August 26, 2007  •  Pastor Randy Smith

It was almost twenty years ago, and I was able to get dismissed from the school where I taught a few minutes early. In a hurry I was exiting the neighborhood that contained the school a little above the 25 mile per hour speed limit. The police officer hidden on a side street took notice and pulled me over less than one mile from the school.

If there ever was a time that I tried to pull out the excuses, this one probably tops the list. I tried the “I’m a teacher just down the road” to the “I wasn’t aware how fast I was going” to the “I’m heading to watch the Cubs – opening night at Wrigley Field!” All true excuses but all attempts to weasel my way out of the ticket.

When I realized the officer was set to give me a ticket (he must have been a White Sox fan), I needed to change my tactics. I walked over to his car and did my best to pretend he was my friend in a desperate attempt to head-off the heat I would take from hundreds of Middle Schoolers who were well acquainted with my red Jeep and just moments from passing by in their school buses!

It is amazing how easy it is for us to excuse our wrongdoing, revealing our primary concern to save our hide and preserve our reputation in the eyes of people. Don’t lose that thought because we will come back to it in a major way.

There is often much more than meets the eye. I vividly learned that lesson this past week as we camped and hiked throughout the Adirondack Mountains. Despite all the photographs we observed and stories we heard, nothing can compare to seeing the beauty of upstate New York in person. At times what we think is complete is only a partial picture of the reality.

The same could be said about Jesus Christ. When we think of Jesus we often think of the One who cried over unrepentant Jerusalem, saying, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Mt. 23:37). Or the One who exclaimed from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34). Before His incarnation, it was prophesied, “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes” (Isa. 40:11). Kindness, meekness, compassion; all attributes that mark the character of Jesus.

But would any of us dare associate Jesus Christ, the tender Lamb of God, with wrath? The Bible does! Did you know as the end time judgment is being poured out, according to the book of Revelation, many will say to the mountains, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand” (Rev. 6:16-17; cf. 14:10, emphasis added).

As the full revelation of His Person must be accepted in God the Son, it must also be accepted in God the Father. As we learned three weeks ago from 1 Samuel 15, the same God who commanded an entire nation of Amalekites to be destroyed (15:2-3), is the same God who grieved over the disobedience of His servant, King Saul (15:11). Chapter 15 is a clear example of a compassionate God who takes sin very seriously.

It is essential that we understand this important truth. We will see in our text this morning that King Saul did not, and the results in his life were disastrous. He failed to account for the severity of God. Rather than fearing the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Pr. 1:7), he feared man, followed his own wisdom and did what was right in his own eyes. In doing so, he disobeyed the voice of God.

You will remember, Saul was clearly commanded to destroy all of the sinful Amalekites. Would he obey or negate the authority of God with his actions? Verse 9 tells us, “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.”

Saul committed selective obedience, which in the eyes of the God is disobedience. To Saul, God’s commands could be negotiated and shaped like a wax nose. He destroyed the worthless and kept the good. Such an attitude only reveals ones unwillingness to acknowledge God as the true Lord of their lives.

A cataclysmic confrontation is about to erupt. On one side will be God’s mouthpiece, the prophet Samuel (15:16). On the other side will be Saul and his myriad of excuses.

As we conclude chapter 15 and examine Saul’s four rounds of excuses (remember my situation with the police officer?), I trust the Spirit will reveal how there is a little (or a lot) of King Saul in each of us. As we live vicariously through his example, we will see our own tendency to presume upon God’s mercy, excuse our sin and experience the tragic consequences from this flawed way of thinking.

Saul was disobedient for not utterly destroying the Amalekites. God’s heart is grieved. Samuel, grieved as well, is sent to confront the King. Let’s see how the guilty King Saul responds.

1. THE EXCUSES PROVIDED — ROUND 1 (15:13-19)

Verse 13, “Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, ‘Blessed are you of the LORD! I have carried out the command of the LORD.’”

As we begin the four rounds of excuses, Saul first starts with denial, a pretense that he is not aware of any wrongdoing. (That was his same tactic back in chapter 13, verse 10). When Samuel arrived, Saul knew he was in trouble. Observe how he seeks to skirt around the issue. He moves from a patronizing greeting — “Blessed are you of the LORD,” to this insane notion that he did all that the Lord commanded him —“I have carried out the command of the LORD.” Basically, “Samuel, see, I’m a good guy and if you cut me some slack on this one, I keep praising you – you mighty blessed one of the LORD! Let’s just pretend I obeyed the Lord and both of our lives will be so much more pleasant.”

Unfortunately, Samuel could not deny the truth and neither could Saul. The audible evidence of some remaining animals was a clear indication that Saul did not obey the Lord. Without getting into a foolish debate, in verse 14 the prophet calmly asks, “(You obeyed?) What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” The “bleating of the sheep…and the lowing of the oxen” was a clear and undeniable witness against Saul. “Saul, you say you obeyed the Lord? If so, what am I hearing in the background?”

