When We Fear the People


1 Samuel 15:24-35
24Saul 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. 25Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 26And 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.” 27As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28And 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. 29And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30Then 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.” 31So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord. 32Then 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.” 33And 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. 34Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Saul will remain the king of Israel for several years to come. But this event has severed his relationship with Samuel. Clearly, God has withdrawn His blessing over Saul’s reign and has already moved onto a more worthy successor, David. In this final conversation, we find Saul making excuses and admitting that he “feared the people and obeyed their voice”. Saul’s need to please ruined his character and his reign. He placed the acceptance of the people over his dedication to God.

After his demotion Saul finally admitted his sin, but still clung to what he saw as extenuating circumstances: his fear of the people led to his incomplete execution of God’s command. Instead of confessing his utter dependence on divine mercy, Saul was still trying to justify his works and hoping that his explanation would merit a measure of forgiveness and entice Samuel to bless his worship of Yahweh. It is no surprise then, that Samuel refused to go with Saul, since Saul was still rejecting the Word of Yahweh, the same Word who had condemned his actions. In regretting having made Saul king, God displayed his continuing compassion toward Israel and his desire to bring all people to salvation. This remains his gracious will—but his grace is resistible, as Saul had shown. In not changing his mind, God displayed his unchangeable nature and his immutable will. He was determined to give his people the blessing of a righteous ruler, and nothing could thwart his plan, which would culminate in the Son of David, Christ the King.
Steinmann, A. E. ©2016. 1 Samuel. (p. 298-299). Saint Louis, MO: CPH.

The Scriptures are unflinching when it comes to living a life of obedience to God. Saul made bad choices and loses everything. Yes, he is king. But his life is an ongoing tragedy. He walks away from God and it will be ugly. His relationship with Samuel is ruined and that would have been a relationship to cherish. He throws that away with both hands, just as he did with his walk with the Lord. The future will be difficult, by his own choice.

But – I don’t want this to be completely negative. Even in this disappointing time, Samuel does take the time to worship with Saul and show him that restoration with God is still possible. Mercy is held out. Saul doesn’t end up taking that gift, but it is offered. God may have stripped Saul of the kingdom, but He still holds out personal mercy, even though He knows Saul won’t receive it.

God does the same for us every single day. He choses mercy over wrath and we are granted His forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. I guess we can chose to walk away from that blessing, but why would we do that?

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