July 9, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Samuel and Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Samuel 15 (NIV)
The Lord Rejects Saul as King
1 Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them.…..Continue Reading
While it is always hard to hear God command a whole people including women, children, and animals to be slaughtered, the Amalekites had their own history of cruelty to the Israelities and had killed many of them when they were at their weakest and for that God required a consequence.
Saul and his men, however, decided to skirt that command and keep the good stuff. In a feeble attempt to explain himself saying they kept it to be sacrificed to God, God knows our heart and this excuse did not go very far. God doesn’t want empty sacrifices, He wants our heart and our obedience to His word. Even after seperating from Saul and not going to see him anymore, Saul did not seek out Samuel showing a true desire for repentance instead he just went about his business so a sad end comes to the king that should never have been to start.
So sad to see the ignoble end of someone who started our fairly well. And although it is hard to read about God’s direction to completely annihilate the Amalekites, we have to understand that this is part of who God is. He is not to be trifled with and He cares about righteousness and about His people. The Amalekites deserved justice and His is not shy to order it to be carried out. Yet Saul is shy to obey and listens to his men.. It just reveals the kind of leader Saul was and why God rejected him. He was about himself, not God…even caring more about what the men said than God. He even set up a monument in his honor. Well Saul reveals his true intent and heart and God now will find someone else. Saul had it all there before him…as do we in many ways…will we be faithful to fulfill God’s will, regardless.?
1 Samuel 15
Whether part of Saul’s reasoning for not following the Lord’s command was to bring forward a sacrifice or if that was just an excuse, it does bring up a valid point. Sometimes we attempt to do what we feel is good in the eyes of God when we are in fact not being obedient to His will. A good thing is not in fact good when we are disobedient. I can definitely relate to times in my own life where I felt I was doing the right thing when I in fact was not in line with God’s direction and plan for me at the moment. To me it conveys the importance of us being in constant fellowship with the Lord in order that we can be fully aware of His calling and direction in our lives. It is sometimes a daily challenge with all that life brings, however it is comforting to know that the Lord will always meet us where we are at!
Amen, Sean!
1 Samuel 10-15; Mark 5-7
1 Samuel 15
God said “Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” But Saul “spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good.” Then he “set up a monument in his own honor.” When confronted by Samuel, Saul lies “The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God” When confonted, Saul tells the truth ” I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” When we sin, we must be totaly truthful about it from the start. Repent, know that we are forgiven, and move forward in obedience. If we don’t, people will not totally trust what we say to be true. So be honest when asked if we have done something wrong. When we do this, we operate out of integrity, and people will be more willing listen to us when we tell them about Jesus.
Not much else to say after reading these comments from all of you. We were speaking last night at study how most people reject a relationship with God. Even Judas who first hand saw miracles. Saul about his own interest. Hardened heart is the worst human condition by far.
”So Samuel said: “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 heed than the fat of rams.“
I Samuel 15:22 NKJV
I was thinking this pairs well with Mark 7, where Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for disregarding their parents for their own traditions….for Their own benefit.
”But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”“
Mark 7:11-13 NKJV
They mask their disobedience (and greed) by saying it is a gift to God. Just like Saul does by saying the sheep and oxen were kept, sacrifice to God.
Good connection, Amy!
1samuel 15