I Samuel 15:32-16:1a
“Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” (I Samuel 15:32a)
Saul and the Israelites had saved king Agag and the best of the Amalekite livestock alive, contrary to God’s command. After informing Saul that his failure to obey was going to cost him the kingdom, Samuel demanded that Agag be brought before him.
And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.” (I Samuel 15:32b)
The common custom was to cut a defeated king’s thumbs off and make a slave of him to show how inferior he was. Having been defeated, Agag knew he would either be treated the same way or killed, so he came with a show of humility, hoping to avoid death. After all, the battle was over, and perhaps they were no longer so angry.
“And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.” (I Samuel 15:33)
Like many today, Agag had no concept of justice. He thought he had just made people mad, and when they got over their anger they should just forget about what he’d done. Justice requires that the guilty experience the same harm he did to others. If he stole something, he not only has to give it back, but give up one of his own. If he broke his arm, his own arm was to be broken. Since Agag had killed others, justice required he be killed. It is the logical extension of doing unto others as you wish them to do to you.
Samuel chopped Agag in pieces just as he had had others chopped up. He was dispensing justice, not just taking out his anger on Agag. There is a vast difference.
“Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.” (I Samuel 15:34-35)
Though Samuel lived several more years, he never again met with Saul to tell him what God had said. It was obvious Saul had no interest in what God wanted. As James 1:5-7 says, a person who will not commit to God doesn’t need to expect any direction from God. God sent him no more messages.
Though he had opposed making Saul king, Samuel still was saddened by his actions and sin. In I Samuel 12:23, he had said, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:” Samuel was still deeply concerned about the kingdom, and about Saul personally, although there was nothing for him to do about it.
Hebrews 13:17 warns, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Almost any teacher can tell you how bad it hurts to watch those you have tried to teach what is right throw their lives away on drugs or alcohol or some other meaningless pursuit. It takes away all sense of accomplishment, leaving you feeling that you wasted your time trying to show them something better.
Some teach that God will hold us accountable for the failures of those we have taught or mentored. Scripture teaches that each man must take his own responsibility. Galatians 6:5 declares, “For every man shall bear his own burden.” God was not pleased that Samuel continued to fret about what Saul was doing.
“And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” (I Samuel 16:1a)
Saul’s actions were no longer Samuel’s concern. He had rejected God, and God had rejected him as king. Samuel needed to focus on what God wanted rather than on Saul’s sin.
“Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” (I Samuel 15:32a)
Saul and the Israelites had saved king Agag and the best of the Amalekite livestock alive, contrary to God’s command. After informing Saul that his failure to obey was going to cost him the kingdom, Samuel demanded that Agag be brought before him.
And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.” (I Samuel 15:32b)
The common custom was to cut a defeated king’s thumbs off and make a slave of him to show how inferior he was. Having been defeated, Agag knew he would either be treated the same way or killed, so he came with a show of humility, hoping to avoid death. After all, the battle was over, and perhaps they were no longer so angry.
“And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.” (I Samuel 15:33)
Like many today, Agag had no concept of justice. He thought he had just made people mad, and when they got over their anger they should just forget about what he’d done. Justice requires that the guilty experience the same harm he did to others. If he stole something, he not only has to give it back, but give up one of his own. If he broke his arm, his own arm was to be broken. Since Agag had killed others, justice required he be killed. It is the logical extension of doing unto others as you wish them to do to you.
Samuel chopped Agag in pieces just as he had had others chopped up. He was dispensing justice, not just taking out his anger on Agag. There is a vast difference.
“Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.” (I Samuel 15:34-35)
Though Samuel lived several more years, he never again met with Saul to tell him what God had said. It was obvious Saul had no interest in what God wanted. As James 1:5-7 says, a person who will not commit to God doesn’t need to expect any direction from God. God sent him no more messages.
Though he had opposed making Saul king, Samuel still was saddened by his actions and sin. In I Samuel 12:23, he had said, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:” Samuel was still deeply concerned about the kingdom, and about Saul personally, although there was nothing for him to do about it.
Hebrews 13:17 warns, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Almost any teacher can tell you how bad it hurts to watch those you have tried to teach what is right throw their lives away on drugs or alcohol or some other meaningless pursuit. It takes away all sense of accomplishment, leaving you feeling that you wasted your time trying to show them something better.
Some teach that God will hold us accountable for the failures of those we have taught or mentored. Scripture teaches that each man must take his own responsibility. Galatians 6:5 declares, “For every man shall bear his own burden.” God was not pleased that Samuel continued to fret about what Saul was doing.
“And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” (I Samuel 16:1a)
Saul’s actions were no longer Samuel’s concern. He had rejected God, and God had rejected him as king. Samuel needed to focus on what God wanted rather than on Saul’s sin.
There is a misapplication of that passage in Hebrews that I have seen; the pastor/elders use it to keep those beneath them in check like a whip. I had close friends excommunicated from their church because the elders weer angry at a deacon for a counseling a troubled couple when they told him not to. He felt led by God and did so anyway. They told him "we say jump, you say how high." I'm glad for Israel in this day that Samuel was a godly leader, and that his leadership was still felt into the days of David.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Ian.
DeleteFar too many leaders have tried to use the passage to force people to comply with their wishes, completely ignoring Jesus statement in Matthew 20:25-28. "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
It only demonstrates their own lack of qualification for leadership since the pastor/elder/bishop is to be not self willed.