1 Samuel 13:5-13b; 15:7-11,22-23The Sin of Selective Obedience
1 Samuel 13:5-13b; 15:7-11,22-23Copyright © 2008, American Journal of Biblical Theology
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Scripture quotes from KJV
During the period surrounding Samuel’s life, the nation of the Philistines played an important and sometimes devastating part in the Israelite experience. The settlement of the Philistines in Canaan predates the settlement of Israel by several centuries and they are believed to have migrated from across the Mediterranean Sea, possibly from Crete or Cyprus. The Philistines were competent in the fabrication of objects made of iron, causing Israel to be dependent upon their technology for iron objects such as farm implements. The agrarian Israelites were no military match for the nomadic and warrior Philistines.
However, during the period when Samuel judged Israel, the more powerful Philistines were held back by their fear of Yahweh who brought about their utter defeat at Mizpah. As long as the people looked to the LORD and to Samuel as His prophet, God’s hand of protection preserved the feeble Israelites.
However, as Samuel aged, the growing military threats that surrounded Israel led them to desire a king who would, like those of their neighbors, serve as a military leader who would guarantee their continued security. However, Samuel clearly taught them that God would take care of them if they would allow Him to be their king. The people rejected Samuel’s counsel, so contrary to God’s purpose, but under God’s direction, Samuel gave the people what they wanted when they anointed Saul as their first king.
When the Israelites rejected Samuel, they rejected God, removing themselves from His hand of protection. Immediately upon Saul’s anointing the Philistines began to again threaten Israel. Battles with the Philistines were common. Saul’s son, Jonathan and his armor bearer scored a miraculous victory at a Philistine outpost that brought an unexpected response from the Philistines. Saul expected a typically small skirmish to follow. What took place was quite different.
And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.
The army of the Philistine kings is described as larger than any other described in the Old Testament. It would appear that the Philistines determined to finally remove this disorganized group of Jews from the region, and their potential of success was significant. The Israelites simply could not engage such a large and well-armed force in battle. That is, they could not do so as long as they attempted to enter the conflict without God’s help and direction.
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 7And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him
Though some probably remembered God’s deliverance of the nation from the Philistines at Mizpah under the leadership of Samuel, that experience was only a vague memory that had since been overshadowed by the Philistines renewed successes. Consequently, the nation, including its new king Saul, was struck with great fear. Many simply considered the nation of Israel to be lost and hid themselves.
Samuel had instructed Saul to travel to Gilgal and wait for him to bring an offering to God and communicate God’s plan for deliverance. Samuel specifically told Saul to wait seven days and on the morning of the seventh day Samuel had not yet arrived.
How do we respond to fearful situations when all we can do is wait? We might use the time to think about the scenarios that are going to take place when we are overwhelmed. We might think about ways to take the situation into our own hands and formulate our own extraction from the circumstances. Rarely will we realize that this is an opportune time to spend in fasting and in prayer as we seek the LORD’s deliverance. Saul had this opportunity.
What was going through Saul’s mind during those seven days. When we consider that Saul’s commitment to God was shallow and conditional, much like most people today, it is not unreasonable to speculate that Saul was considering ways to defend the people. As the king he is expected to do something, and doing nothing serves only to bring more frustration. However, had Saul been a man of God he would have used that time productively as he would have been leading the nation to pray the LORD and seek His deliverance.
And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
What had Saul just done? Samuel had told him to wait seven days when he would come to Saul and offer the sacrifice. When Saul considered Samuel to be a no-show he took on the role of the priest and offered up the sacrifices. This says much about Saul’s character. Saul is not a priest, and is not a levite. By taking on this role he demonstrates his disregard for the priesthood and God’s purpose in it. By burning the sacrifice himself he is disregarding the very nature and purpose of the sacrifice in the first place. It is as though Saul looked at the necessity of the burnt offering as a ritual rather than a sacrifice.
And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11And Samuel said, What hast thou done?
Samuel arrived in Gilgal just as Saul had completed the burning of the sacrifice. The smoke and odor would still be in the air. Samuel, by asking this question gave Saul an opportunity to consider his actions. Saul would know that he had done what was reserved for Samuel. Yet, Samuel gave Saul an opportunity for confession and repentance. There is no question that Saul acted out of fear and desperation that was motivated by his lack of faith in God. Yet, God always provides an opportunity for repentance.
