1 Samuel 23
KingComments1 Samuel 23:1
Jonathan Taken as Guilty
Even from this silence of God Saul does not ask himself why. He does not think about himself as a cause at all. He is completely blind to it. He does say that the LORD delivers Israel. This is always the mixture with religious people: willfulness and the expression of truths.
Just like Jephthah (Judges 11:30; 34-35) Saul is prepared to sacrifice his child to his legalism in the conviction that this is right with God. The people do not react to Saul’s threats to tell the cause of God’s silence. The people do not want to betray Jonathan.
If Saul does not find out through the people, he tries through lot. In doing so, he does not go tribe after tribe, but immediately separates himself and Jonathan on the one hand and the people on the other. He does not seem to want to waste too much time following complicated procedures, although these are according to God’s will. Here, too, the people reside in the will of Saul.
Saul commands God to bring the truth to light. God does not let Himself be commanded, but He does govern the lots. The lots take Saul and Jonathan, and the people escape. God spares His people. Saul then orders that lots be cast between him and Jonathan. He knows it cannot take him, but for the form he lets the lots cast. Jonathan is indeed taken.
Then Saul orders Jonathan to tell what he has done. Jonathan is full of surrender. He bears witness to what he has done. Jonathan does not apologize by saying that he did not hear Saul’s commandment. This ignorance is not brought forth either by Jonathan or by the people. Jonathan is ready to die. His attitude is beautiful. He does not defend himself, nor does he start to attack his father because of his folly. He acknowledges his deed, but not as sin.
After the ‘confession’ of his son Jonathan Saul breaks loose. Saul’s evil heart is ready to kill his son. In his folly he is willing to kill the only man of faith among them. He has sworn it and so he will keep word. How far away is Saul from grace! He has no part in it himself and therefore knows of no mercy toward others, not even toward his own son who has won such a great victory for Israel.
1 Samuel 23:2
Jonathan Taken as Guilty
Even from this silence of God Saul does not ask himself why. He does not think about himself as a cause at all. He is completely blind to it. He does say that the LORD delivers Israel. This is always the mixture with religious people: willfulness and the expression of truths.
Just like Jephthah (Judges 11:30; 34-35) Saul is prepared to sacrifice his child to his legalism in the conviction that this is right with God. The people do not react to Saul’s threats to tell the cause of God’s silence. The people do not want to betray Jonathan.
If Saul does not find out through the people, he tries through lot. In doing so, he does not go tribe after tribe, but immediately separates himself and Jonathan on the one hand and the people on the other. He does not seem to want to waste too much time following complicated procedures, although these are according to God’s will. Here, too, the people reside in the will of Saul.
Saul commands God to bring the truth to light. God does not let Himself be commanded, but He does govern the lots. The lots take Saul and Jonathan, and the people escape. God spares His people. Saul then orders that lots be cast between him and Jonathan. He knows it cannot take him, but for the form he lets the lots cast. Jonathan is indeed taken.
Then Saul orders Jonathan to tell what he has done. Jonathan is full of surrender. He bears witness to what he has done. Jonathan does not apologize by saying that he did not hear Saul’s commandment. This ignorance is not brought forth either by Jonathan or by the people. Jonathan is ready to die. His attitude is beautiful. He does not defend himself, nor does he start to attack his father because of his folly. He acknowledges his deed, but not as sin.
After the ‘confession’ of his son Jonathan Saul breaks loose. Saul’s evil heart is ready to kill his son. In his folly he is willing to kill the only man of faith among them. He has sworn it and so he will keep word. How far away is Saul from grace! He has no part in it himself and therefore knows of no mercy toward others, not even toward his own son who has won such a great victory for Israel.
1 Samuel 23:3
Jonathan Taken as Guilty
Even from this silence of God Saul does not ask himself why. He does not think about himself as a cause at all. He is completely blind to it. He does say that the LORD delivers Israel. This is always the mixture with religious people: willfulness and the expression of truths.
Just like Jephthah (Judges 11:30; 34-35) Saul is prepared to sacrifice his child to his legalism in the conviction that this is right with God. The people do not react to Saul’s threats to tell the cause of God’s silence. The people do not want to betray Jonathan.
If Saul does not find out through the people, he tries through lot. In doing so, he does not go tribe after tribe, but immediately separates himself and Jonathan on the one hand and the people on the other. He does not seem to want to waste too much time following complicated procedures, although these are according to God’s will. Here, too, the people reside in the will of Saul.
Saul commands God to bring the truth to light. God does not let Himself be commanded, but He does govern the lots. The lots take Saul and Jonathan, and the people escape. God spares His people. Saul then orders that lots be cast between him and Jonathan. He knows it cannot take him, but for the form he lets the lots cast. Jonathan is indeed taken.
Then Saul orders Jonathan to tell what he has done. Jonathan is full of surrender. He bears witness to what he has done. Jonathan does not apologize by saying that he did not hear Saul’s commandment. This ignorance is not brought forth either by Jonathan or by the people. Jonathan is ready to die. His attitude is beautiful. He does not defend himself, nor does he start to attack his father because of his folly. He acknowledges his deed, but not as sin.
After the ‘confession’ of his son Jonathan Saul breaks loose. Saul’s evil heart is ready to kill his son. In his folly he is willing to kill the only man of faith among them. He has sworn it and so he will keep word. How far away is Saul from grace! He has no part in it himself and therefore knows of no mercy toward others, not even toward his own son who has won such a great victory for Israel.
