When the Prophet Stops Speaking

The 15^th chapter of First Samuel seems to be one of the lowest points in Samuel’s life and ministry. In spite of God’s warnings concerning the people’s desire for a king, I believe Samuel did want Saul to rule well. In this story Saul not only disobeys God but deeply disappoints Samuel. 

In the first three verses Samuel delivers a very clear word to King Saul regarding the Amalekites:

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. 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. 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.

(1 Samuel 15:1-3 KJV)

God’s word to Saul through Samuel left no room for interpretation. It was clear, it was concise, and it was precise. This was God’s judgment against the Amalekites and Saul was to carry it out without question.

How often have we found ourselves in a situation where we’ve received a clear, concise, and precise word of the Lord? Perhaps it came from a prophetic word that bore witness with our spirit, confirming the deepest longings of our heart. Maybe a sermon preached reached out and settled upon us with such force that there was no question what God was saying to us personally, though we were in a room full of people. Perhaps in our quiet time while in prayer or reading the word, the still small voice of the Holy Spirit laid out a path before us, urging us to walk upon it. Or could it be we’ve been confronted with the thunder of God, trembling beneath the heavy realization that of a certainty, God has spoken at this time, in this place, to us, His servant? There’s no question God speaks to us in myriad ways. The questionable part is how we respond to his voice. As we read on, we’ll discover the tragedy of Saul’s response.

So after receiving the word of the Lord and warning the Kenites, who were among the Amalekites, to separate from harm’s way, Saul, went to battle.

And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 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.

(1 Samuel 15:7-9 KJV)

Saul partially fulfilled God’s command. He destroyed all the people of Amalek, but captured Agag, sparing his life, and took the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings and lambs. We see in these two passages of scripture the phrase “utterly destroy” used several times. The Hebrew word rendered utterly is châram, which according to Strong’s (H2763) means “A primitive root; to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physically and reflexively to be blunt as to the nose: - make accursed, consecrate, (utterly) destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose, utterly (slay, make away).”  So it was clear in God’s word to Saul that these people and their possessions were to be set apart, consecrated for destruction. In the next verses we see God’s displeasure and Samuel’s angst at what Saul had done.

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

(1 Samuel 15:10-11 KJV)

            We get a glimpse here of that interaction between God and His prophet. What was it that grieved Samuel so? Was it the fact that the LORD repented for setting Saul as king, or was it the fact that Saul had not performed the commandments as instructed? Since they are interconnected I believe it was both.

            The prophets of God are not robots, mouthpieces without feelings. Nor are they to be ruled by their feelings. We see in the story of Jonah how well that works out. But most often the prophet feels what God is feeling and therefore deals with the divine and the human in the same moment. So I can picture Samuel in travail throughout the night processing both God’s decree about the situation as well as his own feelings, and interceding for the wayward leader of Israel.

            Samuel hastens to find Saul and learns he had gone to Carmel, the high and fruitful field, and had set up a memorial to his great victory, and then paraded, perhaps with Agag in tow, to Gilgal. Samuel finds him there.

And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

(1 Samuel 15:13-14 KJV)

            Can we not picture Saul, smug in his victory, eager to share with Samuel all he had done for the Lord? But Samuel spends no time with Saul’s self righteousness and cuts to the chase, confronting him with his failure. Why can’t we learn to agree with God about ourselves even when the verdict isn’t very flattering? And oftentimes when confronted with our failure we do as Saul did and shift blame through calling out a person or circumstance for our lack of obedience. 

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.

(1 Samuel 15:15 KJV)

Earlier we read that Saul and the people spared the best livestock, but in speaking to Samuel, Saul places blame squarely on the people for bringing them from the Amalekites. Then the King associates himself when reminding Samuel what part he and the people had done right. Then Samuel invites Saul to hear what the word of the Lord to Samuel was the night before. And Saul agrees to hear.

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? 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. 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?

(1 Samuel 15:17-19 KJV)

So Samuel reminds Saul that while he was humble God exalted him to be king and then sent him on a journey of God’s choosing to utterly destroy the Amalekites and their herds. God, through Samuel, then asks Saul to explain his disobedience and evil doing. In answering, Saul displays his own arrogance concerning Agag and once again moves into blame shifting mode when it comes to the taking of the spoils.

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. 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.

                        (1 Samuel 15:20-21 KJV)

            We see here that Saul not only blames the people for the taking of the spoils, admitting they should have been utterly destroyed, but now offers a seemingly spiritual reason for their transgression. But I wonder on this point if purely selfish reasons were behind the people’s desire to obtain the animals. Could it be that sacrificing someone else’s herds to the Lord was more desirable than taking from their own? Why not sacrifice that which cost them nothing, not diminishing their own livestock? Disobedience for selfishness sake is certainly disobedience, but does disobedience wrapped in a cloak of religiosity become any less disobedient? Apparently not in God’s sight.