Now that Saul knows he must deal with the situation, he switches his tactics from denial to blame shifting. Saul points the finger and seeks to shift the blame to others, rather than take responsibility for his own actions. Then after blaming his loyal men, he then seeks to justify their actions. Verse 15, “Saul said, ‘They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed.’”

“O.K, Samuel, you got me! I can’t deny that some animals are still remaining and although it appears I disobeyed, you need to understand that it really wasn’t my fault. You see, it wasn’t me but the people who chose to spare just a few of the animals. They just wanted to offer them as a sacrifice to honor the Lord for His impressive deliverance. How could I argue with their good intentions? But as for me, I was successful; the rest I completely destroyed.”

As King, Saul needed to be responsible for his actions and the actions of his people. His response was absurd. Proverbs 14:9 declares, “Fools mock at sin.” Samuel was not about to enter into a debate with a fool (Pr. 10:8; 12:15; 14:7; 18:2; 23:9; 26:4). Therefore Samuel’s response is very blunt. It cuts through the spin tactics and attempts to deviate the conversation. It comes back to the heart of the matter. It is intended to shatter the delusional world in which Saul was living.

Verses 16-19, “Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Wait, and let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.’ And (Saul) said to him, ‘Speak!’ Samuel said, ‘Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed you king over Israel, and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated. Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?’”

Saul’s attempt to blame the people now recoils on his own head. The command was clear, his disobedience was uncovered and his zeal for the spoil and self-glory was evident. His actions were interpreted as being “evil in the sight of the LORD.”

2. THE EXCUSES PROVIDED — ROUND 2 (15:20-23)

It seems like Saul is busted. Would he keep his ground or would he finally concede? I think you know the answer. Let’s move to the second round of excuses.

Though clearly wrong and clearly exposed, even after hearing these unmistakably clear words from the prophet, Saul still is adamantly defending his position.

Verses 20-21, “Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I did obey the voice of the LORD, and went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.’”

In this second round between the king and the prophet, we see the prideful desire of guilty sinners to persist in their refusal to admit error amidst evidence that is irrefutable.

Of this tendency, the puritan, Matthew Henry said, “It is no new thing for the plausible professions and protestations of hypocrites to be contradicted and disproved by the most plain and undeniable evidence. Many boast of their obedience to the command of God; but what mean then their indulgence of the flesh, their love of the world, their passion and uncharitableness, and their neglect of holy duties, which witness against them?” (Commentary, 1 Sam. 15:14).

Oh how hard it is, how impossible it is to convince people in disobedience to rightly see their sin lest God be granting them a heart of repentance. Rather than see our own shortcomings, we find it much easier to judge others. This is true for all of us because we are prideful creatures. The world is filled with sin for all to see, but most often the hardest sin to see is our own. Saul was clearly disobedient, but blinded to the reality. It is further attested in verse 12 (remember that from our last sermon?) when he set-up a monument to his own glory.

Samuel’s response beginning in verse 22 shows the actions were not a rebellion of the people against King Saul but rather a rebellion of Saul against King Yahweh. “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king” (1 Sam. 15:22-23).

Which one takes priority? Once for all time, Samuel puts to rest the age-old debate between outward religious activity and inward obedience to God’s Word from a heart that loves Him. Yes, God commanded sacrifices for the Israelites, and there is obviously a place for an outward display of spiritual actions. But when we use religious performance to think we are pleasing the Lord while cherishing and refusing to repent of our sin, we are greatly deceived. As Paul said, we have a form of godliness, but deny its power (2 Tim. 3:5).

As much as I would enjoy a Rolls Royce for Father’s Day, the love of my children for me is primarily demonstrated through the day-to-day acts of obedience. Likewise, when we trust our heavenly Father’s Word and delight in following His commandments, we reveal a heart that truly pleases Him. But when we attempt to mask our sin in spiritual performance our actions become outright offensive.

Israel greatly struggled with this problem. They often favored the outward display of religion over the internal state of a pure and obedient heart. Therefore, their religious assemblies, though commanded by God, were often offensive in His sight.

A few examples from the Old Testament…

Amos 5, “I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Am. 5:21-24).

Hosea 6, “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hos. 6:6)

Micah 6, “With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic. 6:6-8).

Even the Proverbs declare this truth: “To do righteousness and justice is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice” (Pro. 21:3; cf. 15:8; 28:9).

In God’s economy, the heart is what matters most (16:7). Then when the heart is right, worship to Him becomes acceptable. He cares not for the shell of external religion, whether it be prayer, song, or teaching if it originates from a disobedient heart. Outward sacrifice does not impress Him as much as “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1) bent on doing His will from a “broken and contrite heart” (Psm. 51:16-17). For those are the sacrifices that God “will not despise” (Psm. 51:17). As Samuel said, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (15:22).

How offensive and detestable is this to God? The point cannot be overstated. Verse 23 again, “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.”

Could our Lord be any more graphic? Rebellion to God’s word is equated with witchcraft, and insubordination to God’s authority is as idolatry. This is the assessment from God. We must see beyond the polite exterior of sin to the evilness of sin that lurks beneath the surface.

