Key Theme: False Repentance
[Core Gospel Concepts: Sin, Repentance, Obedience]
Saul was the first king of Israel. The Israelites offended God by asking for a king, but he gave them one anyway, and Saul was anointed king by the prophet Samuel. Saul did help Israel defeat some of its enemies, but he began to trust in himself rather than in the Lord. Once, instead of waiting on Samuel, the priest of the Lord, to offer a sacrifice before battle, he became impatient and afraid and offered the sacrifice himself. God was angry with Saul.
Another time God spoke through Samuel and told Saul to attack the idol worshipping Amalekites to avenge them for attacking Israel in the past. God told Saul, “Destroy everything, even the livestock.” Saul and his men did kill almost all the people and most of the animals, but instead of obeying God completely, captured the enemy’s king without killing him, and spared the best of the animals. Saul was so proud about his victory that he even set up a monument to honor himself.
After the battle, Samuel went to Saul. When Saul saw him coming, he said to him, “Blessed be the Lord! I have fulfilled God’s command.”
So Samuel said, “What then is this sound of sheep and cattle in my ears?”
Saul replied, “Oh, my men kept the best livestock to sacrifice to the Lord your God. But we destroyed everything else.”
“Stop!” ordered Samuel. “Do you think the Lord loves sacrifices more than obedience? Obedience is better than sacrifice. Your rebellion and pride are like idol worship. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” Samuel turned to leave. Saul caught his robe and it tore. Samuel said, “The Lord has torn the kingdom from you today to give it to your neighbor."
Finally Saul said, “Ok, I have sinned. I violated God’s command. But I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me and please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel then I may worship the Lord.
So Samuel went back, and Saul worshipped the Lord, but Samuel killed the king of Amalek in front of all, and he left, and never saw Saul again.
Optional Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:10: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”