And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
Was Saul’s response one of confession and repentance? Saul’s response was one of a baseless rationalization that attempted to shift the blame elsewhere. First he blamed his action on the urgency of the situation. However, the day was not yet over, and there would yet be time for Samuel to offer the sacrifice. He further argued that he was following the edict of the King of Israel, a rather weak argument since he is that king. Saul simply made excuses, never acknowledging the spiritual context of this situation. He did not acknowledge that he had sinned against God by despising the sacrifice, a sin similar to that of Eli’s sons Hophni and Phineas who were judged for their sin. It was the sin of despising the sacrifice that ultimately deposed the Elidan priesthood, and would ultimately dethrone this self-centered and incompetent king.
Saul’s act and his response show his complete misunderstanding of God’s nature. Likewise, the way we respond to the world around us reveals much of what we understand of God’s nature. How much of the abundant life that God promises to those who follow Him
And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
Are there consequences to our disobedience? The consequence for Saul is huge. Samuel had prophesied that the Israelite kings would turn them away from God, and this first of the kings was leading the way. Saul had been given the opportunity to lead his nation in faithfulness to God, but had led on his own power instead. Samuel clearly states that God’s purpose for Saul is that through him the kingdom would be eternally established.
People treat God today in much the same manner. Saul saw God as one to call upon in times of trouble rather than one with which to establish an on-going relationship. Saul only sought God when the conditions were dire, and even then he sought God on his own terms, terms that demonstrated his own lack of faith and understanding.
Unlike Saul, his son Jonathan did seek obedience to the LORD and when he made a raid upon a Philistine garrison the violence confused the enemy who started fighting amongst themselves and finally withdrew. However, Israel’s conflict with the Philistines and her other enemies was far from over.
And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
When Saul faced the Amalekites he did so following the LORD’s command to completely destroy the tribe including all of its people, animals, and spoils, taking nothing for himself. This is consistent with God’s promise to utterly destroy the Amalekites . The command would also be a test for Saul and his leadership. Following the LORD’s command, Saul was successful in destroying Amalek as the cities that are listed encompass the limits of their people.
And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9But Saul and the people spared Agag,
The command of the LORD was for Saul to destroy all of the Amalekites. However, Saul chose to spare the life of its king, Agag. It is notable that the writer of the account repeats the description of Agag’s survival. In the first instance, Saul is personally accountable for Agag, and in the second example the people are included in the choice, a reference to Saul’s leadership. Why would Saul keep Agag alive? It was a common practice among the ancients to take the king alive, so by doing they could humiliate the prisoner, showing their power. The practice was also shared by pagan kings who believed that by taking an opponent king, they were appropriating for themselves some of the prisoner’s power. The entire act of taking the king as a prisoner was self-serving, and was a direct violation of the command that God gave to Saul.
We might refer to Saul’s capture of Agag as “selective obedience,” a practice that is probably quite common today. Christians testify to their obedience to the LORD, yet they pick and choose which areas of life are subject to His lordship. We claim obedience, but fall short of complete obedience. What are some of the areas in our lives where we fall short of submitting ourselves entirely to the LORD? What are some of the things in our lives that are to be dedicated entirely to the LORD, but we keep back a portion for ourselves? Saul kept back a small, but valuable, portion of the defeat of the Amalekites for himself, and by that “small” digression is characterized by disobedience. Saul’s example was well-received by the army:
and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Saul’s choice of selective obedience was shared by those who served him. Saul, as king, could easily have dictated that the spoils that were taken be destroyed. However, it was not in his heart to destroy such valuable things, particularly those that are the best of the spoils. They did utterly destroy that which was not desirable to keep, but they chose to keep that which they desired.
Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
The response of the LORD to Samuel’s disobedience is notable. The word that is translated, “repenteth,” or “grieved,” is used in this context in only one other place in the Old Testament, when God looked over the wickedness of the people and determined to bring the devastating flood. Understanding God’s omniscience, we also know that God knew Saul, his nature, and his sin. God does not discover new knowledge as time transpires, since He knows and sees all that is His creation from His vantage point in eternity. However, the word of the LORD that is brought to Saul is brought through Samuel, who needed to understand God’s heart to fully communicate the nature of the circumstance to Saul. Samuel, understanding the utter failure of the king was angry with Saul and concerned about Israel’s future. He was moved to the point of lying awake all night crying out to the LORD. During that time with God, Samuel came to an affirmation of the consequence of Saul’s disobedience, and a clear direction in how to address Saul.