1 Samuel 23:4
The People Rescue Jonathan
Then Jonathan gets support. The people stand up for him. The people testify of Jonathan’s deed as “worked with God” and rescue him. The people see Jonathan’s deed as an act in which he has joined the side of God and has been engaged with Him in the same work. His disobedience to his father is negated by this. It should also have something to say to the people that they are testifying here against their king, a king whom they dearly desired and whom they have hailed.
A performance like Jonathan’s is only possible if someone is aware of God’s thoughts and joins them. The worker then works like God, he follows the way of God. We see this also with the first Christians in the book of Acts.
That Saul must give in because of the people must have been a humiliation to him, just as many things in his life have been humiliating to him. If only he would have admitted it. We do not hear Saul acknowledging that he was wrong. In him we see how the flesh works. Flesh does not distinguish the will of God and has no compassion for those who clearly live with God. It turns victory into defeat and disgraces God-given authority by its extreme commands. It turns joy into mourning and indignation.
In the same way, in many houses hard legalism has jumbled God-given authority, and the exercise of discipline is nothing more than carnal posturing. In such cases it is not surprising that ‘the people rise and speak’.
It seems that Saul does not complete the pursuit of the Philistines. His defeat before his own people has diminished his desire to continue his efforts to pursue and destroy the enemies. Therefore, the defeat of the Philistines is not complete, and he gives them the opportunity to return to their own homes. There they can prepare for new attacks on Israel.
1 Samuel 23:5
The People Rescue Jonathan
Then Jonathan gets support. The people stand up for him. The people testify of Jonathan’s deed as “worked with God” and rescue him. The people see Jonathan’s deed as an act in which he has joined the side of God and has been engaged with Him in the same work. His disobedience to his father is negated by this. It should also have something to say to the people that they are testifying here against their king, a king whom they dearly desired and whom they have hailed.
A performance like Jonathan’s is only possible if someone is aware of God’s thoughts and joins them. The worker then works like God, he follows the way of God. We see this also with the first Christians in the book of Acts.
That Saul must give in because of the people must have been a humiliation to him, just as many things in his life have been humiliating to him. If only he would have admitted it. We do not hear Saul acknowledging that he was wrong. In him we see how the flesh works. Flesh does not distinguish the will of God and has no compassion for those who clearly live with God. It turns victory into defeat and disgraces God-given authority by its extreme commands. It turns joy into mourning and indignation.
In the same way, in many houses hard legalism has jumbled God-given authority, and the exercise of discipline is nothing more than carnal posturing. In such cases it is not surprising that ‘the people rise and speak’.
It seems that Saul does not complete the pursuit of the Philistines. His defeat before his own people has diminished his desire to continue his efforts to pursue and destroy the enemies. Therefore, the defeat of the Philistines is not complete, and he gives them the opportunity to return to their own homes. There they can prepare for new attacks on Israel.
1 Samuel 23:6
Deeds of King Saul
Here we hear about some war operations of Saul. The history of Saul is a moral history, not just of facts. Especially his wars and not his government are described. His victories are all imperfect. So it is with defeating the Amalekites in the next chapter.
A complete victory over spiritual enemies is not achieved by a (pretended) confession to be in connection with God. A discussion about (Christian) values and norms can offer a certain protection, but ultimately has no effect in eliminating intolerance from society.
1 Samuel 23:7
Deeds of King Saul
Here we hear about some war operations of Saul. The history of Saul is a moral history, not just of facts. Especially his wars and not his government are described. His victories are all imperfect. So it is with defeating the Amalekites in the next chapter.
A complete victory over spiritual enemies is not achieved by a (pretended) confession to be in connection with God. A discussion about (Christian) values and norms can offer a certain protection, but ultimately has no effect in eliminating intolerance from society.
1 Samuel 23:8
The Family of Saul
In these verses announcements are made that are important for understanding the rest of history. Saul’s daughter, Michal, will be connected to David. Abner is his nephew, who will also play a prominent role in the coming histories.
1 Samuel 23:9
The Family of Saul
In these verses announcements are made that are important for understanding the rest of history. Saul’s daughter, Michal, will be connected to David. Abner is his nephew, who will also play a prominent role in the coming histories.
1 Samuel 23:10
The Family of Saul
In these verses announcements are made that are important for understanding the rest of history. Saul’s daughter, Michal, will be connected to David. Abner is his nephew, who will also play a prominent role in the coming histories.
1 Samuel 23:11
Saul Wages War Against the Philistines
Saul remains a soldier with an eye for all those who can help him in war. He knows how to form his army, but he lacks faith. Therefore, all his efforts, in themselves good, will not have a lasting result. David is not surrounded by the best of Israel, but with them is faith.
The final rejection of Saul comes in the next chapter.
1 Samuel 23:13
Introduction
1 Samuel 15 is in a way the last chapter about Saul. Here the king himself is rejected after the kingdom has previously been taken from him (1 Samuel 13:14). With 1 Samuel 16 a new phase in God’s people begins, in which David is in the foreground.
God does not simply push Saul aside. The kingdom may be taken away from him, but his person gets another chance. God does this by giving him a task that is easy to carry out. He must completely destroy an archenemy of Israel. Anyone who loves God and His people must hate this terrible enemy. Whoever thinks like God should not have the slightest difficulty in exercising this judgment on Amalek. God gives Saul this new, but at the same time last chance. Unfortunately, we will see that Saul fails.
