Saul's approach to his relationship with God is very characteristic. He wants God to take part in his affairs, not himself to take part in God's affairs. Saul intends to "neutralize" God's possible displeasure at his disobedience with sacrifices...
Saul's approach to his relationship with God is very characteristic. He wants God to take part in his affairs, not himself to take part in God's affairs. Saul intends to "neutralize" God's possible displeasure at his disobedience with sacrifices. The result is a simple model: I give Him the fat of rams, He gives me what I want! This kind of relationship is called magical thinking, and the prophet Samuel is entirely right when he compares it with sorcery and idolatry.
Does this have anything to do with us? We do not offer sacrifices, and we do not practice sorcery, go to fortune-tellers, or worship idols. Yet the same logic works in us when we light candles in church or read passages from Scripture, believing that after this God will do what we want from Him, instead of seeking how to do what He wants from us.
Magical thinking is lodged very deep in us, in our subconscious, and without union with Christ, without receiving the Holy Spirit, it cannot be cleaned out from there.
15 God commands Saul utterly to destroy the Amalekites, Sa1 15:1-3.
He destroys them, but not utterly, Sa1 15:4-9.
Samuel pronounces sentence upon him for his disobedience, yet consents to honour him before the people, Sa1 15:10-31.
Slays Agag, Sa1 15:32-33.
Takes his leave of Saul, yet mourns for him, Sa1 15:34-35.
15:22 Sacrifice - Because obedience to God is a moral duty, constantly and indispensably necessary; but sacrifice is but a ceremonial institution, sometimes unnecessary, as it was in the wilderness: and sometimes sinful, when it is offered by a polluted hand, or in an irregular manner.Therefore thy gross disobedience to God's express command, is not to be compensated with sacrifice. Hearken - That is, to obey.Fat - Then the choicest part of all the sacrifice.
15:23 Rebellion - Disobedience to God's command.Stubbornness - Contumacy in sin, justifying it, and pleading for it.Iniquity - Or, the iniquity of idolatry. Rejected - Hath pronounced the sentence of rejection: for that he was not actually deposed by God before, plainly appears, because not only the people, but even David, after this, owned him as king. Those are unworthy to rule over men, who are not willing that God should rule over them.