Meditation Points:

• Though Saul is told to utterly destroy the Amalekites (15:3), he spares King Agag and the best of the animals (15:8-9). Partial obedience is complete disobedience.
• “I have performed the commandment of the LORD,” Saul proudly declared (15:13); and he even defended his actions (15:20) and blamed the people (15:21). Sin so deceives us that we call darkness light and light darkness, and we scarce know that there is a difference.
• God delights in holy obedience more than in our religious offerings and rituals (15:22).
• Disobedience is considered by God to be rebellion; and He equates such stubbornness with witchcraft and idolatry. And we know how much God hates witchcraft and idolatry!
• Saul “confesses” his sin (15:24, 30); and blames it on peer pressure (15:24).
• Because Saul rejected God’s lordship, God rejected Saul’s kingship (15:26).
• And Saul’s main concern was saving face before the people (15:25, 30).
• After this, Samuel separated himself from Saul (15:39).

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• Jonathan, Saul’s son (but not his only son, 14:49 ), goes on his own military outing, and routs the enemy (14:1-15).
• But, because his father king had cursed anyone who ate that day (14:24), Jonathan nearly died because he, unknowingly, refreshed himself after the battle (14:27-28). The people, wisely, came to his rescue (14:45).
• Have you ever been so hungry that you could eat raw steak? (14:32-33).
• God doesn’t always answer prayer on our terms (14:37).
• Saul’s entire reign was overshadowed by Philistine oppression (14:52). Imagine a lifetime of spiritual war.

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Meditation Points:

• At Saul’s inauguration, Samuel, old and grayheaded, belittles the people because they have rejected the Lord (12:1-15), and he warns them that they should remain faithful to God.
• Samuel calls upon the Lord to stir up the skies and to send thunder and rain upon the people. When the people cry out in fear for Samuel to intercede on their behalf, Samuel confesses that failure to pray for them would be a sin (12:23).
• Have you ever heard it said that God will never leave nor forsake His people? Read 1 Samuel 12:22.
• While waiting for Samuel to arrive, Saul became impatient and intruded upon the office of priest (13:8-10). His excuse (13:12) is not accepted by either Samuel or God; and he is told that his kingdom will come to an end (13:14), for God seeks a man after his own heart.
• Nevertheless, Saul fights for Israel (13:15-23).

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