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Samuel chapter 15 is a frightening chapter for anyone that “does
their own thing” concerning their relationship with God. The
chapter begins with Samuel the priest giving King Saul very clear
directions, “This
is what the Lord Almighty says“.
Samuel then exactly quoted God’s words for attacking the
Amalekites: “I
will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel… totally
destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to
death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep and
donkeys“.
God does not need to explain Himself, but this is clearly a specific
judgment for a specific people for a specific action against His
people. Sadly, there are those that read this and ask “How can a
God of love be so cruel?” As a loving parent, I can only say, I
would stop at nothing (including deadly force) to protect my children
from an attacker. I am driven by the love for my children, not the
hate for an attacker. Be assured, God loves His children infinitely
more than I love mine.
True
to form, King Saul partially followed God’s instruction. “Saul
attacked the Amalekites… he took Agag, king of the Amalekites
alive… and spared the best of the sheep and cattle… everything
that was good“.
God’s reaction is immediate, “I
am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away
from Me and not carried out My instructions“.
There is no partial credit given. Saul on the other hand, boasted,
“I
have carried out the Lord’s instructions“.
It is not until Samuel pointed out the sheep and cattle that Saul
added, “The
soldiers brought them from the Amalekites… to sacrifice to the
Lord“.
In the midst of the sound and smell of the evidence, Samuel asked,
“Why
did you not obey the Lord?”
With the rationality of a teenager explaining how he didn’t REALLY
disobey his parents, Saul insisted, “But
I did obey the Lord“.
Samuel then spoke with a heavy heart, “To
obey is better than sacrifice“.
And he added
“Because
you rejected the Word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king“.
Please notice God rejected Saul’s leadership position, not the
man.
We
live in an age of moral relativism. Those that do not wish to submit
to God as Lord must also reject His Word as truth. Without one
standard for right and wrong, any standard is as good as the other.
In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul writes about the result of
rejecting God’s standard: “For
although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God, nor gave
Him thanks”
(1:21). He concludes, “They
exchanged the truth of God for a lie”
(1:25). Don’t be deceived into believing partial obedience is good
enough. The ultimate result of rejecting God’s standards is, He
allows us to reap the rewards: “He
gave them over to their depraved mind to do what ought not be done”
(1:28). If this sounds like your life, take comfort. Our great
God of mercy never gives up on us. Romans 5:8 explains, “God
demonstrates His great love for us in this: While were still sinners,
Christ died for us“.
Even in our rebellion God has compassion on us. It is never too
late to seek forgiveness and be restored. “Everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”
(10:13).