Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 124
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IMMERSE
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KINGDOMS
1S
| 15:18-35
not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of
Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’ Why
haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do
what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”
“But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he
gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then
my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to
sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
But Samuel replied,
“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”
Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed
your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people
and did what they demanded. But now, please forgive my sin and come
back with me so that I may worship the Lord.”
But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected
the Lord’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.”
As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem
of his robe. And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of
Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better
than you. And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change
his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”
Then Saul pleaded again, “I know I have sinned. But please, at least
honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back
with me so that I may worship the Lord your God.” So Samue l finally
agreed and went back with him, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
Then Samuel said, “Bring King Agag to me.” Agag arrived full of hope,
for he thought, “Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!” But
Samue l said, “As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now
your mother will be childless.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the
Lord at Gilgal.
Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house
at Gibeah of Saul. Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he