The task can be simple, but at the same time it is a serious one. To see the seriousness of it and to realize that the consequences of failure are serious, we need to know who Amalek is. Amalek is mentioned for the first time in Exodus 17 (Exodus 17:8). There he attacks Israel as soon as the people are delivered from Egypt. It is the first enemy the delivered people have to deal with. Amalek attacks God’s people at the place where they are weakest and when they are exhausted. In Amalek we can see a picture of the flesh and of satan who controls the flesh.
God has announced that He will destroy Amalek (Exodus 17:14). But God also has patience with Amalek. In the book of Numbers, we find a second clue of the judgment on Amalek (Numbers 24:7b). The downfall of Amalek is related there to the arrival of the great King. As a foreshadowing thereof David, and not Saul, will completely defeat Amalek. Thus will the Lord Jesus let throw the devil into the abyss and accept His reign (Revelation 20:1-6). In his farewell speech Moses recalls the extermination of Amalek (Deuteronomy 25:19). In picture Moses points out that if we are weak the flesh can work easily and we will then be an easy prey for satan.
The Command to Utterly Destroy Amalek
Samuel comes to Saul. He first reminds Saul of his anointing. This anointing was not Samuel’s own initiative. He anointed Saul on the explicit command of the LORD. Anointing is done with a view to a service for the LORD, to which obedience to the words of God is directly linked. Samuel says directly to Saul that he must listen to the words of God.
Anointing and obedience to God’s Word belong together. This also applies to us. We are anointed as well, namely with the Holy Spirit. We may be held accountable for what we are.
Samuel passes on the words of the LORD Who presents Himself as the LORD of His hosts. He gave Saul command of the Israel’s hosts. He is the true King, both over all that is on earth and over the hosts and a kingdom higher than the earth. He reminds Saul of what Amalek did to Israel and how He judges that (Deuteronomy 25:17-18). Amalek stood in Israel’s way when the people were delivered from Egypt by Him.
God has a lot of patience with His enemies and those of His people, but once comes the reckoning. Now the judgment must be exercised, and that judgment must be total. Nothing but the absolute authority of God justifies this judgment. This fight will not enrich Israel: all people and animals must be killed.
1 Samuel 23:14
Introduction
1 Samuel 15 is in a way the last chapter about Saul. Here the king himself is rejected after the kingdom has previously been taken from him (1 Samuel 13:14). With 1 Samuel 16 a new phase in God’s people begins, in which David is in the foreground.
God does not simply push Saul aside. The kingdom may be taken away from him, but his person gets another chance. God does this by giving him a task that is easy to carry out. He must completely destroy an archenemy of Israel. Anyone who loves God and His people must hate this terrible enemy. Whoever thinks like God should not have the slightest difficulty in exercising this judgment on Amalek. God gives Saul this new, but at the same time last chance. Unfortunately, we will see that Saul fails.
The task can be simple, but at the same time it is a serious one. To see the seriousness of it and to realize that the consequences of failure are serious, we need to know who Amalek is. Amalek is mentioned for the first time in Exodus 17 (Exodus 17:8). There he attacks Israel as soon as the people are delivered from Egypt. It is the first enemy the delivered people have to deal with. Amalek attacks God’s people at the place where they are weakest and when they are exhausted. In Amalek we can see a picture of the flesh and of satan who controls the flesh.
God has announced that He will destroy Amalek (Exodus 17:14). But God also has patience with Amalek. In the book of Numbers, we find a second clue of the judgment on Amalek (Numbers 24:7b). The downfall of Amalek is related there to the arrival of the great King. As a foreshadowing thereof David, and not Saul, will completely defeat Amalek. Thus will the Lord Jesus let throw the devil into the abyss and accept His reign (Revelation 20:1-6). In his farewell speech Moses recalls the extermination of Amalek (Deuteronomy 25:19). In picture Moses points out that if we are weak the flesh can work easily and we will then be an easy prey for satan.
The Command to Utterly Destroy Amalek
Samuel comes to Saul. He first reminds Saul of his anointing. This anointing was not Samuel’s own initiative. He anointed Saul on the explicit command of the LORD. Anointing is done with a view to a service for the LORD, to which obedience to the words of God is directly linked. Samuel says directly to Saul that he must listen to the words of God.
Anointing and obedience to God’s Word belong together. This also applies to us. We are anointed as well, namely with the Holy Spirit. We may be held accountable for what we are.
Samuel passes on the words of the LORD Who presents Himself as the LORD of His hosts. He gave Saul command of the Israel’s hosts. He is the true King, both over all that is on earth and over the hosts and a kingdom higher than the earth. He reminds Saul of what Amalek did to Israel and how He judges that (Deuteronomy 25:17-18). Amalek stood in Israel’s way when the people were delivered from Egypt by Him.
God has a lot of patience with His enemies and those of His people, but once comes the reckoning. Now the judgment must be exercised, and that judgment must be total. Nothing but the absolute authority of God justifies this judgment. This fight will not enrich Israel: all people and animals must be killed.
1 Samuel 23:15
Introduction
1 Samuel 15 is in a way the last chapter about Saul. Here the king himself is rejected after the kingdom has previously been taken from him (1 Samuel 13:14). With 1 Samuel 16 a new phase in God’s people begins, in which David is in the foreground.
God does not simply push Saul aside. The kingdom may be taken away from him, but his person gets another chance. God does this by giving him a task that is easy to carry out. He must completely destroy an archenemy of Israel. Anyone who loves God and His people must hate this terrible enemy. Whoever thinks like God should not have the slightest difficulty in exercising this judgment on Amalek. God gives Saul this new, but at the same time last chance. Unfortunately, we will see that Saul fails.
