1 Samuel 15:17–23 (NKJV)
Summary:
- Samuel denounces unto Saul God’s rejection of him for his disobedience
15:17. So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel?
15:18. “Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, `Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’
15:19. “Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?”
15:20. And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
15:21. “But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
15:22. Then Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.
15:23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”
- Samuel denounces unto Saul God’s rejection of him for his disobedience
15:17. So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel?
15:18. “Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, `Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’
15:19. “Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?”
15:20. And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
15:21. “But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
15:22. Then Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.
15:23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Comments:
Comments:
Saul was a tall man who stood head and shoulders above the rest. Yet when he was first appointed king, he considered himself small, hiding in fear. From that humble beginning, he unified the kingdom, won battles, and began establishing Israel’s national identity.
God set Saul out with specific instructions: utterly destroy the enemy with no survivors and leave all plunder behind. Instead of complete obedience, Saul spared King Agag and allowed the people to keep the best livestock. When confronted, Saul denied wrongdoing and justified his choices, claiming the plunder was kept to offer sacrifices to God.
It may seem like a minor detail to rationalise leaving valuable goods behind, but failing to fully carry out God’s command was severe. Samuel equated Saul’s rebellion and stubbornness to idolatry and witchcraft. Ultimately, taking these liberties cost Saul God’s favor and his crown.
Everyone fails at times, but the vital lesson lies in how we handle our shortcomings. While Saul made excuses, leaders like David faced their sins and returned to God. Earthly rulers and society may fail us, but God’s mercies remain new every day.
