Samuel: Learning Real Obedience

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: I Samuel 15:10-23
Psalters: 403, 273, 243, 321
  1. God’s vengeance.
    1. The comfort of divine vengeance: Deut. 32:35 with Ex. 17:18; Num. 24:20; Deut. 25:17-19.
    2. Now God executes His judgment through Saul: utterly destroy, spare not, slay (3), until they be consumed (1-9,18,32,33).
      1. Jehovah’s vengeance is to be praised as just and is a source of great comfort for those treated unjustly.
      2. Without God’s vengeance on His and our enemies there would be no deliverance for His people (Isa. 35:4; 61:2; Rev. 6:9,10).
    3. Be aware that God’s vengeance is not only on the reprobate but also on the elect, though with a different result.
  2. The importance of obedience.
    1. God declares that Saul turned back from following Me (11) and that he rejected God’s Word (23,26).
    2. Saul cheeringly claims that he carried out God’s command (13), directly contradicting God’s judgment (11a).
      1. When Samuel asks about the noise of the animals, Saul claims that the livestock were for sacrifices.
      2. Samuel’s second question was why Saul did not listen to Jehovah, but did evil in God’s sight (19).
      3. Samuel’s third question is whether Jehovah delights in burnt offerings and sacrifices (22,23).
    3. Samuel asserts the value of obedience.
      1. He condemns formal worship, declares that it is no substitute for obedience.
      2. More clear is Samuel’s identifying Saul’s disobedience as “rebellion” and “stubbornness” (pride).
  3. God declares that He “repenteth,” that He made Saul to be king (11a), because he failed to obey, to carry out God’s command.
    1. Samuel found this difficult to accept; he: “grieved” (11b) was angry and his wrath was kindled (11b).
    2. How are we to understand that God “repenteth” (11,35b) and “will not lie nor repent” (29).
    3. Saul’s “repentance” (24,25, 30) is not genuine repentance.
    4. God’s communion with Saul as king through Samuel is ended (34,35).
    5. May we learn that obedience is possible only in our union with Jesus (who came to do and did do God’s will (Ps. 40:7).