Old Testament - 1 Samuel 15 - June 15, 2022

 6/15/2022 – 1 Samuel 15 

This is a sad chapter. We see that the Lord rejects Saul as king because of his disobedience. In the beginning, Saul had been called because of his humility: “thou wast little in thine own sight” (v 17) But in a fairly short time Saul began to trust in his own wisdom instead of looking to God. Saul DOES repent, but his repentance was too late and very short-lived. 

At the beginning of this chapter, Samuel speaks to Saul confirming that “the Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king…over Israel: [and Samuel specifically reminds Saul of the most important thing] now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord.” ( v1)

Then in v 11, after Saul has made changes in the battle plan that the Lord had giving him for his battles with the Amalekites, the Lord says to Samuel “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments.” Saul shows no remorse for his not following the Lord’s battle directions. In fact he tells Samuel that NOT destroying the sheep and oxen would provide Israel with fine animals to sacrifice to the Lord. “Samuel’s response to that was: “ When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel? “ (v 17) and …”Hath 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…” (v 22)

Humility will never harm us, but pride and vanity will always bring us down! 

In v 23 Samuel tells Saul “…Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord , he hath also rejected thee from being king.” Saul is now sorrowful about his actions and he tells Samuel “I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people , and obeyed their voice….Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin.._” (v’s 24-25)  

Saul was too late in his repentance, and as he went through his mistakes, he also gave reasons why it was better to have done things his way, instead of the Lord’s way.  “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel” (v 35)

Harold B Lee said that a certain amount of spiritual preparation is necessary before we can receive divine communications. He said, “The Lord will bring us his blessings to that extent that we have diligence in keeping his commandments. Each of you, in other words, must stand on your own feet if you will receive the great blessings which the Almighty has in store for you.... “Stand upon your own feet, so the Lord can speak to you. In humility be prepared to say with Paul, ‘Lord, what wilt thou have me do?’ And with dauntless courage say with the boy Samuel ‘Speak, Lord, thy servant heareth.’ Be humble, be prayerful and the Lord will take you by the hand, as it were, and give you answer to your prayers.” (“But Arise and Stand upon thy Feet” –and I will Speak with Thee.” BYU Devotional 7 Feb 1956)


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