The task can be simple, but at the same time it is a serious one. To see the seriousness of it and to realize that the consequences of failure are serious, we need to know who Amalek is. Amalek is mentioned for the first time in Exodus 17 (Exodus 17:8). There he attacks Israel as soon as the people are delivered from Egypt. It is the first enemy the delivered people have to deal with. Amalek attacks God’s people at the place where they are weakest and when they are exhausted. In Amalek we can see a picture of the flesh and of satan who controls the flesh.
God has announced that He will destroy Amalek (Exodus 17:14). But God also has patience with Amalek. In the book of Numbers, we find a second clue of the judgment on Amalek (Numbers 24:7b). The downfall of Amalek is related there to the arrival of the great King. As a foreshadowing thereof David, and not Saul, will completely defeat Amalek. Thus will the Lord Jesus let throw the devil into the abyss and accept His reign (Revelation 20:1-6). In his farewell speech Moses recalls the extermination of Amalek (Deuteronomy 25:19). In picture Moses points out that if we are weak the flesh can work easily and we will then be an easy prey for satan.
The Command to Utterly Destroy Amalek
Samuel comes to Saul. He first reminds Saul of his anointing. This anointing was not Samuel’s own initiative. He anointed Saul on the explicit command of the LORD. Anointing is done with a view to a service for the LORD, to which obedience to the words of God is directly linked. Samuel says directly to Saul that he must listen to the words of God.
Anointing and obedience to God’s Word belong together. This also applies to us. We are anointed as well, namely with the Holy Spirit. We may be held accountable for what we are.
Samuel passes on the words of the LORD Who presents Himself as the LORD of His hosts. He gave Saul command of the Israel’s hosts. He is the true King, both over all that is on earth and over the hosts and a kingdom higher than the earth. He reminds Saul of what Amalek did to Israel and how He judges that (Deuteronomy 25:17-18). Amalek stood in Israel’s way when the people were delivered from Egypt by Him.
God has a lot of patience with His enemies and those of His people, but once comes the reckoning. Now the judgment must be exercised, and that judgment must be total. Nothing but the absolute authority of God justifies this judgment. This fight will not enrich Israel: all people and animals must be killed.
1 Samuel 23:16
Saul Defeats the Amalekites
Saul is preparing for battle. It seems that he obeys the LORD. He calls the people and a large army comes up. This is something else than the six hundred men he had with him some time ago in his fight against the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:2). Jonathan’s victory and its results have given the people courage to go to battle again.
Saul counts them at Telaim, which means ‘lambs’. He counts them as lambs. He is not overconfident either but works with consultation. The setting of an ambush indicates this. Before attacking Amalek, he does a favor to the Kenites.
The Kenites belong to the Midianites. From there also came the father-in-law of Moses (Judges 1:16; Numbers 10:29). The Kenites were associated with Israel through Moses and provided a benefit to the people in the person of Jethro. Saul acknowledges the friendliness their ancestors have shown to Israel when they came from Egypt. Jethro and his family have helped and served Israel in their journey through the wilderness (Numbers 10:29-31).
From this we can learn that those who come after us can benefit from our good works when we are no longer there. God is not unjust to forget even one kindness that has been shown to His people (Hebrews 6:10). He will reward every good deed, if it is not already on earth, then certainly in the resurrection.
Another lesson is that it is dangerous to be found in the company of God’s enemies. Here the Kenites are warned to leave. This warning is still valid today. It is our duty and our interest to depart from any company that does not put the Lord Jesus in the center, so that we do not have fellowship with the sins of that company and do not receive the plagues that come upon it (Revelation 18:4). The Jews have a saying: Woe to the wicked, and woe to his neighbor.
When the Kenites departed from the Amalekites, Saul defeats Amalek. It is more a killing of convicted criminals than a war against fighting enemies. The result cannot be questionable, because the matter is fair, and the call is clear. Saul executes the LORD’s command.
1 Samuel 23:17
Saul Defeats the Amalekites
Saul is preparing for battle. It seems that he obeys the LORD. He calls the people and a large army comes up. This is something else than the six hundred men he had with him some time ago in his fight against the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:2). Jonathan’s victory and its results have given the people courage to go to battle again.
Saul counts them at Telaim, which means ‘lambs’. He counts them as lambs. He is not overconfident either but works with consultation. The setting of an ambush indicates this. Before attacking Amalek, he does a favor to the Kenites.
The Kenites belong to the Midianites. From there also came the father-in-law of Moses (Judges 1:16; Numbers 10:29). The Kenites were associated with Israel through Moses and provided a benefit to the people in the person of Jethro. Saul acknowledges the friendliness their ancestors have shown to Israel when they came from Egypt. Jethro and his family have helped and served Israel in their journey through the wilderness (Numbers 10:29-31).
From this we can learn that those who come after us can benefit from our good works when we are no longer there. God is not unjust to forget even one kindness that has been shown to His people (Hebrews 6:10). He will reward every good deed, if it is not already on earth, then certainly in the resurrection.
Another lesson is that it is dangerous to be found in the company of God’s enemies. Here the Kenites are warned to leave. This warning is still valid today. It is our duty and our interest to depart from any company that does not put the Lord Jesus in the center, so that we do not have fellowship with the sins of that company and do not receive the plagues that come upon it (Revelation 18:4). The Jews have a saying: Woe to the wicked, and woe to his neighbor.
When the Kenites departed from the Amalekites, Saul defeats Amalek. It is more a killing of convicted criminals than a war against fighting enemies. The result cannot be questionable, because the matter is fair, and the call is clear. Saul executes the LORD’s command.