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. 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.

(1 Samuel 15:22-23 KJV)

            The church today is so willing to sacrifice but not so willing to obey. We are so willing to sacrifice the easy things like church attendance and volunteering to help with the church rummage sale. We are so willing to sacrifice our time to attend this committee meeting, that fund raising function; all apparently “spiritual” pursuits. We will sacrifice our attention week after week to hear sermons portraying God as always happy, always more than eager to drop whatever He is doing to fulfill our selfish demands. We’re quite satisfied to worship a God like that but cringe, becoming quite uncomfortable in our padded pews when His holiness or His claims on us are discussed.  An unbalanced message we’ll eagerly chow down on, but bring balance into the mix by proclaiming the whole counsel of God and we reject the meat and cry for more pabulum.  We gladly attend services where we are fed and put our money in the plate for all to see, but avoid daily devotions. We’ll gladly offer up prayer for God to change our neighbor, but never ask how God would change us. We sacrifice the minutes but hold back the hours.  We tithe on the mint of justification, while forgetting the weightier matters of sanctification. We’ll effortlessly flow in the gifts while opposing the Husbandman of our orchard while He prunes away our dead branches..

 Now Saul finds himself in a corner. God’s word has left him no room to maneuver. But as we soon see, admission of sin and repentance are two different issues and Saul comes up short again in his response.

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

(1 Samuel 15:24-25 KJV)

            I believe Samuel saw through the shallow admission of sin from Saul’s lips. There was no repentance here, only excuses why he sinned. Furthermore Saul expected immediate absolution from the man of God based on his words of admission without any fruit of repentance. But Samuel only repeated his declaration to Saul.

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.

(1 Samuel 15:26 KJV)

Samuel seems to be finished with his conversation with Saul, but Saul is now grasping at straws for any sign that may ease his guilt. He reaches for Samuel as the prophet turns to leave, ripping the skirt of his mantle in the process. This sets up a perfect visual lesson for Saul as to the severity of God’s action because of his sin and the unwavering intention of the Lord toward Saul.

And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

(1 Samuel 15:27-29 KJV)

We are so much like Saul, reaching for the prophet as he or she retreats, grasping for another word to soften the blow of God’s rebuke. We go from meeting to meeting, from prophetic word to prophetic word, keeping the words close to our hearts that make us feel good and renouncing any correction or exhortation to change, rejecting both the word and the messenger. Sooner or later that behavior leaves us empty and hopefully more willing to be honest with God and ourselves.

As we read on, perhaps Samuel finally hears some honesty in Saul’s words. As Saul speaks again there is no blame shifting, no excuses, just an honest, heartfelt confession. Saul realizes there is no negotiating with the Strength of Israel. He makes this final request of Samuel out of a place of humility, asking that Samuel turn with him that he might worship. We see a man having lost honor before God wanting to hold onto honor before his people and the elders.

We concern ourselves so much with keeping face before our peers that we forget it is God we need to please. Humility before the Lord far outweighs a pat on the back by our peers for a job well done.

Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour 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. So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.

(1 Samuel 15:30-31 KJV)

But there is still some business to be done in God’s eyes. Although Saul acknowledged his sin, he still has not made right his wrong before the Lord.  If Saul won’t do it, then Samuel will. Saul’s human monument to his ego must be brought low.

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

(1 Samuel 15:32-33 KJV)

           

            What are the monuments to our own egos that hold us in bondage? Victories of the past? Triumphs of the moment? Our plans for the future? We seem much more willing to lay our old dead sacrifices on God’s altar than to be that living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. We need to hew our egos to move ahead with God. That’s our reasonable act of worship. If we judge (rightly discern) ourselves, God or God’s prophets don’t have to. Saul was unwilling so the prophet made God’s point.

We see the parting of these two men, Samuel to Ramah, meaning a high place, and Saul to Gibeah, meaning a little hill. How symbolic of the difference in character between them. The chapter ends with an insight into the life of a prophet who both heeds the word of the Lord but also has human feelings. When the prophet quits speaking, it means God has no more to say. So it was with God, and therefore Samuel, concerning Saul.  

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.

(1 Samuel 15:35 KJV)

                There are enemies not only surrounding, but inside the church while many are crying peace and safety, using their twisted theology of don’t worry, be happy. True prophets continue to speak, entreating God’s people to wake up. For this they are ridiculed and rejected. But know that there will come a day when the true prophets quit warning. It is not far off. That will be the time to worry because God has finished speaking.