Saul Rejected as King

Israel had cried out for a king. They longed to be like the surrounding nations. In response, God called upon the prophet Samuel to anoint Saul as King. God had now given Samuel another task- to deliver the following message to Saul:

     This is what the LORD almighty says, 'I will punish the Amaletikets for what they did to Israel    when they waylaid them as they come up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep and donkeys." 1 Samuel 15:3

Three years into his reign, God called upon Saul to lead the Israelite army into battle against the Amalekites. These were an ungodly group of people who had damaged the Israelites as Moses led them from Egypt, and now God was going to punish them for their actions against his people. God's directive was through and clear.

Yet as scripture continues, we see Saul returning to his home, King Agag and a plunder of the finest animals in tow. Samuel confronts Saul who responds with a host of excuses for not doing what God had asked. He tried stating that he had saved the animals as a sacrifice to God. That he caved to the pressure of the soldiers because they were the ones who wanted to plunder the Amalekites. All excuses of pride, ignorance, and selfish gain. Saul had a heart for himself and not for God. And as a result Saul's position as king is rejected. Amid all his excuses, Samuel responds to Saul with the following statement: 

But Samuel replied:

Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD,

To obey is better than a sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is like the sin of divination and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king. 

1 Samuel 15:22-23

Imagine it this way... You've just told your son to clean room. He is to pick up, organize, sweep, dust and make his bed. Later in the morning upon meeting him in the living room where he is kicked back watching tv you ask if he's finished cleaning his room. His delighted response is, "Of course mom!" Your heart rejoices that he's done as you ask. However upon further inspection you find that the room is picked up, but the closet is in total disarray and the dust remains 2" deep on the furniture. Your instant displeasure arrises. He didn't obey because partial obedience is really disobedience.

I am not proud to admit that at times, like Saul, I have partially obeyed God. I have been afraid of completing what he asked of me because of the unknown waiting on the other side. I've compromised his word thinking that I knew better or that perhaps God would be ok with this because he understood my heart. But Friend, I am here to tell you that God's delight is in our complete obedience. He desires our obedience more than any work we could do on this earth for him.

Lord,
I pray that you will give us the courage to do what you ask 100% of the time. Take us deeper in your love and show us how to act in radical obedience, for this is the offering you desire. Forgive us for the compromises and the acts of disobedience.
Amen