Day 5

THE POINT OF NO RETURN

"And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." 1 Sam. 15:22

In the aftermath of his first battle in the excitement of victory Saul showed great self control and commendable mercy (1 Sam. 11:12,13) rejecting the call for slaughter of his opponents. This was the action of one who is sure of his ground with nothing to fear when God is leading him.

Only a few years later after victory against the Philistines Saul sentenced his own son Jonathan to death because of his own harsh vow (1 Sam. 13 especially verses 37-44). Then the roles were reversed and the voice of the people was heard in Jonathan's defence and it saved him (v 45). Was Saul so insecure and haunted by his conscience that he was jealous even of his own son? Was he frightened by Samuel's declaration that God had rejected him into seeing everyone as a potential candidate for his throne?

Later when God, through Samuel, told Saul to destroy utterly the Amalekites (1 Sam. 15:3) Saul saved the king Agag and the best of the animals. He had now wandered so far from God that he did what he thought best rather than follow God's command. To make matters worse he claimed to have obeyed (1 Sam. 15:13) and when Samuel challenged him he tried to excuse himself by passing the blame onto his followers (v 20,21).

What do Samuel's words in chapter 15 verse 17 tell us about Saul at this time. Do you think Samuel's declaration to Saul was justified (v 23,26)?

Could we find ourselves in Saul's position, acting for our own glory, deciding we know better than God?

Look up Jesus words in John 15:7-11 and consider Proverbs 14:12. What lessons can we learn from these verses?