God s Rejection Of Saul As King 1 Samuel 15:1-35 Message by Michael J. Barnard June 3, 2018 Teaching Aim: To explore the circumstances surrounding God s rejection of King Saul as king of Israel. To search for Saul s motivation in disobeying God s command to completely destroy the Amalekites. To understand that God isn t looking for phony religious acts, He is looking for our love and obedience to Him. To realize we might be able to con others, but we can t con God; if we try, there will be severe consequences, as we see in the case of King Saul! DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: Saul s attack on the Amalekites and his sparing of King Agag (1 Sam. 15:1-9) 1. Following the huge military victory over the Philistines recorded in chapter 14 and victory over enemies all around (14:47-52), what enemy is singled out for attack in 1 Sam. 15:1-3? Why was Amalek to be punished so severely (vs. 2)? (See Exod. 17:8-16; Num. 24:20; Deut. 25:17-19; Judg. 6:3-5) According to Deut. 25:17-19, what were the Israelites to do once they were firmly established in the Promised Land? 2. Why is verse 3 difficult for many modern readers to stomach? We have become so used to receiving God s grace and mercy that we not only expect it, we demand it. In verse 3 we get a glimpse of God s justice; much like we do when Uzzah touched the ark of God in 2 Sam. 6:7. Why do you think God commanded all of these individuals to be killed? How is this a picture of the end times? (See Deut. 20:16-18) 3. What is another biblical name for the city mentioned in verse 4 as Telaim? (Hint: See Commentaries) What major event previously took place at this city? (See 1 Sam. 11:15) King Saul initially seems to follow the commands of the LORD in verses 4-5 and even shows kindness to the Kenites in verse 6. Why were the Kenites shown kindness while the others were not? (See Jug. 1:16; Exod. 18; Num. 10:29-32) 4. How did the Kenites respond to the warning from King Saul (vs. 6b)? How extensive was the battle between Israel and the Amalekites (vs. 7)? 1
5. What history changing sin did Saul commit in verses 8 & 9? Was this a direct violation of the LORD s command to Saul through the prophet Samuel? Why do you think Saul spared Agag and not the others? Would this sin come back to bite Saul and the Israelites? How? 6. (See Esth. 3:1-6; 7:3) Have you ever had a sin you ve committed come back to bite you? 7. Why did Saul and the people spare the best of the livestock and everything good while at the same time destroying everything despised and worthless (vs. 9)? What can we learn about the spiritual state of Saul and the people from this act? Have you ever let greed affect your decision-making? If so, how? Part II: Because of Saul s disobedience, God rejects Him as king (1 Sam. 15:10-23) 1. What surprising remark does the LORD make to Samuel in verses 10 & 11a? Is the LORD acknowledging that He is capable of making mistakes? Why or why not? What do you think the LORD meant by this statement? 2. How did the LORD s extreme disappointment at Saul s actions affect Samuel (vs. 11)? Have you ever had the lifestyle of a family member or friend break your heart? How did it affect your relationship with them? 3. Samuel, being several miles away from King Saul, was given a special revelation from the LORD. What did he learn (vs. 12)? Was this the Mount Carmel of Elijah fame, or was it another place in Israel? (See Commentaries) Where was this city located? 4. In the beginning Saul was a humble man (9:21). What changes had occurred in Saul s life by verse 12? What major sin did he commit? Who should have received the glory for Israel s military victory? 2
5. How did King Saul react upon the prophet Samuel s arrival in the camp at Gilgal (vs. 13)? Was Saul being truthful to Samuel? Had Saul obeyed or disobeyed the commandment of God (vv. 1-3)? If people lie for long enough, is it possible for them to begin believing their own lies? How do you see the lies of politicians and the media affecting our country today? 6. How did Samuel respond to Saul s false claim that he had performed the commandment of the LORD (vs. 14)? Why should you never lie to a prophet of God? 7. Did King Saul repent after Samuel called him out on his first lie (vs. 15)? What did he do? How did Saul try to put a religious spin on his second lie? Have you ever spoken with someone who tried to put a spiritual spin on an evil lifestyle? 8. How did Samuel respond to Saul s attempt to make his sin spiritual (vs. 16)? How did Saul react when Samuel confronted his sin in verses 20 & 21? Do you think King Saul had come to believe his own lies or do you think he felt that he was above the law? Are people still guilty of convincing themselves that a sin is not a sin? Can you think of any examples? 9. What spiritual truth can we learn from verse 22? Is Samuel saying that the LORD had canceled the sacrificial system? What was he saying? (See Psalm 51:16-17) 10. What, if any, difference is there between religion and true Christianity? Have you ever been guilty of phony religion? When did your Christianity become real to you? 11. Who had King Saul rebelled against (vs. 23)? Who had Saul elevated to the status of an idol (vs. 12)? An idol is anything in our life that is more important than our relationship with God? Have you ever had an idol in this sense? What happens if we reject God s Word today? 3
Part III: Saul insincerely seeks God s forgiveness and restoration (1 Sam. 15:24-35) 1. Does King Saul appear to repent in verse 24? What partial truth did Saul acknowledge? What is the difference between attrition and contrition? Was the repentance Saul illustrated one of attrition or contrition (vs. 25)? 2. Did Samuel buy Saul s insincere repentance (vs. 26)? How did he respond? What piercing words did Samuel deliver to King Saul in verse 26? Is a day coming when we will be judged for our actions, whether good or bad? (See Rom. 14:11-12; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15) 3. What did Saul do as Samuel turned around to leave (vs. 27)? How did Samuel turn this moment into an object lesson for King Saul (vs. 28)? According to verse 29, how certain was this judgment? Who would see it through? What is an alternate name for this title of God? 4. Do you think Saul s confession in verse 30 was sincere? Why or why not? Was King Saul more concerned about what others thought of him or of what God thought of him? Are you ever guilty of this sin? What should our primary concern be? 5. What surprising move did Samuel make in verse 31? Why? What did Samuel do before worshiping the LORD (vs. 32)? How did Agag react to Samuel s summoning? 6. The word hacked in verse 33 can also be translated executed. What violent act took place at the hand of this man of God? Why was he so violent? How was Samuel s action an illustration of God s future judgment on sin? What will unbelievers face on Judgment Day? 7. What did Samuel and Saul do following this traumatic event (vs. 34)? How far were these two cities located from each other? 4
8. What can we learn from verse 35 about the seriousness of Samuel s action (vs. 33)? How did Saul s sin affect Samuel? How did the LORD react to Saul s phony repentance and sin? 9. What practical applications do you see in 1 Samuel 15? How do they apply to your life? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! We have come to expect (if not demand) the grace and mercy of God; we are shocked when God gives us a glimpse of His justice every now and then! God regretted making Saul king in the sense that He was grieved over Saul s actions! God desires our love and obedience, not insincere religious acts! You can con others, but you cannot con God! Saul was more concerned about what others of him than what God thought of Him; many of us are guilty of the same sin today! God holds us accountable when we sin against Him; there are always consequences to pay! 5