1 Samuel 23:18
Saul Defeats the Amalekites
Saul is preparing for battle. It seems that he obeys the LORD. He calls the people and a large army comes up. This is something else than the six hundred men he had with him some time ago in his fight against the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:2). Jonathan’s victory and its results have given the people courage to go to battle again.
Saul counts them at Telaim, which means ‘lambs’. He counts them as lambs. He is not overconfident either but works with consultation. The setting of an ambush indicates this. Before attacking Amalek, he does a favor to the Kenites.
The Kenites belong to the Midianites. From there also came the father-in-law of Moses (Judges 1:16; Numbers 10:29). The Kenites were associated with Israel through Moses and provided a benefit to the people in the person of Jethro. Saul acknowledges the friendliness their ancestors have shown to Israel when they came from Egypt. Jethro and his family have helped and served Israel in their journey through the wilderness (Numbers 10:29-31).
From this we can learn that those who come after us can benefit from our good works when we are no longer there. God is not unjust to forget even one kindness that has been shown to His people (Hebrews 6:10). He will reward every good deed, if it is not already on earth, then certainly in the resurrection.
Another lesson is that it is dangerous to be found in the company of God’s enemies. Here the Kenites are warned to leave. This warning is still valid today. It is our duty and our interest to depart from any company that does not put the Lord Jesus in the center, so that we do not have fellowship with the sins of that company and do not receive the plagues that come upon it (Revelation 18:4). The Jews have a saying: Woe to the wicked, and woe to his neighbor.
When the Kenites departed from the Amalekites, Saul defeats Amalek. It is more a killing of convicted criminals than a war against fighting enemies. The result cannot be questionable, because the matter is fair, and the call is clear. Saul executes the LORD’s command.
1 Samuel 23:19
Saul Defeats the Amalekites
Saul is preparing for battle. It seems that he obeys the LORD. He calls the people and a large army comes up. This is something else than the six hundred men he had with him some time ago in his fight against the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:2). Jonathan’s victory and its results have given the people courage to go to battle again.
Saul counts them at Telaim, which means ‘lambs’. He counts them as lambs. He is not overconfident either but works with consultation. The setting of an ambush indicates this. Before attacking Amalek, he does a favor to the Kenites.
The Kenites belong to the Midianites. From there also came the father-in-law of Moses (Judges 1:16; Numbers 10:29). The Kenites were associated with Israel through Moses and provided a benefit to the people in the person of Jethro. Saul acknowledges the friendliness their ancestors have shown to Israel when they came from Egypt. Jethro and his family have helped and served Israel in their journey through the wilderness (Numbers 10:29-31).
From this we can learn that those who come after us can benefit from our good works when we are no longer there. God is not unjust to forget even one kindness that has been shown to His people (Hebrews 6:10). He will reward every good deed, if it is not already on earth, then certainly in the resurrection.
Another lesson is that it is dangerous to be found in the company of God’s enemies. Here the Kenites are warned to leave. This warning is still valid today. It is our duty and our interest to depart from any company that does not put the Lord Jesus in the center, so that we do not have fellowship with the sins of that company and do not receive the plagues that come upon it (Revelation 18:4). The Jews have a saying: Woe to the wicked, and woe to his neighbor.
When the Kenites departed from the Amalekites, Saul defeats Amalek. It is more a killing of convicted criminals than a war against fighting enemies. The result cannot be questionable, because the matter is fair, and the call is clear. Saul executes the LORD’s command.
1 Samuel 23:20
Saul Spares Agag and the Best of the Cattle
Saul’s obedience is not complete. He kills all the people of Amalek, but he spares their king. The people are also disobedient, but Saul is mentioned first in not fully executing God’s command. He confirms the serious truth of Romans 8 (Romans 8:7-8) .
The best is spared. Saul and the people do not want to judge this. It is a question of their will. It is a picture of a man in the flesh who does want to deal with the worst excesses, but spares everything that seems to be good. This is a denial of the corruption of the flesh and it is disobedience to the Word of God.
No one shall condone drunkenness or fornication doctrinally. But when it comes to religious rituals and legal formalism or an unequal yoke with an unbeliever in the work of the Lord, one talks differently. All of that can be spared, on the pretext that it can be devoted to the Lord’s service.
The sin of Saul and of anyone who deals with these things in this way is giving an own interpretation of what God has said. Such interpretations are always given with an eye to one’s own desires and the desires of the people of God, while ignoring God’s explicit command.
1 Samuel 23:21
Saul Spares Agag and the Best of the Cattle
Saul’s obedience is not complete. He kills all the people of Amalek, but he spares their king. The people are also disobedient, but Saul is mentioned first in not fully executing God’s command. He confirms the serious truth of Romans 8 (Romans 8:7-8) .
The best is spared. Saul and the people do not want to judge this. It is a question of their will. It is a picture of a man in the flesh who does want to deal with the worst excesses, but spares everything that seems to be good. This is a denial of the corruption of the flesh and it is disobedience to the Word of God.
No one shall condone drunkenness or fornication doctrinally. But when it comes to religious rituals and legal formalism or an unequal yoke with an unbeliever in the work of the Lord, one talks differently. All of that can be spared, on the pretext that it can be devoted to the Lord’s service.
The sin of Saul and of anyone who deals with these things in this way is giving an own interpretation of what God has said. Such interpretations are always given with an eye to one’s own desires and the desires of the people of God, while ignoring God’s explicit command.
