Expository Summary - 1 Samuel 15:22-23

The following is a concise and expository summary of 1 Samuel 15:22-23 by Andrew Wood on Pilgrim's Toolbox. For more scripture summaries and spiritual growth resources visit www.pilgrimstoolbox.com.

1 SAMUEL 15:22-23

We’re looking at the final rejection of Israel’s first king, Saul. Saul was commanded by the Lord through Samuel the prophet to annihilate the Amalekites, not even leaving their animals alive. Saul destroyed the people where he went, but left king Agag and the choice animals alive. Beginning in verse 10 we see the Lord’s response.
It should be noted that God expressing “regret” or “repentance” as we see in verses 11 and 35 needs to be interpreted with verse 29. This isn’t like we as men, express these. Nothing caught God off guard or thwarted His will (Jb 42:2). He’s expressing His grief over sin and a revealed change in His dealings with men (Gn 6:6). This change was decreed before time and as it took place in time (Ac 4:27-28; Mt 21:37-41), God truly expressed a response to what Saul had done. His sorrow or regret reflects His holy response to the sin, not a statement like, “Oops I messed up, I didn’t know Saul would do that. Now let’s try somebody else as king.” God is omniscient and sovereign (1 Jn 3:20; Dn 4:34-35). He exalts and brings low (1 S 2:7).
As you’re reading through the Scriptures there are some pretty remarkable stories, where it seems that the consequences of a decision were much greater than anyone would have guessed. Moses struck the rock when he was supposed to only speak to it and he ended up missing the Promised Land (Nu 20:12). Achan stole forbidden items and he and his family lost their lives (Jos 7:24-25). Uzzah touched the ark to steady it and was killed instantly by God (2 S 6:7). Looking at some of these stories, one might be tempted to ask the question, “What’s the big deal?” We’ll see through a study of two of the characters in this passage why this is a big deal.
The following are two men whose lives illustrate the only two alternatives: disobedience and obedience.
First, let’s look at the example of Saul
Saul sought his own honor. In verse 12 we see him setting up a monument to himself. He looked to himself instead of the Lord as the source of accomplishment.
In verse 30, Saul only wanted to worship to feel good, to be seen favorably in the eyes of the people and win back their approval. He abdicated his responsibility as leader. He wanted to follow the people instead of leading them. He was letting them set the agenda.
Next, we see that Saul was self deceived. If you look at verses 13 and 20 you’ll see that twice he thought that he’d carried out the command of the Lord. His heart and mind were so warped by sin that he thought he had done no wrong and attempted to justify himself. He lied to himself, and then to others, and said that everything was OK.
What’s the main thing that sums up Saul’s mistakes, and disobedience? He feared man more than God (24). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Pr 9:10). Thinking himself wise, he became a fool.
In order to obey God:
FEAR GOD, NOT MAN

Next, I want us to look at the example of Samuel
In verses 11 and 35, we’ll see that Samuel didn’t like what God said. This word from the Lord didn’t make him happy. I think often times in our lives we hear from the Lord His command for us to confront sin and we don’t like what we hear.

Though he didn’t like it, though it wasn’t enjoyable, he did it! He followed through on God’s instructions in detail. This is in contrast to Saul not fulfilling his task in detail, thereby resulting in disobedience. Samuel told Saul that God had rejected him and he killed Agag.
Next, we see that Samuel tested what he saw and heard, with what God said (13, 14). Saul told him one thing; he heard another and remembered what the Lord had said. God’s word was the gauge by which he measured everything else.
Another thing to note is that Samuel grieved for Saul. He cried out to the Lord all night. When was the last time you or I wept over someone in sin? We need to see how serious sin is and truly grieve over it, in our lives and in the lives of others. To sum up what Samuel did that we should learn from - through obedience he didn’t shy away from Saul’s sin and what still lingered. In order to obey God:
CONFRONT SIN AND PUT IT TO DEATH

Now that we’ve seen these two examples, I ask you: What sort of example will your life be? We’re tempted to ask, “What’s wrong with keeping a few animals?” The animals seemed innocent, and sometimes God even let the Israelites keep them. There was only one thing wrong with keeping them: God had said to destroy them.
You and I tend to think that things are no big deal. But the issue is obedience. What are those little things in your life that you’re attracted to instead of God? Some things aren’t wrong in and of themselves but when they get in the way of what God has told you to do, put them to death!
Saul treated Agag as a trophy to show to the people and to gain fame for himself as other kings from other nations were doing. Saul didn’t keep him alive for compassion sake, he kept him there as a means of boasting. What trophy is it in your life that you need to get rid of? The thing that makes you feel like you have some sense of worth. Remember the command, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Ct 1:31).
Saul persuaded himself that what he did was fine. He rejected the word of the Lord. How do we avoid being self deceived? “The heart of man is deceitfully wicked” (Jr 17:5). That means we’re not only sinful, but we don’t know how sinful we are. Therefore instead of trusting our heart, we must trust God’s word. The word is the only thing that will expose where we’re not being fully obedient. It’s the sword that will hew to pieces our pride, our self deception, our idols, and all our sins. Samuel didn’t just stab Agag, he cut him to pieces. We need to go all out when we use the word to mortify sin and renounce the enemies’ attacks. This is what must take place if you and I are to worship God rightly.
Because of Saul’s disobedience he ended up seeking his own honor. He didn’t repent and was unable to exalt the Lord in true worship. It was only a show. How dare we go into worship when we’ve not obeyed what the Lord has told us to do? Furthermore, how can we say we want to worship God when we’ve not repented of our sin and are really just there to make ourselves feel good or to be seen as spiritual or favorable in the sight of others. In order to obey God:
WORSHIP GOD FOR HIS OWN SAKE

Whose honor will you seek? We say we’re those who seek God’s glory whether in word or deed, but does this continually reflect our lives? For this type of life to be realized we absolutely cannot compromise God’s word and what He commands. We must OBEY! Remember Jesus’ words “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15).

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