After God’s Heart (Part 1)(1 Samuel 13:1-15)                                                                     2008.10.19    Pastor Edward Cheng

This morning, in order to kick off our time looking at the life of David and how he was able to become a man “after God’s heart,” we’re going to read about SAUL!  That’s right, while it sounds counter-productive to read a story about Saul when our intention is to learn from David, it turns out to be extremely relevant.  The reason is the entire books of 1-2 Samuel (which really should be considered as one book, the Book of Samuel) are all about David.  Although David doesn’t really come onto the scene until the middle of 1 Samuel, he is clearly the main character throughout the two books.  Thus, everything leading up to 1 Samuel 16, although not explicitly about David, is really about the background leading up to the rise of David’s kingdom.  Saul becomes the antitype of David, the antithesis of what it means to be “after God’s heart.”  Thus, there is much to learn about being after God’s heart simply by exploring the life of Saul as well.

What we read today in 1 Samuel 15 is the event leading to the final rejection by God of Saul as His king over Israel.  What was it that Saul did that was so heinous in the eyes of the Lord, and what does this teach about being after God’s heart?  We see in the first few verses of the chapter God’s instruction to Saul to “totally destroy” (Hebrew: charam) the Amalekites (v. 3).  Their sin had reached a boiling point in the eyes of the Lord and it was His intention to use Israel to punish them.  The instruction is clear – to completely destroy everything that was from the Amalekites.  Nothing was to be spared.  Immediately, Saul goes into action by summoning troops and preparing them for the battle (vv. 4-5).  However, as we see in the following verses, Saul does not fulfill what was the Lord’s desire.  Thinking to himself that his understanding and decision-making ability is better than the Lord’s, he decided to spare the king of Amalek, Agag (v. 9).  That he clearly understood what the Lord’s command was is indicated by the continual usage of charam in vv. 8-9.  He spared Agag, but charam everyone else.  He also spared the plunder of the Amalekites, of which he was unwilling to charam (v. 9).

What we have here is unmistakable defiance of the command of the Lord.  The Scripture makes a clear distinction between sins that are committed “unintentionally” (see Numbers 15), and “intentionally.”  The intentional sin occurs when you acknowledge God’s command, look Him in the eye, and say to His face, “I will not follow you.”  This is what Saul did to the Lord.  This is what is done by those who are not after God’s heart.

The Lord was grieved that He made Saul king.  As described by the Lord, Saul “turned away” (Hebrew: shuv) from following Him.  It’s important for us to understand this word for “turned,” because it’s the same word used to describe repentance.  When one repents, it’s not just a change in thinking, but rather a change in a person’s lifestyle and behavior.  One minute a person is walking away from the Lord.  After repentance, he turns around and begins to follow the Lord.  What Saul does is to turn away from the Lord this time.  Again, those who have no desire to be after God’s heart walk away from Him and go their own way.

When confronted with his sin, does Saul finally repent and acknowledge his wrongdoing?  If he did, that would certainly work to mend his relationship with the Lord.  However, instead of acknowledging his sin and confessing it openly to the Lord, he begins to justify his actions, making excuse after excuse to explain why he did what he did, even insisting that what he did was for the Lord (vv. 20-21).  This is what we do at times, isn’t it?  When we are confronted with our sin, rather than repent from it and turn back to the Lord, we often find ways to justify why it was okay for us to do that thing and participate in that activity.  We compromise our own beliefs and principles in order to make ourselves feel better, even though deep down inside we know that was we did was wrong.  Again, just as Saul demonstrates, this is what is done by those who do not seek after the Lord.

Let’s learn from Saul today.  First, to guard ourselves against defiantly sinning against the Lord.  Second, to turn back to Him when given the opportunity.  And finally, to acknowledge our sin and seek not to justify our actions with excuses piled upon excuses.  These are things only done by those who have no desire to be people “after God’s heart.”