1 Samuel 23:22
The Regret of the LORD
Then comes the word of the LORD to Samuel. The LORD tells Samuel of Saul’s disobedience and what is the consequence thereof. He decides to reject Saul and announces this to Samuel. The LORD says that He regrets that He has made Saul king.
If God regrets anything, it is not because He must come back to a wrong decision made by Him. Regret in God is not what it is in us. In us it is a change of meaning and will, but with Him it is a change in His method. He does not change His will, but He wants a change. His regret is not the result of an act of Himself, but of man’s actions. God’s regret shows that He is deeply sad about what man has done with what He has given him, not about what He Himself has done. He never needs to revoke anything (1 Samuel 15:29). Although God knows everything in advance, including the evil that will happen, He is full of sadness when that evil happens.
Samuel’s reaction to what the LORD tells him shows that he is a true man of God. He gets angry with Saul and at the same time he calls to God all night for this one man. Anger and grief can go together, as we read of the Lord Jesus (Mark 3:5a). There is anger about sin and grief about the sinner. Samuel is the great praying man, who has said that he will not cease to pray for the people (1 Samuel 12:23). His calling to God indicates a deep inner involvement and a great movement of mind.
1 Samuel 23:23
The Regret of the LORD
Then comes the word of the LORD to Samuel. The LORD tells Samuel of Saul’s disobedience and what is the consequence thereof. He decides to reject Saul and announces this to Samuel. The LORD says that He regrets that He has made Saul king.
If God regrets anything, it is not because He must come back to a wrong decision made by Him. Regret in God is not what it is in us. In us it is a change of meaning and will, but with Him it is a change in His method. He does not change His will, but He wants a change. His regret is not the result of an act of Himself, but of man’s actions. God’s regret shows that He is deeply sad about what man has done with what He has given him, not about what He Himself has done. He never needs to revoke anything (1 Samuel 15:29). Although God knows everything in advance, including the evil that will happen, He is full of sadness when that evil happens.
Samuel’s reaction to what the LORD tells him shows that he is a true man of God. He gets angry with Saul and at the same time he calls to God all night for this one man. Anger and grief can go together, as we read of the Lord Jesus (Mark 3:5a). There is anger about sin and grief about the sinner. Samuel is the great praying man, who has said that he will not cease to pray for the people (1 Samuel 12:23). His calling to God indicates a deep inner involvement and a great movement of mind.
1 Samuel 23:24
Saul’s ‘Obedience’
Samuel must convey the message of God to Saul. He does not sleep that night but calls to God. From that fellowship with God he goes to Saul. Before he meets Saul, he is told where Saul is, what he did and where he then went. God supports His servant in his task.
The fact that Saul has set up a monument for himself shows that he is looking for his own honor (cf. 2 Samuel 18:18). The word “monument” is literally “hand”, symbolizing his actions, what he has accomplished. Now he is in Gilgal. Samuel follows him until there. There everything becomes public.
Saul does not take the place that suits him toward the man of God. He does not wait until Samuel starts. He does not ask what Samuel comes for, but immediately takes the floor, to praise himself and to tell how obedient he has been. Saul deceives his own conscience through his words. He takes the initiative because he feels that he has not been obedient. The presence of a man of God like Samuel can only make him restless about his incomplete execution of the command. This is how it is when we come to someone who lives with the Lord, while we fill in our lives with the Lord in a loose way.
Samuel is not deceived by the elation with which Saul meets him and the testimony he gives about himself. Firstly, Samuel is informed by the LORD of the reality of Saul’s actions. Secondly, Samuel points to the evidence that Saul was not obedient. He hears the bleating of sheep and the lowing of the oxen. How is this possible when he has exterminated everything according to the LORD’s command?
Saul’s pompous talk of devotion to the LORD is being denied by the noise of the spared sheep and oxen. Anyone who says that he is full of the Lord but does not read the Bible or thinks he does not need the upbuilding of his faith in Christian meetings, shows the same contradiction. The deeds show the lie of the words. What is spared of the flesh contradicts a confession of devotion. There is the same arbitrariness with such believers as with Saul. Later on, we see Saul does thoroughly act against Abimelech, whom he suspects of sympathy for David. He spares nothing of him (1 Samuel 22:19).
The bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen are like the rust of gold and silver (James 5:3a). The beautiful confession is contradicted by the practice. It is nothing new that beautifully looking confessions of obedience to God’s commandments are at odds with giving in to the flesh and love of the world. If the beautiful confession sounds that nothing on earth has value but the Lord Jesus, while we are willing to do anything to live in large and luxuriously furnished houses and drive expensive cars, that confession is not worth much.
Saul not only presents things better than they are, but he also lies. He has spared the best himself (1 Samuel 15:9), but he blames others by saying that the people did it. This is the old shear-off system. It has already been put into practice by Adam and Eve. He also speaks three times about “the LORD your God” (1 Samuel 15:15; 21; 30). Indeed, it is not his God, but only Samuel’s. He has no bond with God.
David reacts very differently when the sword of judgment hangs above the people (2 Samuel 24:17). Moses also wanted to be exterminated out of God’s book himself, and that for a disobedient people (Exodus 32:32). Above all, the Lord Jesus reacted very different, who says: “If you seek Me, let these go their way” (John 18:8).
1 Samuel 23:25
Saul’s ‘Obedience’
Samuel must convey the message of God to Saul. He does not sleep that night but calls to God. From that fellowship with God he goes to Saul. Before he meets Saul, he is told where Saul is, what he did and where he then went. God supports His servant in his task.
