Transcript

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 11-12 NKJV, Ch. 13-14 NLT, Ch. 15. NET

Associate Producer

James In Norway

Podcast Introduction

This is the History Tuesday. Our reading will be 1 Samuel 11-15 I’m calling this episode, “Does God Make Mistakes?” 

Comments on 1 Samuel 12 and 15

Thoughts on 1 Samuel 12

Have you ever sinned in such a way that you felt that God would be so disappointed in you that He would turn His back on you? Have you felt that you just couldn’t come to Him for forgiveness, because you knew, going in, that what you were about to do was sin, but you did it anyway, and you were just too ashamed to ask God for forgiveness? I think probably most of us have. 

Well, that’s what Israel did when they asked for a king. Samuel told them that this was a bad thing that they were doing, but they wanted it anyway. You know how it went. God told Samuel to go ahead and grant their request, because they were rejecting God, not Samuel.

So in chapter 12 today, Samuel reminds Israel of all the good things that God had done for Israel, how he had delivered them so many times, and he reminded them that in asking for a king, they had sinned. This caused them  to plead to Samuel that he would pray for them, that they would not die because of their sin.

And Samuel’s response is what I want to bring to your attention today. Here is what he said: “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. (((Here’s the important part…))))  22For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.”

Because God *decided* to make them His people, He will not forsake them. He made a covenant…a promise. If he forsook them, it would be breaking that promise. And God never makes a promise. 

When you became a follower of Jesus, you became one of God’s family. I don’t have time to go into details, but what He did when you became a Christian was a legal, formal adoption. You became His, and He will no more forsake you when you sin than He would forsake Israel when they sinned.

So move forward. Forsake your sin, follow the Lord and serve Him with all your heart. You are His son or daughter. Rest in that. Don’t let the enemy convince you of the lie that you have gone too far astray. You haven’t.

Thoughts on 1 Samuel 15

In Chapter 15 we read…

“…but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

1 Samuel 15:35 NET

What does it mean when it says that the Lord regrets something that He did? Does it mean that God saw that He had made a mistake? 

When I lose my tempter and speak crossly to someone I love, later on, I regret it. Did I make a mistake when I lost my temper? Was it wrong to say what I said, the way I said it? Usually. 

When I forget to do something that my wife asked me to do, I regret it when I have to tell her that I forgot. I disappointed her. I made a mistake. 

Can God make a mistake? Not if He is God. God is, by His very nature perfect. And we have recently read God saying, “I do not change my mind.”

So what does it mean when we read that God regretted something He did?

The Hebrew root for the word “regret” is “to sigh”. If you are a parent, you understand this kind of sigh. I remember watching my kids making mistakes, and my wife and I sighing in disappointment. Many times, we could see what led up to the fateful moment, but in the hopeful love of a parent, we so wanted them to make the right decision. And when the inevitable happened, all we could do was sigh.

This gives us an idea of the regret that God had. Here in chapter 15 of 1 Samuel, God knew that Saul would fail, but it still made Him sigh when it happened.

I’m sure if you think about it, you can remember a time or two where you have experienced this kind of thing, too.

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1 Samuel 11-15: Does God Make Mistakes? (LSFAB S13E087)

[TEASER – 0:00]
What does it mean when we read that God regretted something that he did?

[INTRO S13E087 – 0:11]
It’s the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily podcast where we’ll read through the entire Bible in a year. And I’m glad you’re coming along with me. The website is lifespringmedia.com. This is History Tuesday, and our reading will be 1 Samuel 11 through 15. The title of this episode is “Does God Make Mistakes?”

Before we read, let’s pray.

[OPENING PRAYER – 0:40]
Our heavenly Father, we thank You for your Word. And as we read it today, I pray that the Holy Spirit would teach us. Bless this time I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

All right, let’s begin.

[1 SAMUEL 11 (NKJV) – 0:53]
1 Samuel, chapter 11.

(1) Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”

(2) And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.”

(3) Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”

(4) So the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept. (5) Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, “What troubles the people, that they weep?” And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. (6) Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused. (7) So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.”