When Samuel confronted Saul, he was greeting with bragging about his success and his obedience, stating “I have established Yahweh’s words.” He had no idea of the truth of the statement, but the words that he established were those of the prophecy of his own demise. When Samuel asked about the presence of the spoils, Saul blamed the disobedience on his soldiers, rationalizing that they were preserved for sacrifice to the “LORD your God.” Saul’s position had moved so far from a relationship with God that Saul admitted that it was Samuel who had a relationship with God rather than himself. Ultimately, Saul refused to accept Samuel’s criticism of his actions, insisting that he had obeyed God, and the taking of the king of Amalek and the spoils was inconsequential.
3. THE TRUE VALUE OF SELFLESS OBEDIENCE
And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Samuel had continued to listen to Saul’s litany of rationalizations as he attempted to justify his disobedience to the LORD. Finally, Samuel simply interrupted Saul with one of the most notable and well-known statements of his prophetic career. Actually, Samuel stated his argument as a four-line Hebrew-styled poem:
Does the LORD Delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.For rebellion is like the sin of divination
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king.
What does the LORD truly seek from those who profess to have faith in Him? Some will go through a complex set of rituals hoping to win His favor. Some will work long and hard hoping that their service will turn God’s heart. Some will give great gifts and make great sacrifices hoping to find redemption. However, no matter how difficult the ritual, no matter how great the work, and no matter how great the sacrifice, it is simply obedience that God desires. That obedience is deserved by God simply because of who He is: LORD.
What does it mean to be “LORD?” When we look at the life of Samuel, we see an individual who not only acknowledged that God was his LORD, he showed it in His life as he gave God authority over every part of his life. A LORD has complete and uncompromised authority over his subjects. If we profess Jesus Christ as LORD, then the true evidence of our testimony is not shown in our sacrifice, but rather in our obedience. All of the sacrifices ever given cannot together please the LORD as much as a simple act of obedience.
When we look at our lives, do we see ourselves as a Samuel who has dedicated his entire life to the LORD? Or, do we see ourselves as a Saul who claims to be a child of the King, but does everything his own way, without a true regard for the true King? Probably most of us are positioned on a spectral line somewhere between these two disparate examples. If we lean toward Saul’s end of the spectrum we probably have never seriously considered the importance of acknowledging and living under Jesus’ Lordship. The consequences of disobedience are profound. God has a plan and purpose to provide and protect those who have placed their faith in Him as He provides them with blessing and abundance of spiritual fruit. Those who reject His Lordship reject that hand that provides that spiritual blessing and abundance, and have no idea of what they are missing. They may look at circumstances and ask, “why is this happening to me?” never realizing that those circumstances are simply the result of a lifestyle that is characterized by rebellion towards God.
If God is not the LORD of our entire life, He is not LORD. If God is not LORD, we are in rebellion. The litmus test of Lordship is found in one simple word: obedience. We know enough of God’s Word, and enough of what the Holy Spirit is communicating to us to put away our pride and confess before an omniscient LORD that we have come short of complete obedience in our lives. Having come short, it is appropriate that we turn from our self-centered ways and put God in charge of our lives. God, through Samuel, gave Saul several opportunities to confess and repent of his self-will and turn to God in obedience. However, Saul continually refused to accept responsibility for his action and was in complete denial of any disobedience. The consequence for Saul was to be removed from his place of service to the LORD. When we live in denial of our sin and refuse to turn to God in complete obedience, we are simply acting like Saul, and God may also remove us from a place of service for Him.
Samuel spoke to Saul about rebellion and arrogance, equating them with the sins of witchcraft and idolatry. These sins turn us away from God. To rebel against God is the height of arrogance, since by our rebellion we reduce our opinion of God’s majesty to a level below our own self-will. This is a harsh reminder to all of us of the dangers of self-will. Let us take the example of Saul to heart as we look at our own lives and set aside our denial, our pride, our self-will and our arrogance as we return to the LORD who fully deserves our obedience.
Bergen, Robert D. (1996). 1,2 Samuel, The New American Commentary, Vol 7. Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman Publishers.
VanHorn, W. Wayne. (2008) 1,2 Samuel, Explore the Bible Adult Commentary. Nashville, TN: Lifeway Christian Resources.