The Life Of David
Pt. 8 When Your Disobedience Costs You
1 Samuel 15:1-23

God puts disobedient PEOPLE under judgment
The Amalekites were a nomadic people living in southern Canaan. They attacked and raided Israel during their exodus from Egypt, killing women, children, the weak, and elderly (Ex. 12:35, 36; Deut. 25:17-19). From this cowardly attack, God promised to later destroy them (Ex. 17:8-16). Be careful the heritage you pass along isn’t one of generational judgment! Instead of repenting, they attacked Israel for hundreds of years, so God sent Saul on a mission of capital punishment. After warning innocent people living among them to leave, Israel attacked their capital and killed everyone except Agag, the king, and the quality animals. Saul then built a monument to himself instead of honoring God. Though you may get the credit, God should always get the glory! Because of Saul’s failure (c. 1000 BC) to remove them all, this people group continued until Haman, a descendant of Agag, attempted to exterminate the Jews (c. 480 BC; Esther 3:1, 13). God knows the future, so we should be obedient in the present, so we don’t regret the past. The more important the mission the more important the follow-through!

God puts His disobedient KING under judgment
Saul’s job as king was not only to protect his nation, but to protect God’s promises through his people. At the start of his kingship, Saul was strong and compliant wanting to please God and not people. Decades later, he is strong-willed and a complainer, who fears pleasing people more than God. A healthy fear of failing to please God will save you from a toxic fear of failing to please people. When you please God you gain favor with God and people, when you please people you lose both (1 Sam. 10:26, 27; 11:12-15; 15:24; Prov. 29:25). On his way to Saul, Samuel hears sheep that should be dead, and he confronts him on his sin. After lying that he had obeyed God, Samuel rebukes Saul, and as he leaves, Saul tears his robe and is told his kingdom is torn from him. When you go off mission, you go off blessing. Partial obedience is full disobedience. Samuel then finishes the task by killing Agag, justly putting him to death for everyone he and his people have killed. Samuel, who anointed Saul as king, is crushed by Saul’s removal and weeps for him. Men of God mourn for those they love when they see them failing to live up to their potential for God.