And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. (8) When he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (9) And they said to the messengers who came, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.’” Then the messengers came and reported it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. (10) Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever seems good to you.”

(11) So it was, on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

(12) Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”

(13) But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel.”

(14) Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.” (15) So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they made sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

[1 SAMUEL 12 (NKJV) – 3:29]
1 Samuel, chapter 12.

(1) Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. (2) Now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. (3) Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”

(4) And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”

(5) Then he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.”

And they answered, “He is witness.”

(6) Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. (7) Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers: (8) When Jacob had gone into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. (9) And when they forgot the Lord their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. (10) Then they cried out to the Lord, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’ (11) And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. (12) And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king.

(13) “Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the Lord has set a king over you. (14) If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. (15) However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

(16) “Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes: (17) Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.”

(18) So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

(19) And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.”

(20) Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. (21) And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. (22) For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. (23) Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. (24) Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. (25) But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

[1 SAMUEL 13 (NLT) – 7:30]
1 Samuel, chapter 13.

(1) Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years.

(2) Saul selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took 2,000 of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul’s son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.

(3) Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Hebrews, hear this! Rise up in revolt!” (4) All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba and that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

(5) The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. (6) The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns. (7) Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead.

Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. (8) Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. (9) So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.

(10) Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, (11) but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”

Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. (12) So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”

(13) “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. (14) But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

(15) Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left! (16) Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash. (17) Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, (18) another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness.

(19) There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews. (20) So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith. (21) The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce for sharpening an ax or making the point of an ox goad. (22) So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.

(23) The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.

1 SAMUEL 14 (NLT) – 11:42]
1 Samuel, chapter 14.

(1) One day Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.

(2) Meanwhile, Saul and his 600 men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree at Migron. (3) Among Saul’s men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the ephod, the priestly vest. Ahijah was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord who had served at Shiloh.

No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp. (4) To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh. (5) The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba. (6) “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

(7) “Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”

(8) “All right, then,” Jonathan told him. “We will cross over and let them see us. (9) If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. (10) But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the Lord’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”

(11) When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!” (12) Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!”

“Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the Lord will help us defeat them!”

(13) So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came behind them. (14) They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre.

(15) Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.

(16) Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw a strange sight—the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction. (17) “Call the roll and find out who’s missing,” Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone.

(18) Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, “Bring the ephod here!” For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites. (19) But while Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to the priest, “Never mind; let’s get going!”

(20) Then Saul and all his men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere. (21) Even the Hebrews who had previously gone over to the Philistine army revolted and joined in with Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of the Israelites. (22) Likewise, the men of Israel who were hiding in the hill country of Ephraim joined the chase when they saw the Philistines running away. (23) So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle continued to rage even beyond Beth-aven.

(24) Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” So no one ate anything all day, (25) even though they had all found honeycomb on the ground in the forest. (26) They didn’t dare touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken.

(27) But Jonathan had not heard his father’s command, and he dipped the end of his stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt refreshed. (28) But one of the men saw him and said, “Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.”

(29) “My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. (30) If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!”

(31) They chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. (32) That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood. (33) Someone reported to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.”

“That is very wrong,” Saul said. “Find a large stone and roll it over here. (34) Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.’”

So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there. (35) Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first of the altars he built to the Lord.

(36) Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise. Let’s destroy every last one of them.”

His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.”

But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”

(37) So Saul asked God, “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But God made no reply that day.

(38) Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today. (39) I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!” But no one would tell him what the trouble was.

(40) Then Saul said, “Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there.”

And the people responded to Saul, “Whatever you think is best.”

(41) Then Saul prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent.” Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.

(42) Then Saul said, “Now cast lots again and choose between me and Jonathan.” And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one.

(43) “Tell me what you have done,” Saul demanded of Jonathan.

“I tasted a little honey,” Jonathan admitted. “It was only a little bit on the end of my stick. Does that deserve death?”

(44) “Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.”

(45) But the people broke in and said to Saul, “Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.

(46) Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.

(47) Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious. (48) He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.

(49) Saul’s sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal. (50) Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. (51) Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel.

(52) The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.

[1 SAMUEL 15 (NET) – 20:19]
1 Samuel, chapter 15.

