Journal Through the Bible: Week 38 Saturday

source

I Samuel chapter 15

And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? .And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. . . . And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (15:13-15, 22-23a)

Does God issue any commands in this chapter?

• Through Samuel God told Saul to destroy the Amalekites and all of their possessions.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised another king to take the place of Saul.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Samuel says that the Strength of Israel, whom is God which includes Jesus, does not repent in the way that men repent. He changes the direction of men because of their sin but He does not sorrow over any sins that He has committed. In the case of Saul's dynasty, God was going to change the direction of Israel by giving them another king.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• The world is now governed by those who look good on the outside much like Saul did (even Satan is described as an angel of light) but one day it will be governed by a Man about whom the prophet Isaiah said that he has no comeliness that we should desire Him.