Kings of Israel-Saul: “How We Finish Matters!”

Wk 7: “It Wasn’t Me They Did It!”

1 Samuel 15:10-23

10/6/24

John Arobio

Message Notes for Week 7

Genesis 3:11-12 ESV

He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Eve blamed the serpent and Adam blamed both Eve and God.

Neither accepted what they had done.

HOW SAUL FOUGHT THE BATTLE AND WHAT WAS GOD’S REACTION TO THIS.

1 Samuel 15:10-11 ESV

The word of the Lord came to Samuel: I regret that I have made Saul king: for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments. And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.

Saul was commanded to destroy the Amalekites and all their animals and property. Instead, Saul took the king captive and kept the best stuff. God’s reaction is with regret. He has to reject Saul as king. Samuel was very grieved and cried to the Lord all night.

SAMUEL CONFRONTS SAUL

1Samuel 15:12-13 ESV

And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” And Samuel came to Saul and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord, I have performed the commandment of the Lord.”

Saul tells Samuel that he followed God’s order and did what God commanded him. Samuel rebukes him and says that he can hear the animals, and Saul has not done what God had told him to do.

SAUL TRIES TO COVER IT UP AND SHIFT THE BLAME TO OTHER PEOPLE.

1 Samuel 15:20-21 ESV

And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag, the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction.” “But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord, Your God in Gilgal.”

Saul at this point is denying he did anything wrong and said the other people brought the animals. Then he tries to turn it around to make it sound pious. We’re only doing this to make sacrifices with the best to glorify God.

SAUL IS REJECTED BY GOD

1 Samuel 15:22-23 ESV

And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”

What are the four things that we can learn from these verses?

1. God often gives us a second chance to repent and do what is right just as He did with Saul.

2. Like Saul, we will often try to shift the blame onto others and do not accept our responsibilities.

3. To not obey God is a sin that in God’s eyes is greater the other sins. God desires our obedience.

4. When we reject God’s Word and what He tells us to do in His Word, it can be a hinderance to our prayer life.

BOTTOM LINE:

If you love God you will obey Him,

if you do not, then you are sinning against God.

• Dan Hall is the transition team lead.  Please contact him with any questions.
• Interim pastor is in place.
• Transition Team Needs
  • Areas that still need to be covered. If interested, contact Dan Hall:
  • Tech—Audio/Video and worship lyric technician.
  • IT/Hardware—manage the various connections of the service IT components.

• Kari will be replacing Christine as bookkeeper.

• A Search Team will be put together to start the process of finding a new pastor.
  • The typical time to replace a Pastor is 12-18 months. Please wait on the Lord with us!
  • The team will update the church regularly

• Prayer is a critical part of this process! Please pray continually for the board’s guidance in seeking God’s will.

Philip Waln Memorial: 

October 19^th, 2024 @ the Bridge Church in Reno.

1:00 PM.  1330 Foster Dr., Reno, NV 89509.

Men’s Bible Study! 

Wednesday’s 6-8 PM see Jim for details

Woman’s Bible study!

Hosted by Dondra, details to be determined.

Please sign up so we can start figuring out dates/times/frequency, etc.

Event’s Committee:

Do you have a knack for planning and setting up parties/events?

See Jennifer for more details.

1. Who were the first 3 kings of Israel that were ordained by God?

2. Do you find it easy in your life to take blame? Do you think that trait is inherited or do we learn whether or not we can take the blame for things we’ve done wrong or deflect to others?

3. Read Genesis 3:11-12, why do you think that God would ask Adam and Eve questions if He is all-knowing?

4. Read 1 Samuel 15:10-11, how can an all-knowing God have regrets? Using a Bible app, what is the Hebrew word for “angry”?  What is the biblical definition? What word is used instead of angry by some other translations?

5. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-13, what is the significance of Saul setting up a monument to himself? Do you think Saul’s statement “blessed be you to the Lord” is genuine?  Have you ever run into “religious” people who were not genuine?  What are some problems with that kind of religion?

6. Read 1 Samuel 15:14-19, what are some problems we can run into when we do not obey God? Is there such thing as partial obedience?  Why or why not?

7. Read 1 Samuel 15:20-23, does all sin have consequences? Why or why not?  For Christians must we follow God’s commandments?  Why or why not?

8. Are some sins worse than others? Why or why not?

9. Please pray for upcoming women’s and men ministries. These ministries are an excellent way to share life experiences.

John 15:14 ESV

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Study Guide Link