The fact that Saul has set up a monument for himself shows that he is looking for his own honor (cf. 2 Samuel 18:18). The word “monument” is literally “hand”, symbolizing his actions, what he has accomplished. Now he is in Gilgal. Samuel follows him until there. There everything becomes public.
Saul does not take the place that suits him toward the man of God. He does not wait until Samuel starts. He does not ask what Samuel comes for, but immediately takes the floor, to praise himself and to tell how obedient he has been. Saul deceives his own conscience through his words. He takes the initiative because he feels that he has not been obedient. The presence of a man of God like Samuel can only make him restless about his incomplete execution of the command. This is how it is when we come to someone who lives with the Lord, while we fill in our lives with the Lord in a loose way.
Samuel is not deceived by the elation with which Saul meets him and the testimony he gives about himself. Firstly, Samuel is informed by the LORD of the reality of Saul’s actions. Secondly, Samuel points to the evidence that Saul was not obedient. He hears the bleating of sheep and the lowing of the oxen. How is this possible when he has exterminated everything according to the LORD’s command?
Saul’s pompous talk of devotion to the LORD is being denied by the noise of the spared sheep and oxen. Anyone who says that he is full of the Lord but does not read the Bible or thinks he does not need the upbuilding of his faith in Christian meetings, shows the same contradiction. The deeds show the lie of the words. What is spared of the flesh contradicts a confession of devotion. There is the same arbitrariness with such believers as with Saul. Later on, we see Saul does thoroughly act against Abimelech, whom he suspects of sympathy for David. He spares nothing of him (1 Samuel 22:19).
The bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen are like the rust of gold and silver (James 5:3a). The beautiful confession is contradicted by the practice. It is nothing new that beautifully looking confessions of obedience to God’s commandments are at odds with giving in to the flesh and love of the world. If the beautiful confession sounds that nothing on earth has value but the Lord Jesus, while we are willing to do anything to live in large and luxuriously furnished houses and drive expensive cars, that confession is not worth much.
Saul not only presents things better than they are, but he also lies. He has spared the best himself (1 Samuel 15:9), but he blames others by saying that the people did it. This is the old shear-off system. It has already been put into practice by Adam and Eve. He also speaks three times about “the LORD your God” (1 Samuel 15:15; 21; 30). Indeed, it is not his God, but only Samuel’s. He has no bond with God.
David reacts very differently when the sword of judgment hangs above the people (2 Samuel 24:17). Moses also wanted to be exterminated out of God’s book himself, and that for a disobedient people (Exodus 32:32). Above all, the Lord Jesus reacted very different, who says: “If you seek Me, let these go their way” (John 18:8).
1 Samuel 23:26
Saul’s ‘Obedience’
Samuel must convey the message of God to Saul. He does not sleep that night but calls to God. From that fellowship with God he goes to Saul. Before he meets Saul, he is told where Saul is, what he did and where he then went. God supports His servant in his task.
The fact that Saul has set up a monument for himself shows that he is looking for his own honor (cf. 2 Samuel 18:18). The word “monument” is literally “hand”, symbolizing his actions, what he has accomplished. Now he is in Gilgal. Samuel follows him until there. There everything becomes public.
Saul does not take the place that suits him toward the man of God. He does not wait until Samuel starts. He does not ask what Samuel comes for, but immediately takes the floor, to praise himself and to tell how obedient he has been. Saul deceives his own conscience through his words. He takes the initiative because he feels that he has not been obedient. The presence of a man of God like Samuel can only make him restless about his incomplete execution of the command. This is how it is when we come to someone who lives with the Lord, while we fill in our lives with the Lord in a loose way.
Samuel is not deceived by the elation with which Saul meets him and the testimony he gives about himself. Firstly, Samuel is informed by the LORD of the reality of Saul’s actions. Secondly, Samuel points to the evidence that Saul was not obedient. He hears the bleating of sheep and the lowing of the oxen. How is this possible when he has exterminated everything according to the LORD’s command?
Saul’s pompous talk of devotion to the LORD is being denied by the noise of the spared sheep and oxen. Anyone who says that he is full of the Lord but does not read the Bible or thinks he does not need the upbuilding of his faith in Christian meetings, shows the same contradiction. The deeds show the lie of the words. What is spared of the flesh contradicts a confession of devotion. There is the same arbitrariness with such believers as with Saul. Later on, we see Saul does thoroughly act against Abimelech, whom he suspects of sympathy for David. He spares nothing of him (1 Samuel 22:19).
The bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen are like the rust of gold and silver (James 5:3a). The beautiful confession is contradicted by the practice. It is nothing new that beautifully looking confessions of obedience to God’s commandments are at odds with giving in to the flesh and love of the world. If the beautiful confession sounds that nothing on earth has value but the Lord Jesus, while we are willing to do anything to live in large and luxuriously furnished houses and drive expensive cars, that confession is not worth much.
Saul not only presents things better than they are, but he also lies. He has spared the best himself (1 Samuel 15:9), but he blames others by saying that the people did it. This is the old shear-off system. It has already been put into practice by Adam and Eve. He also speaks three times about “the LORD your God” (1 Samuel 15:15; 21; 30). Indeed, it is not his God, but only Samuel’s. He has no bond with God.
David reacts very differently when the sword of judgment hangs above the people (2 Samuel 24:17). Moses also wanted to be exterminated out of God’s book himself, and that for a disobedient people (Exodus 32:32). Above all, the Lord Jesus reacted very different, who says: “If you seek Me, let these go their way” (John 18:8).
