1 - 35 The Lord Rejects Saul as KingSamuel tells Saul that the Lord wants Saul to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. The Lord tells Samuel what happened and that He regrets making Saul king. He basically tells Samuel to find Saul and tell him, "You're fired."
The next morning Samuel finds that Saul has set up a monument in his own honor. When he sees Samuel, he tells him that he carried out the Lord's instructions. Samuel asks about the sheep and cattle. Saul says he spared them to sacrifice them to the Lord, but destroyed the rest. Samuel also admits that he brought back Agag. Samuel says, " . . . To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." Then he tells him that the Lord has rejected Saul as king. Saul pleads with Samuel and tears his robe. Samuel says, "The Lord as torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors - to one better than you."
Samuel allows Samuel to worship the Lord with him. Then Saul calls for Agag. Agag said, "Surely this is the bitterness of death." But Samuel says "As your sword has made women childless, so you mother will be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal." (NRSV). My notes say this is a ritual dismemberment associated with covenant violations.
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As a reminder; God orders revenge over the Amalekites for waylaying Israel on their way to this land from Egypt, while Moses led them. God orders TOTAL destruction.
12,000 soldiers assemble to attack. Saul told the Kenites to leave because they showed Israel kindness on their way out of Egypt. As Karlton said, Saul spared their king and the best livestock.
10 The Lord told Samuel, " I am grieved that I have made Saul ing, because he has turned away from me." Samuel was very disturbed at this and "cried out to the Lord" all night.
Saul wants forgiveness and to worship but again, too little too late. After they kill Agag, Saul and Samuel separate to their homes and never see each other again.
Again, Saul is an example against taking our lives into our own hands. Although we aren't kings, God has given us work and responsibilities in His name. We can join him, agree with him, and see HIS success which will bring us joy (both in the work and the success) beyond imagination OR we can "do it our way" (no offense Frank Sinatra) and, if not suffer, be constantly dissatisfied with our life.
We are just as important and any king or ruler God has appointed throughout the ages. He loves us all equally but we can only know and enjoy His love through obedience.
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