1 Samuel 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
Note anger associated with the Spirit of God
1 Samuel 11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
1 Samuel 11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
This is refreshing. After all the mayhem in Judges. This is a display of the mercy of God, and his willingness to forgive and start again. Even after God didn’t want them to have a King. God was giving them a chance to renew things so to speak.
1 Samuel 12:3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
Samuel kept his nose clean. He was a good man. He made his mama proud. His dedication came before he was even born. Reminds me of John the Baptist.
1 Samuel 12:9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
Reminding them of the book of Judges
1 Samuel 12:11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
More reminders… Jerubbaal is Gideon if you don’t remember.
1 Samuel 12:12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
Reminder: God didn’t want a king. This was your idea.
1 Samuel 12:14-15 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: (15) But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Your fate is tied to the fate of the king.
1 Samuel 12:17-18 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. (18) So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
I don’t understand why the people still went through with this. But why did God go through this. He didn’t have to give them a king.
1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
Very popular verse. Not sure if I have anything to say about this right now.
1 Samuel 13:3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
I think this is the first time that the name Hebrew is used. There is a divide already in the kingdom. I’m not sure when this happened. But all Israel is already divided.
1 Samuel 13:9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
This was Saul’s great sin. Up to this point and even this point, you sense no wickedness of rebellion in Saul.
1 Samuel 13:11-12 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? 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; (12) Therefore 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.
I don’t know about you. But I may have done the same thing. It makes logical sense. I mean he’s been anointed king. Why shouldn’t he make some executive decisions. Plus Samuel was late. What was he supposed to do? I’m no making excuses. I’m just saying… People scattering, Phillistines gathering, Samuel late? You better do something and something fast.
1 Samuel 13:13-14 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. (14) But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
But he picked the wrong thing. That’s it. You’re out. You made one mistake and it’s over. It doesn’t seem fair. I’m just being honest. I know there’s alot more to this than that. But I’m a carnal ignoramus so this is what comes out.
1 Samuel 13:19-21 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: (20) But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. (21) Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
What a ridiculous position to be in. How did they get themselves in such a situation? Reminds me of when the Germans confiscated the Jews weapons. Or any government that bans guns and things like that.
1 Samuel 13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
How are they supposed to go war like this? I just don’t understand this. How are they supposed to defend themselves. This is nuts.
1 Samuel 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
I’ve always been amazed and moved by this story. Jonathan for that matter is quite a character. He goes out on a limb. He risks everything.
It may be… It may not be… But Jonathan put God to the test. He believed in God and possessed that which God had promised. Confidence.
1 Samuel 14:9-10 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. (10) But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
I don’t know why I marked this verse in the first place, but I did just see this: They were going to fight no matter what. He said if they say to tarry then they would stand still. That doesn’t mean that the Philistines weren’t coming. Either way this went, Jonathan was prepared to fight. I’m not sure if he thought he’d lose if they came to him, but none the less he would have to fight.
1 Samuel 14:17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
They were in battle fighting. That’s where they were.
1 Samuel 14:19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.
Withdraw thine hand? Interesting remark.
1 Samuel 14:27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
Why would anybody be held guilty for doing something they had no clue was not to be done. I understand the guilt of man in sinning against the law. I understand there’s an ignorance that will not be excusable, but this is just a command by a King.
So we have an example of an executive regulation being made, someone in violation of that decree because they didn’t know it, now they’re going to die. Sounds like OSHA
1 Samuel 14:30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
Oh no. That would make sense and produce results. We can’t have that. Kings make a decree, we need to follow it. Not question it.
1 Samuel 14:32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
Now, in Saul’s defense, we see the folly of Jonathan’s answer. He openly questions his father’s orders about eating honey, and a few verses later, all Israel is eating blood. If Jonathan did it, then why can’t we?
1 Samuel 14:36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
Yeah, why don’t we ask God first. That sounds like a good idea. But Verse 37 says that God answered him not that day. What a place to be. No answer from God. Battle before him. A vow to kill his son before him. And no answer. But he has to go on. What is he supposed to do?
1 Samuel 14:45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
Very embarrassing.
1 Samuel 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
Wow. That was a long time ago. God don’t forget.
1 Samuel 15:4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
See the division. 200,000 men of Israel, and 10,000 men of Judah.
1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, 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.
The Bible records Saul and the people, not just the people.
1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Yeah, that was pretty clear. Brutal but clear. Saul just didn’t do it.
1 Samuel 15:11 It 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.
Look at that. He cried unto the LORD all night for a wayward king. Did you ever do that for Obama? I’m just saying.
1 Samuel 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
This is the truth; how we deceive ourselves in religious matters. One may be so convinced that what they’re doing is okay; that they’re right with God. And they’re not and all they did is wrong. Somewhere Saul says that he has played the fool.
1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
The sobering thing here is that Saul was going to kill everything he was supposed to kill, including the king Agag and the choice of the spoil he kept. He was going to do it. Just not now. This is what I see. Saul is going to things his way. And this is so common. People don’t want to do what they’re told. They just take orders from people that are over them; much less from God. So what they do is they get the job done, but they make sure it gets done their way and not the boss’s way. They’ll modify it just a little for what reason I don’t know other that they’re jerks. Out of spite, pride, or whatever. They’ll change just a little bit of what is asked of them to prove something to themselves or their boss. I don’t understand it. I guess we all do that to some extent. But it’s annoying.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 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. (23) For 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.
To obey and to hearken. That’s best; even in a day and age where church’s have required so much action from their people. They have to participate in everything: fun, games, socializing, eating, this and that. In church, if the man of God would get hold of God and deliver His word from the pulpit, and the congregation hearken and obey, I believe that the LORD will have great delight. Maybe there’s so little hearkening and obeying because there just isn’t anything to hearken to or obey. No expectations. No standards. No challenge. No voice of God.
1 Samuel 15:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
Saul was honest and to this point he still seems humblified. That evil spirit has not yet come upon him. When it does, he is different.
I feared the people. Don’t we all. We make decisions based on what we think people would think not what God has said or allowed or made possible. Paul said, I can do all thing through Christ Jesus who strengtheneth me.
1 Samuel 15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
Such a scene. I don’t doubt Saul’s honesty in this. It’s sad. I feel sorry for him.
1 Samuel 15:32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
Nope. Samuel hew Agag into pieces. Sounds like he was a little upset about Saul not getting the job done. “I guess I gotta do things myself around here!!!” Whack Whack Whack! “I guess if you want things done right, you gotta do ’em yourself!” Whack! Whack! Whack!
1 Samuel 15:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Sad so sad. Sometimes it’s time to just give up on someone. Not give up hope, but to let be what is. A biblical “It is what it is!”