Day 29- Child's Play
In chapter 14 Saul couldn’t wait to seek vengeance
on his enemies and wage war. In chapter 15 God gives
Saul a commandment to completely destroy and wipe
out the Amalekites, and he doesn’t follow through.
Saul started making his own rash decisions
in the last chapter when he starved his people during
battle and threatened his own son’s life. Apparently
he was just getting started. Saul does indeed go and
slaughter the Amalekites, but instead of killing everything
and everyone like God commanded (a punishment God
commanded because of Amalek’s ambush of Israel),
Saul spared king Agag and the best of all the sheep,
cattle and the rest of the spoil.
The Lord tells Samuel what has happened,
and Samuel goes to confront Saul. Saul’s first
statement to Samuel: “I have performed the commandment
of the Lord.” I can just imagine Samuel’s
eyes widen in shock and his lower jaw just drop in
disbelief because God Himself just told Samuel that
Saul did not obey His commandment.
As Samuel confronts Saul’s disobedience
explaining what he did, Saul initially blames it on
the people- oh the people spared the best of the sheep
and oxen to sacrifice to God! Samuel is getting angry
now, scolding Saul big time. He again asks Saul why
he didn’t obey. Saul’s answer almost sounds
like he’s trying to convince himself that he
really did do what he was supposed to even though
he knew he didn’t. He says he obeyed and then
blamed the people again.
Samuel not only lectures Saul this time,
but tells him that because of his disobedience, God
Himself has now rejected Saul as king. Now Saul finally
admits to messing up, but he stills puts the blame
on the people, like they made him do it.
This scene reminds me of a child in
trouble. We’ve all seen it. For instance, when
a kid walks in the room covered in paint and you question
them. They act like they have no idea what you could
be talking about even though the evidence is in plain
sight. When you ask them again and point out that
the paint is all over their shirt, face and hands,
they might admit to looking at the pretty paint but
just because their sibling told them to. They know
they’ve done something they weren’t supposed
to, but they’re really hoping you’ll buy
their story over what you see with your own eyes.
They even get upset when you don’t believe their
story. That’s what Saul in this scene reminds
me of, a child in trouble with no concept of how much
trouble he might be in, always thinking God might
be gullible enough to buy his story. Sorry Saul, God
is the ultimate Dad, and He can see right through
your weak alibi and will punish you as He sees fit.
That punishment in this case is to take the kingdom
from him.
God knows our hearts and minds better
than we do. He knows when we’re sincere and
he knows when we’re trying to pull a fast one.
But the great news is that He freely offers us forgiveness
and wipes the slate clean for us when we accept His
son Jesus into our lives.
Lord,
I sometimes feel like the little kid trying to cover
up my mistakes in life, but thank You for sending
Jesus to free me from that feeling! Because of Your
Word, I know now the path You want me on, and I have
no silly excuses or pretend alibis to hide behind
when I don’t follow Your Word. Thank You that
every time I start to veer off course, You gently
nudge me back to the road. Help me trust You Lord
and make my path straight.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
