The Book of First Samuel

Chapter 15:1-15

[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.

1) Directive (V 1-3)

From God, through Samuel...................... Destroy Amalek......... Utterly, completely

Ex 17:14-16 Amalek had attacked Israel in the escape from Egypt

Deut 25:17-19 Reminder of the account

400 Years before when Israel was weak and vulnerable they were attacked

Amalek attacked for no other reason than violence and greed

Time alters memory to people but not to God, Time does not erase sin ONLY BLOOD

Amalek was given space (400 years) to repent and did not

God could send fire and brimstone, but maybe He wanted to test obedience of Saul

Amalek attacked militarily, maybe the judgement was fit for the sin

You can be sure that sin will found you out

[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 shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

2) Disclaimer (V 4-6)

Saul numbered the people and gathered them in preparation for war

200,000 footmen & 10,000 more

Saul show mercy to the Kenites (Descendants of Jethro Moses’ father-in-law)Jud 1:16, 4:11-17

[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.

3) Disobedience (V 7-9)

Saul led Israel to war against Amalek

Saul took Agag the king and spared him................? (V 9 “Saul & The People”)

He also spared the best sheep, oxen and all that was good and would not destroy them

The rubbish they destroyed

Saul’s obedience was partial..... or should we rather say partial obedience is still disobedience!!!

Normally the victor would plunder and heartily take home the spoil

But to do so here is dishonoring to God and His judgment (not reflecting God’s heart)

** Amalek grandson of Esau, who sold birthright.... Sparing them is equal to sparing evil

[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.

4) Displeasure (V 10-11)

God speaks to Samuel about Saul’s disobedience and God’s displeasure with him

This grieved (repenteth) God’s heart

God knew what Saul would do, but allowed the freedom to Saul to decide

The man of God was broken because of Saul’s disobedience

Because Saul is rejected and because God’s name is hurt and God is broken

[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.

5) Dishonesty (V 12-15)

Samuel comes to meet Saul

Saul says “Blessed be thou of God, I have performed the commandments of the Lord” he lied

Saul came with boldness, confidence and boasted of his obedience ........ What pride

Samuel asks about the sheep he overhears bleating ....... The evidence of disobedience

Saul begins to give excuses

First Saul blames the people (They spared them),

Next Saul tries to justify this action for a spiritual reason (to sacrifice)

** Notice V 15 “To sacrifice to the Lord thy God”..... Thy God??

God was not Saul’s God, Saul was Saul’s God !!

Then says “WE, have destroyed the rest”........ A Lie

>> The Left-Overs will get you..................Amalekites being spared, would live on

King Agag is currently alive, but would soon die (V 33) at the hands of Samuel

But others must have been spared I Sam 27:8, I Sam 30:1, 2

Esther3:1 (Haman would try to kill all Jews)

In fact Yasser Arafat was said to be a direct descendant of Agag

>> King Saul wounded in battle, fell on own sword I Sam 31:4

Not completely dead was finished off by an Amalekite II Sam 1:8-10