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1 Samuel 15

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1 Samuel 15

1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

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.

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.

4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

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.

10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

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.

12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

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.

14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.



19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

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.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

22 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.

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.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.

29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.

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.

33 And Samuel said, As the sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

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.

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Summary and the Meaning of 1 Samuel Chapter 15

The Rise and Fall of King Saul

The book of 1 Samuel is the ninth book of the Old Testament and is part of the historical books in the Bible. It is believed to have been written by the prophet Samuel around 930 BC and covers a period of approximately 115 years, from the birth of Samuel to the death of King Saul. The book of 1 Samuel tells the story of the rise and fall of Israel's first king, Saul, and the beginning of the reign of King David.

Chapter 15 of 1 Samuel is a pivotal chapter in the book, as it marks the turning point in Saul's reign as king. It begins with God giving a command to Saul through the prophet Samuel to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions. The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe that had attacked the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. God had promised to punish the Amalekites for their unprovoked attack on the Israelites (Exodus 17:14-16).

Saul gathers an army of 210,000 men and sets out to fulfill God's command. However, when they reach the Amalekite city of Amalek, Saul and his army spare King Agag and the best of the livestock, despite God's clear instructions to destroy everything (1 Samuel 15:9). Saul and his men justify their actions by saying they wanted to offer sacrifices to God with the best of the livestock. But God is not pleased with Saul's disobedience and sends the prophet Samuel to confront him.

The Main Themes of 1 Samuel Chapter 15

1. Obedience to God

The main theme of 1 Samuel chapter 15 is obedience to God's commands. Saul's failure to obey God's instructions leads to his downfall. This chapter serves as a warning to all believers that disobedience to God will have consequences. It emphasizes the importance of following God's commands and not relying on our own reasoning or justifying our disobedience.

2. The Dangers of Partial Obedience

Saul's partial obedience to God's command is also a prominent theme in this chapter. He did not completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions as instructed. This shows the danger of only partially obeying God's commands, as it can lead to even greater disobedience and sin. It is a reminder that God's commands are not open to interpretation or negotiation.

3. The Consequences of Sin

Another theme in 1 Samuel chapter 15 is the consequences of sin. God had warned the Israelites that the Amalekites would be punished for their attack on them. However, Saul's disobedience leads to the sparing of King Agag and the best of the livestock, which ultimately brings about the downfall of Saul's reign as king. This serves as a reminder that sin always has consequences and that we cannot hide or justify our disobedience to God.

4. The Importance of Repentance

After confronting Saul, the prophet Samuel pronounces God's judgment on him and declares that God has rejected him as king. Saul pleads with Samuel to forgive him and to go back with him to worship God. However, Samuel refuses and tells Saul that God has rejected him because he has rejected God's word. This highlights the importance of true repentance and the consequences of not truly turning back to God after sinning.

5. The Sovereignty of God

Throughout this chapter, we see the sovereignty of God at work. Despite Saul's disobedience, God's plan and purpose for the destruction of the Amalekites are fulfilled. This serves as a reminder that God is in control and that His plans will be accomplished, regardless of our actions or failures.

The Meaning of 1 Samuel Chapter 15

The main message of 1 Samuel chapter 15 is the importance of obedience to God's commands. Saul's disobedience and partial obedience to God's instructions lead to his downfall and ultimately result in God rejecting him as king. This chapter serves as a warning to all believers that disobedience to God will have consequences and that we must fully obey His commands without question or justification.

Another key message in this chapter is the danger of partial obedience. Saul's initial disobedience leads to even greater disobedience, as he justifies his actions and tries to please God on his own terms. This is a reminder that God's commands are not open to interpretation or negotiation, and partial obedience is still disobedience in the eyes of God.

Furthermore, 1 Samuel chapter 15 emphasizes the consequences of sin and the importance of true repentance. Despite Saul's pleas for forgiveness, his actions have consequences, and he is ultimately rejected by God. This serves as a reminder that our sins have consequences, and true repentance involves turning away from our sin and fully turning back to God.

Lastly, this chapter highlights the sovereignty of God. Despite Saul's disobedience, God's plan and purpose are still fulfilled. This reminds us that God is in control and that His plans will be accomplished, regardless of our actions or failures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 1 Samuel chapter 15 is a pivotal chapter in the book of 1 Samuel that highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands. It serves as a warning to all believers of the dangers of partial obedience and the consequences of sin. This chapter also emphasizes the importance of true repentance and the sovereignty of God. It is a reminder that we must fully submit to God and His will, and not rely on our own reasoning or justification. Let us learn from Saul's mistakes and strive to obey God's commands wholeheartedly, for His glory and our own good.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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