Saul
sent to smite Amalek in fulfilment of God's command
Nevertheless Saul is put
to a final proof. Jehovah, by the mouth of Samuel, sends
him to smite Amalek, and utterly destroy them and all
that belonged to them. They were the cruel and determined
enemies of God's people (Deut. 25: 17-19). They had been
chief among the nations, their name and their pride were
everywhere known (Num. 24: 7, 20); but it was a nation
doomed of God.
Saul's
disobedience and rejection
God now entrusts Saul with
the fulfilment of Deuteronomy 25: 19. In this case all
Israel accompanied him without fear. These were not the
enemies from within who were daily wearing away their
strength and courage. The victory is complete. The only
question now is that of faithfulness to God, and of
preferring His glory to self-interest. But Saul fears the
people. The Spirit of God says "Saul and the people";
Saul says "the people"; and that it was for God
they spared. But our excuses, even when true, only
condemn us. Saul, not having faith, not looking to God,
fears the people more than God. What a slave is the
unbeliever! If not the slave of the enemy, he is that of
the people whom he appears to govern. Saul, unfaithful to
God in the midst of the people, and surrounded by
blessings from Jehovah, is at length deprived of the
kingdom.
No humiliation, no
brokenness of heart—he confesses his sin, hoping to
avoid its punishment; but, unable to escape it, he
entreats Samuel to honour him in spite of it. Samuel does
so and then forsakes him. Everything changes now, and
David appears on the scene. It is well to remark that the
connected history of Saul's reign closes with the end of
chapter 14.
Chapter 15 is given as a
separate history on account of the importance of its
contents—the definite rejection of Saul, a rejection
which introduces David.
1 Samuel 15 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Nevertheless Saul is put to a final proof. Jehovah, by the mouth of Samuel, sends him to smite Amalek, and utterly destroy them and all that belonged to them. They were the cruel and determined enemies of God's people (Deut. 25: 17-19). They had been chief among the nations, their name and their pride were everywhere known (Num. 24: 7, 20); but it was a nation doomed of God.
Saul's disobedience and rejection
God now entrusts Saul with the fulfilment of Deuteronomy 25: 19. In this case all Israel accompanied him without fear. These were not the enemies from within who were daily wearing away their strength and courage. The victory is complete. The only question now is that of faithfulness to God, and of preferring His glory to self-interest. But Saul fears the people. The Spirit of God says "Saul and the people"; Saul says "the people"; and that it was for God they spared. But our excuses, even when true, only condemn us. Saul, not having faith, not looking to God, fears the people more than God. What a slave is the unbeliever! If not the slave of the enemy, he is that of the people whom he appears to govern. Saul, unfaithful to God in the midst of the people, and surrounded by blessings from Jehovah, is at length deprived of the kingdom.
No humiliation, no brokenness of heart—he confesses his sin, hoping to avoid its punishment; but, unable to escape it, he entreats Samuel to honour him in spite of it. Samuel does so and then forsakes him. Everything changes now, and David appears on the scene. It is well to remark that the connected history of Saul's reign closes with the end of chapter 14.
Chapter 15 is given as a separate history on account of the importance of its contents—the definite rejection of Saul, a rejection which introduces David.