15:22,23
We now get the crucial reply, “to obey is better than sacrifice”. When someone’s heart is not for God, religion will become a matter of obeying the form of religion, in this case the offering of sacrifices. Saul did not know God, but knew that the Law requires sacrifices, so he reasoned that by offering the lambs and cattle as sacrifices, then God would be pleased. We need a heart that is for God. Saul manifestly did not have this. Saul rejected God’s word, so God rejected him as king. There are many in the church today who reject the word of God. They are going down a very dangerous road.
15:24,25
Saul now “repents”. There will be several further repentances, mostly in respect to his evil attitude towards David. None of them were more than skin deep. He now says that he “was afraid of the men and so gave in to them”. This goes against his earlier claim that the animals were for sacrifice to the Lord. He asks Samuel (not God!) to forgive him, and to go with him so that he can worship the Lord. Saul is a sorry figure of a man.
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