Year 1, Week 30, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 30, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Samuel 14-15.

Today’s reading continues a summary description of Saul’s reign as king. 1 Samuel 14 heightens the contrast between Saul and his son, Jonathan. Jonathan is presented as not only faithfully courageous, as he battles the Philistines; but also highly valued by the people of Israel. In the aftermath of Jonathan unintentionally violating Saul’s rash vow, it is the people of Israel who plead Jonathan’s case: “Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die” (1 Samuel 13:45). 1 Samuel 15 notes Saul’s act of disobedience that results in his disqualification as Israel’s king.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the LORD’s rejection of Saul as king because of his pattern of disobedience: “In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:6-8). The LORD requires obedience over sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15 begins with Samuel’s emphatic words to Saul concerning obedience: “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul was to destroy the Amalekites, sparing no one. This was what the LORD required of Saul.

Saul’s military assault was a success—the Amalekites were defeated. However, Saul did not regard the LORD’s instructions: “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction” (1 Samuel 15:9). The LORD conveys Himself to Samuel: “The word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night” (1 Samuel 15:10). It became clear what the LORD said to Samuel in the duration of Samuel’s seeking the LORD: “Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.” And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. And the LORD sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?” (1 Samuel 15:16-19).

Saul offered an explanation for his disobedience: “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:20-21). But the LORD does not accept Saul’s explanation. Through Samuel, the LORD spoke: “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” (1 Samuel 15:22-23). There were a lot of sacrificial rituals in the Old Covenant that Israel was to perform; however, the mere practice of rituals was not the true mark of faithfulness to the LORD. Obedience was a more essential mark.

Back in 1 Samuel 13, Saul’s disobedience resulted in the forfeiture of any kingly dynasty coming from Saul. Now, Saul’s continued disobedience resulted in his forfeiture of the office of king. The LORD had vacated the office (although this will get worked out in stages), and had already raised up another: “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” (1 Samuel 15:28). There was not a man more handsome than Saul (see 1 Samuel 9:2); but there was a man who was more faithful. Not everything that Saul did was bad, but Saul never really grasped the importance of being a king who was obedient to the LORD before anything else.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe