Before Reading.
- Centering prayer— Pray for illumination, “Lord, open my heart and mind by the power of the Holy Spirit,” and remain in silence.
Reading.
- Read slowly, keeping any words or phrase that come to your mind, and mark on them.
- Close eyes and meditate on what you read.
- Take a note if you have question, inspiration.
Read 1 Samuel 15
The Lord rejected Saul as King.
Overview
Down turn of King Saul began when he disobeyed God at the battle with the Amalekites. He obeyed God to attack them. But he disobeyed God what God asked him not to do, “Do not spare them.” (v.3).
Though Saul is king, and wins a military victory, he is depicted as a moral and religious reprobate, unworthy of the position he holds. He also is arrogant before God. He set up a monument in his own honor. Prophetic judgement against king Saul come from Samuel, “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.” (v.23)
King Saul asked for forgiveness but Samuel rejected him, ending his kingship (v.26), prophesizing replacement his kingship to another. The Lord was grieved to have made Saul king over Israel.
Warning when people asked Samuel to give them a king (1 Samuel 8:10-18), came true.
One of God’s character in this story is this, “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.” (1 Samuel 15:29)
1. What does this passage tell you about God?
2. What does this passage tell you about people.?
3. What does this passage tell you about yourself and God’s will for you?
