1 Samuel 15

Saul Disobeys God, and It All Falls Apart

1 Samuel told Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people. Now listen up, God has got orders.”

2 “This what the Lord says: ‘I remember what Amalek did to Israel back in the day, ambushed them when they came outta Egypt.’”

3 “So now go strike down Amalek. Wipe out everything, men, women, kids, babies, cattle, sheep, camels, donkeys. Do not spare nothing.”

Saul Goes to War… Kinda

4 Saul called up the troops, 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 from Judah.

5 He rolled up on the city of Amalek and waited in ambush in the valley.

6 Saul told the Kenites, “You all better move. You showed love to Israel when they came outta Egypt, so I am not tryna hurt you all.” So the Kenites dipped.

7 Then Saul launched on the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, near Egypt.

8 He caught King Agag alive, but killed the rest of the people with the sword.

9 But Saul and his crew spared Agag and kept the best sheep, oxen, and anything that looked good. They destroyed the worthless stuff, but kept the fat.

God Gets Tight

10 Then the Lord said to Samuel,

11 “I regret making Saul king. He turned his back on Me and will not follow My commands.” Samuel was crushed, he cried out to God all night.

Samuel Pulls Up

12 Early next morning, Samuel went looking for Saul. Someone said, “He went to Carmel, set up a monument for himself and kept it moving to Gilgal.”

13 When Samuel caught up, Saul said, “Bless you, man of God! I did everything the Lord told me.”

14 Samuel said, “Then what is all this bleating of sheep and mooing of oxen I hear?”

15 Saul said, “Oh, the people brought those from Amalek. They saved the best to sacrifice to the Lord. But we destroyed everything else.”

Samuel Gets Real

16 Samuel said, “Stop talking. Let me tell you what the Lord told me last night.” Saul said, “Say it.”

17 Samuel said, “You might think you are small, but God made you king over Israel.”

18 “He sent you with orders: ‘Wipe out those Amalekites, they wicked, destroy everything.’”

19 “So why did you not obey, Why you grab the plunder and do evil in God’s eyes?”

20 Saul said, “But I did obey! I went where God told me, I got Agag, and I destroyed the rest!”

21 “It was the people who kept the best sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord, of course.”

Obedience Over Sacrifice

22 Samuel said, “Does God want burnt offerings more than obedience, Nah. Obeying is better than sacrifice. Listening is better than offering fat rams.”

23 “Rebellion is like witchcraft. Stubbornness is like worshiping idols. Because you rejected God’s word, He is rejecting you as king.”

Saul Admits It… Kind Of

24 Saul said, “I messed up. I did not follow God’s command or your words. I was scared of the people, and I gave in.”

25 “Please forgive me. Come with me so I can worship the Lord.”

26 Samuel said, “Nah. I am not rolling with you. You rejected God, and now He rejected you as king.”

27 As Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed his robe, and it ripped.

28 Samuel said, “That is a sign. The Lord just tore the kingdom from you and gave it to someone better than you.”

29 “God does not lie or change His mind. He is not like us.”

30 Saul said, “Okay, I sinned, but at least honor me in front of the people and the elders. Come with me back to worship.”

31 So Samuel went with him, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

Samuel Handles Business

32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag, king of Amalek.” Agag came in like, “Whew, maybe they will spare me now.”

33 But Samuel said, “Just like your sword made moms childless, your mama is about to lose her child today.” Then Samuel chopped Agag up right there in front of the Lord.

Samuel & Saul Split

34 Samuel went back to Ramah. Saul went home to Gibeah.

35 Samuel never saw Saul again till the day he died. But he mourned for him, and the Lord regretted making Saul king over Israel.