Study Desk

Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,

"^(C1)I regret that I have made Saul king, because ^(C2)he has turned back from ^(F1)following Me and has not carried out My commands." And Samuel was furious and ^(C3)cried out to the LORD all night.

Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was reported to Samuel, saying, "Saul came to ^(C1)Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on ^(F1)down to ^(C2)Gilgal."

So Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "^(C1)Blessed are you of the LORD! I have carried out the command of the LORD."

But Samuel said, "^(C1)What then is this ^(F1)bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the ^(F1)bellowing of the oxen which I hear?"

Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for ^(C1)the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God; but the rest we have completely destroyed."

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop, and let me inform you of what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak!"

So Samuel said, "^(F1)Is it not true, ^(C1)though you were ^(F2)insignificant in your own eyes, that you became the head of the tribes of Israel? For the LORD anointed you as king over Israel.

"And the LORD sent you on a ^(F1)mission, and said, '^(C1)Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are eliminated.'

"Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? ^(C1)Instead, you loudly rushed upon the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD!"

Then Saul said to Samuel, "^(C1)I did obey the voice of the LORD, for I went on the ^(F1)mission on which the LORD sent me; and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites.

"But ^(C1)the people took some of the spoils, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things designated for destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal."

Samuel said, "^(C1)Does the LORD have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, ^(C2)to obey is better than a sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

-"For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of ^(C1)divination, And insubordination is as reprehensible as ^(C2)false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the LORD, ^(C3)He has also rejected you from being king."

Then Saul said to Samuel, "^(C1)I have sinned, for ^(C2)I have violated the ^(F1)command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

"Now then, ^(C1)please pardon my sin and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD."

But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for ^(C1)you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."

Then Samuel turned to go, but ^(C1)Saul grasped the edge of his robe, and it tore off.

So Samuel said to him, "^(C1)The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.

"Also the ^(F1)(C1)Glory of Israel ^(C2)will not lie nor change His mind; for He is not a man, that He would change His mind."

Then Saul said, "I have sinned; ^(C1)but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before all Israel, and go back with me, ^(C2)so that I may worship the LORD your God."

So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.