead of the Fear of God
“because I feared the people and listened to their voice”
Davis: “One wonders how genuine this confession really was (cf. the words of Pharoah, Exod 9:27).”
2. (:25) Desperate Plea for Avoiding the Consequences of Sin
“Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord”
B. (:26-31) Declaration of Judgment – Loss of Kingdom Leadership
1. (:26-29) Finality of the Rejection
a. (:26) Rejection of Saul’s Pleas for Mercy
“the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel”
b. (:27) Saul’s Final Desperate Attempt to Hang on to Power
“Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore”
Gordon: “Saul grasps his robe in a desperate act of supplication that becomes an unintentional acted parable.”
c. (:28) Kingdom Power Being Transferred to Another
d. (:29) Lord Will Not Change His Mind
Ryrie: Re title here of “the Glory of Israel. A unique designation for God, emphasizing His eternal nature. The title is particularly appropriate in this context, which stresses His immutability.”
2. (:30-31) Minor Face-saving Concession
(:32-35) CONCLUSION: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
A. (:32-33) Samuel Carries Out the Divinely Prescribed Execution of Agag
1. False Hope on the Part of Agag
2. Swift Retribution Executed by Samuel
Roe: “Here is a helpless man, probably in chains, whom Samuel chops up into little pieces while doing the will of God. That should give us some idea that our attitude toward the flesh should be utterly ruthless and without mercy.”
B. (:34-35a) Sin Causes Separation – Between Saul and Samuel
“Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death.”
C. (:35b) Sin Causes Sadness
1. On the part of Samuel
“Samuel grieved over Saul”
2. On the part of the Lord
“And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.”