1 Samuel 15:22–33

And 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 listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
            and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
            he has also rejected you from being king.”

Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the LORD.” And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.” As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. And Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the LORD your God.” So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the LORD.

Then Samuel said, “Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” And Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

Samuel crushes Saul’s claim that he “obeyed the voice of the LORD” by declaring his rebellion to be as evil as divination. At last Saul repents, but it sounds more like he’s sorry that he got caught rather than real repentance. So Samuel repeats, “the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

As Samuel turns to leave, Saul clings to him, tearing his robe. Samuel snaps at Saul, but then something strange happens. Saul asks only for honor so he can bow before the LORD, and Samuel relents.

Saul still only really cares about his own dignity, but Samuel grants him that.

There’s a curious parallel between this section of scripture and the fall. Just as God’s death sentence on Adam wasn’t immediately executed, so the end of Saul’s reign will come later. Both are declarations of the ultimate outcome, not of the moment.

Saul’s dynasty is done, but Saul is not.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday ones are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to the DEEP click here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

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Scripture taken from the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.