The Word of God came to Saul and Saul obviously saw no problem interpreting it as he wished. Saul saw innocence. God saw divination and idolatry—Divination because Saul sought an action that ignored the Word and counsel of God. He consulted another source of wisdom. Here is where the idolatry comes in—Idolatry because Saul placed another god, namely the little wizard of himself, over allegiance to the true God.

Rejecting God’s Word is the same as rejecting God himself (cf. 15:11). Therefore due to Saul’s failure, Samuel said, “Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king” (15:23b).

3. THE EXCUSES PROVIDED — ROUND 3 (15:24-29)

Well, as we move to the third round we have to wonder how Saul will respond to this one! To me he seems dead in the water!

Verse 24, “Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.’”

From denial to blame shifting to redefining what it means to obey, now to convenient confession.

Yet Samuel is not buying Saul’s false humility. I believe Saul gives a phony acknowledgment of his guilt to appease the prophet. I personally believe Saul’s confession is still insincere and self-serving.

I come to this conclusion for four reasons: First, because the confession only comes after Saul was threatened regarding the loss of his kingship (15:23). Second, because in the remainder of the verse Saul immediately seeks to justify his sin. He said he did wrong because he “feared the people and listened to their voices.” Even though fearing the displeasure of the people more than the displeasure of God is enough (cf. 12:14, 24), we are usually betraying our personal contrition when “becauses,” “buts,” “maybes,” and “ifs” follow our apologies. Third, because of what Saul says in verse 25. “Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.” Saul still didn’t seem to realize his sin was ultimately against the Lord. He asks Samuel, another man, to pardon his sin (cf. Psm. 51:4). And fourth, because of the reason we will shortly see in the next round of excuses beginning in verse 30.

Our Lord will not overlook the persistent, deliberate rejection of His will. Saul’s time had come to an end. God’s response came through Samuel once again.

Beginning in verse 26, “But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel. As Samuel turned to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, ‘The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind (15:26-29)’”

4. THE EXCUSES PROVIDED — ROUND 4 (15:30-35)

As we move to the final round of excuses, Saul speaks one last time. His remarks reveal the motives of his heart. Once again, it is easy to see that his primary concern is not the Lord’s reputation but his own, simply because he loves the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Verse 30, “Then (Saul) said, ‘I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.’”

It is amazing how someone can go from “forgive my sin” to “honor me before the people.”

Possibly it was to prevent a mutiny or to complete the unfinished work of Saul, but verse 31 says Samuel complied and “went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.”

Beginning in verse 32, “Then Samuel said, ‘Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.’ And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, ‘Surely the bitterness of death is past.’ But Samuel said, ‘As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.’ And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death” (1 Sam. 15:32-35a).

After Samuel completes the work in which Saul was deficient, and we witness the severity of God, the chapter closes as it began (15:1-2). Additionally, once again we witness the compassion of Samuel and the compassion of God as they both grieved over Saul’s disobedience. The latter half of verse 35, “For Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel” (15:11).

Maybe Saul’s disobedience seems a little outdated for our understanding. Maybe we need to fast-forward to the New Covenant era. Maybe we need to pretend Saul is in the church and faced with the same stipulations and commands as we are. How would Saul respond in the twenty-first century? What would his excuses look like today if he sat in our pews?

Hey Saul, how’s your church attendance? “Well, I don’t make it out to church very often. But that’s not a problem because true worshippers can worship God anywhere at anytime. I’d rather worship God at the beauty of the beach than in an old church with a bunch of hypocritical believers.”

Hey Saul, a good biblical case could be made for giving at least 10% to the church. How are you doing? “Well, I don’t want to be legalistic about numbers and percentages. I believe God wants my heart more than my money. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills – what could I possibly contribute to Him? After all, our church is meeting their budget, and I think it’s more important to invest that money in my children’s college education. When others start pulling their weight, then I might increase my offerings.”

Hey Saul, how are you doing with that anger problem? “Well, it’s not a bad problem, and it’s really between me and the Lord. Actually I wouldn’t even have this problem if it weren’t for the environment I was raised in and the way people treat me at home and at work. After all, who are you to judge me about my supposed sin? (Yelling) How dare you claim that I have an anger problem!”

Hey Saul, have you been baptized by immersion yet? “Well you see, I fear people and am concerned what they might think about me. I know I need to get baptized but I’ll do it when I am good and ready.”

I can keep going with the illustrations, but I believe the point is clear. Do we see a little of ourselves in Saul? All these excuses sound plausible, but they are nevertheless disobedient to the revealed Word of God. And according to our text this morning, they are all synonymous with idolatry and divination.

May the Spirit of God reveal to us the times we forsake our example of King Jesus and follow in the footsteps of King Saul: When we deny, justify, excuse, redefine or minimize sin. When we shift the blame. When our obedience is conditional, partial or delayed. When we prioritize religious activities over pure obedience to the Word of God. For when we do these things, we reveal a heart that is self-seeking rather than God-seeking, fearing man rather than fearing God and presuming upon God’s compassion while neglecting His holiness.