I Samuel 15:26-31 NKJV
a. 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: Samuel has nothing more to say on this matter, other than what the LORD already said through him (1 Samuel 15:23). There was nothing more to talk about.
i. Why would Samuel say, “I will not return with you” when Saul just wanted him to worship with him? Because that worship would no doubt include sacrifice and offering some of the animals that Saul wickedly spared from the Amalekites.
b. 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”: Saul’s desperate action provides a vivid object lesson on how the kingdom was torn away from him.
i. As useless as the torn piece of robe was in his hand, so now his leadership of the nation was futile. Now he ruled against God, not for Him. Just as the robe tore because Saul grasped it too tightly, so his tight grip on pride and stubbornness meant the kingdom would be taken away from him. In this respect, Saul was the opposite of Jesus, of whom it is said, He who had always been God by nature, did not cling to His prerogatives as God’s equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as a mortal man (Philippians 2:6-7, J.B. Phillips translation). Jesus was willing to let go, but Saul insisted on clinging on. Saul lost all, while Jesus gained all.
c. The Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent: Saul might have thought there was a way out of this. He wondered what he could do to “fix” this. Samuel let him know there was nothing he could do. This was permanent.
i. Samuel uses a title for the LORD found only here in the whole Bible: The Strength of Israel. This reminds Saul that the LORD is determined in His purpose and is strong in His will. There will be no change.
ii. The title Strength of Israel was also important because at that time Saul probably thought of himself as the strength of Israel. But the LORD God was The Strength of Israel and Saul needed to hear it.
d. I have sinned, yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel: Saul’s desperate plea shows the depths of his pride. He is far more concerned with his image than his soul.
i. “Here he plainly discovers his hypocrisy, and the true motive of this and his former confession; he was not solicitous for the favour of God, but for his honour and power with Israel.” (Poole)
e. So Samuel turned back after Saul: Samuel did not lead an immediate rebellion against Saul because God had not raised up Saul’s replacement yet and Saul was better than the anarchy that would come with no king.
f. So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD: Did this do any good? It did no “good” in gaining the kingdom back for Saul. That was a decision God had made and it was final. But it may have done Saul good in moving his proud, stubborn heart closer to God for the sake of saving his soul. At least there was that opportunity, so Samuel allowed Saul to come with him and worship the LORD. (Guzik)
Cling!
I liked J.B. Phillips translation above which demonstrates that Jesus didn’t cling to His prerogatives as God’s equal, but Saul on the other hand tried to cling on to his kingdom after it was torn away!
The human nature in us tries to cling onto sin but I’m reminded of a verse:
”Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.“
Romans 12:9 NKJV
Brethren, cling to the Good Word, to the hem of Jesus’s rob and to what is good and it will be good for your soul.
Blessings
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