The Rise and Fall of a Leader

Week 5: A Tale of War and Woe.

The Amalekites (Deu 25: 16-18)  were particularly brutal and pagan in their wars and culture. Torture and public humiliation were a normal acts of war. God had commanded that the Amalekites be wiped out, destroyed form the planet (Deu 25:17-).

The message in this chapter is that Saul was disobedient. As a result of this, God was very displeased. Rather than the sacrifice of animals, God insisted on obedience. According to some Jewish historians, the original King Agag was the descendant of Esau. The bitter root planted in Esau’s heart against his brother Jacob was inherited by all his sons and was passed down to all generations from this particular lineage of people. This is a difficult passage to interpret but the scripture says in 1^st Samuel 15: 2--- this is what the Lord tells you must do. You must attack and kill the enemy, the Amalekite. You must kill all the men, women, and children and their livestock. Then we read that Saul deliberately disobeyed. He saved the wicked King Agag and the best of the livestock. Saul made no excuse for saving Agag’s life as an act of mercy. He saved Agag as his personal trophy in winning the war. He didn’t save the livestock to leave food for survivors. He stole the livestock for himself. His only redeeming act was to spare the Kenites (1^st Sam 15:6). “Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt”.

A lesson from the New Testament.

A lesson at the well.

These were savage times and wars often raged without mercy toward the people involved. This war was no different. God preserved this story in his Bible to point out how seriously He considers obedience (1^st Sam 15:1-11). It also points to the wonder and glory of Christ’s work on the cross. Isaiah prophesied the meaning of the Messiah's coming. War would end and be replaced with the love and good counsel of the Prince of Peace. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. Isaiah 9:5-7. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When Jesus came several hundred years later, he said John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The covenant made between God and his people as a result of Christ’s sacrifice shows the difference between the Old Testament and the New. The New Covenant is not about military victory, as the Israelites believed. It is about redemption provided by grace and  mercy. This is why Christ did not come as military leader, but instead a carpenter who healed, comforted, and taught lessons of peace. The final lesson was His willingness to forgive those who lied about Him and even allowed his enemies to execute Him as a criminal. Forgiveness and grace are not easy for us and wasn't easy for Jesus. He set the example for all those who follow Him.

Saul's Disobedience and Rebellion

Further in the chapter we read how King Saul had become so foolish, he even built an altar to give honor to himself (1^st Sam 15:12.)--- the ultimate in vanity. Saul was so blind to his own wayward disobedience he didn’t stop to think that Samuel must know how Saul failed to obey God’s instructions. Saul said, “The Lord bless you, I have carried out the Lord’s command.” It is here we read one of the most sarcastic lines in the Bible.

Samuel responded, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul’s sins were growing interest and compounded daily.

He now begins to justify himself by saying he brought the best of the plunder as a sacrifice to God. Once again, Samuel calls Saul down and points out he is a disobedient liar. Saul argues that he DID obey and did what he was supposed to do. It is amazing how he is so sure of his innocence he begins to believe his own lie. Caught in his own lie and self-illusions, Saul realizes he must try to wiggle out and beg for mercy. He said, “I have sinned; I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions.  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 so that I may worship the Lord.”  At this point in the deteriorating situation, Saul begins to blame other people around him. This was one of his weaker character flaws---he worried more about what men would think of him than what the Lord would think of him.

The Metaphor of the Torn Robe

Samuel refused to go back with Saul for any kind of worship service. As an omen of the break in the relationship, Saul grabbed Samuel’s robe and the fabric tore in his grip. This Samuel said, “today the Lord has torn the kingdom from your rule. " But Saul was persistent--- begging Samuel to return with him to worship the Lord. Samuel relented and agreed to go to Gilgal for a worship ceremony.  Then Samuel ordered that Agag be brought to Gilgal. Agag was sure the “bitterness of death had passed.” But his confidence was in his own cunning. Samuel killed Agag with a sword. “Just as you made women childless, so I will make your mother childless” and Agag, the murderer, was slain.

Following this public act of justice Samuel left for Ramah and Saul left for the palace. King  Saul never saw Samuel again and his leadership began to seriously deteriorate from that time on.