SAUL

The Lord was terribly grieved that he had made Saul king, even though Saul had rid Israel of many of their enemies, because  Saul had set up a monument in his own honor.  Samuel was troubled when he heard of those actions, and also for Saul having not destroyed the livestock of their enemies,  the people,  and their king, Agag.  Saul used the livestock to give homage to the Lord, deciding for himself that this would please God.  Now, Saul had to take the punishment for having disobeyed God's command , a great wrong doing.


When Samuel explained to Saul, "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king,"  Saul begged Samuel to "Please honor me before Israel's people, and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord." So Samuel returned with Saul. While they were there, Samuel asked the soldiers, "Bring me Agag, king of the Amalekites", the man whose life was spared in direct opposition to the Lord's command.  Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord.


You may wonder why God would be pleased to have Agag dead. Remember, when the Israelites were sent into Canaan they were told to destroy every man, woman, child and all their possessions, as God wanted no remnant of evil in their new world. Every living thing previously there  would otherwise remind the people of small gods, and God desired Himself to be their one and only God.  Their lives were to be wrapped around these words..."Thou shall have no other gods before me."  And Saul had made a god of himself.


Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, although mourned for him.  And the Lord was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel. 


Study/ "God  did not change His mind.  He did, however, change His attitude toward Saul when Saul changed.  Saul's heart no longer belonged to God, but to his own interests. Saul had lied to Samuel about the results of the  battle, as well as disobeying God.  People who lie  soon begin to believe the lies they construct around themselves.  Then lose the ability to tell the difference between truth and lies. By believing one's own lies one deceives one's self, and will become alienated from God, losing credibility in all one's  relationships.  Honesty wins out."


I am excited to tell you about how David meets Saul, and afterwards, Jonathan.


Bye for now,
Jo INMN