1 Samuel 23:27
Saul’s ‘Obedience’
Samuel must convey the message of God to Saul. He does not sleep that night but calls to God. From that fellowship with God he goes to Saul. Before he meets Saul, he is told where Saul is, what he did and where he then went. God supports His servant in his task.
The fact that Saul has set up a monument for himself shows that he is looking for his own honor (cf. 2 Samuel 18:18). The word “monument” is literally “hand”, symbolizing his actions, what he has accomplished. Now he is in Gilgal. Samuel follows him until there. There everything becomes public.
Saul does not take the place that suits him toward the man of God. He does not wait until Samuel starts. He does not ask what Samuel comes for, but immediately takes the floor, to praise himself and to tell how obedient he has been. Saul deceives his own conscience through his words. He takes the initiative because he feels that he has not been obedient. The presence of a man of God like Samuel can only make him restless about his incomplete execution of the command. This is how it is when we come to someone who lives with the Lord, while we fill in our lives with the Lord in a loose way.
Samuel is not deceived by the elation with which Saul meets him and the testimony he gives about himself. Firstly, Samuel is informed by the LORD of the reality of Saul’s actions. Secondly, Samuel points to the evidence that Saul was not obedient. He hears the bleating of sheep and the lowing of the oxen. How is this possible when he has exterminated everything according to the LORD’s command?
Saul’s pompous talk of devotion to the LORD is being denied by the noise of the spared sheep and oxen. Anyone who says that he is full of the Lord but does not read the Bible or thinks he does not need the upbuilding of his faith in Christian meetings, shows the same contradiction. The deeds show the lie of the words. What is spared of the flesh contradicts a confession of devotion. There is the same arbitrariness with such believers as with Saul. Later on, we see Saul does thoroughly act against Abimelech, whom he suspects of sympathy for David. He spares nothing of him (1 Samuel 22:19).
The bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen are like the rust of gold and silver (James 5:3a). The beautiful confession is contradicted by the practice. It is nothing new that beautifully looking confessions of obedience to God’s commandments are at odds with giving in to the flesh and love of the world. If the beautiful confession sounds that nothing on earth has value but the Lord Jesus, while we are willing to do anything to live in large and luxuriously furnished houses and drive expensive cars, that confession is not worth much.
Saul not only presents things better than they are, but he also lies. He has spared the best himself (1 Samuel 15:9), but he blames others by saying that the people did it. This is the old shear-off system. It has already been put into practice by Adam and Eve. He also speaks three times about “the LORD your God” (1 Samuel 15:15; 21; 30). Indeed, it is not his God, but only Samuel’s. He has no bond with God.
David reacts very differently when the sword of judgment hangs above the people (2 Samuel 24:17). Moses also wanted to be exterminated out of God’s book himself, and that for a disobedient people (Exodus 32:32). Above all, the Lord Jesus reacted very different, who says: “If you seek Me, let these go their way” (John 18:8).
1 Samuel 23:28
Samuel Confronts Saul
Samuel has enough of Saul’s justifications and silences him. He must tell what God said to him last night. Saul gives in and gives Samuel the opportunity to speak. Samuel does not go directly to the heart of the matter. He introduces the actual message by reminding Saul of a few things. He recalls him his humble beginnings and how he was then in his own eyes and how he had become the head of the tribes of Israel. He also reminds Saul that this was a matter from the LORD.
The act of anointing was done by Samuel, but Samuel did it on behalf of the LORD. All that Saul has become he is through the LORD. This is in stark contrast to the monument he had set up for himself. He has seen himself gradually grow bigger. As he has grown in his own eyes, the LORD has disappeared from his field of vision.
The anointing by the LORD means that he depends for everything on the LORD and that he receives his commands from Him. Thus the LORD has given him the clear command to exterminate the Amalekites. For this he would have to fight, but in doing so he could have count on the strength of the LORD.
After Samuel has reminded Saul of what the LORD has done with him, and of the clear command the LORD has given him, he asks Saul a question. The question is not whether he has carried out the command, but why he has not carried it out. Disobedience is established and no longer needs to be proved or acknowledged. It is about whether Saul wants to acknowledge his disobedience honestly and repent of his disobedience. Samuel paints the disobedience in bright colors. He states that Saul “rushed upon the spoil” and that he “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD”.
1 Samuel 23:29
Samuel Confronts Saul
Samuel has enough of Saul’s justifications and silences him. He must tell what God said to him last night. Saul gives in and gives Samuel the opportunity to speak. Samuel does not go directly to the heart of the matter. He introduces the actual message by reminding Saul of a few things. He recalls him his humble beginnings and how he was then in his own eyes and how he had become the head of the tribes of Israel. He also reminds Saul that this was a matter from the LORD.
The act of anointing was done by Samuel, but Samuel did it on behalf of the LORD. All that Saul has become he is through the LORD. This is in stark contrast to the monument he had set up for himself. He has seen himself gradually grow bigger. As he has grown in his own eyes, the LORD has disappeared from his field of vision.
The anointing by the LORD means that he depends for everything on the LORD and that he receives his commands from Him. Thus the LORD has given him the clear command to exterminate the Amalekites. For this he would have to fight, but in doing so he could have count on the strength of the LORD.
After Samuel has reminded Saul of what the LORD has done with him, and of the clear command the LORD has given him, he asks Saul a question. The question is not whether he has carried out the command, but why he has not carried it out. Disobedience is established and no longer needs to be proved or acknowledged. It is about whether Saul wants to acknowledge his disobedience honestly and repent of his disobedience. Samuel paints the disobedience in bright colors. He states that Saul “rushed upon the spoil” and that he “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD”.