(1) Then Samuel said to Saul, “I was the one the Lord sent to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now listen to what the Lord says. (2) Here is what the Lord of hosts says: ‘I carefully observed how the Amalekites opposed Israel along the way when Israel came up from Egypt. (3) So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don’t spare them. Put them to death – man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.’”

(4) So Saul assembled the army and mustered them at Telaim. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. (5) Saul proceeded to the city of Amalek, where he set an ambush in the wadi. (6) Saul said to the Kenites, “Go on and leave! Go down from among the Amalekites! Otherwise I will sweep you away with them! After all, you were kind to all the Israelites when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites withdrew from among the Amalekites.

(7) Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is next to Egypt. (8) He captured King Agag of the Amalekites alive, but he executed all Agag’s people with the sword. (9) However, Saul and the army spared Agag, along with the best of the flock, the cattle, the fatlings, and the lambs, as well as everything else that was of value. They were not willing to slaughter them. But they did slaughter everything that was despised and worthless.

(10) Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: (11) “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do.” Samuel became angry and he cried out to the Lord all that night.

(12) Then Samuel got up early to meet Saul the next morning. But Samuel was informed, “Saul has gone to Carmel where he is setting up a monument for himself. Then Samuel left and went down to Gilgal.” (13) When Samuel came to him, Saul said to him, “May the Lord bless you! I have done what the Lord said.”

(14) Samuel replied, “If that is the case, then what is this sound of sheep in my ears and the sound of cattle that I hear?” (15) Saul said, “They were brought from the Amalekites; the army spared the best of the flocks and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord our God. But everything else we slaughtered.”

(16) Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait a minute! Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” Saul said to him, “Tell me.” (17) Samuel said, “Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord chose you as king over Israel. (18) The Lord sent you on a campaign saying, ‘Go and exterminate those sinful Amalekites! Fight against them until you have destroyed them.’ (19) Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the Lord’s estimation.”

(20) Then Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the Lord! I went on the campaign the Lord sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites. (21) But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle – the best of what was to be slaughtered – to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”

(22) Then Samuel said,

“Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as he does in obedience?
Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice;
paying attention is better than the fat of rams.
(23) For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and presumption is like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”

(24) Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have disobeyed what the Lord commanded and what you said as well. For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes. (25) Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship the Lord.”

(26) Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel!”

(27) When Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the edge of his robe and it tore. (28) Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to one of your colleagues who is better than you! (29) The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.” (30) Saul again replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the Lord your God.” (31) So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

(32) Then Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites.” So Agag came to him trembling, thinking to himself, “Surely death is bitter!” (33) Samuel said, “Just as your sword left women childless, so your mother will be the most bereaved among women!” Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces there in Gilgal before the Lord.

(34) Then Samuel went to Ramah, while Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. (35) Until the day he died Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

[COMMENTARY – 25:43]
Let’s take a closer look at chapter 12, shall we? Have you ever sinned in such a way that you felt that God would be so disappointed in you that he would turn his back on you? Have you felt that you just couldn’t come to him for forgiveness because you knew going in that what you were about to do was sin?

Well, that’s what Israel did when they asked for a king. Samuel told them that this was a bad thing that they were doing, but they wanted it anyway. Well, you know how it went, God told Samuel to go ahead and grant that request, because they were rejecting God, not Samuel.

So here in chapter 12, Samuel reminds Israel of all the good things that God had done for Israel, how he had delivered them so many times. And he reminded them that in asking for King, they had sinned. This caused them to plead to Samuel that he would pray for them, that they would not die because of their sin.

And Samuel’s response is what I want to bring to your attention today. Here’s what he said, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. (21) And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.” And then, here’s the important part. “(22) For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.”

So what Samuel is telling them is that God decided to make them His people. And because of that decision, he will not forsake them. He made a covenant, a promise, if he forsook them, it would be breaking that promise and God never breaks a promise.

When you became a follower of Jesus, you became one of God’s family. I don’t have time to go into details, but what he did when you became a Christian was a legal, formal adoption. You became his and he will no more forsake you when you sin, then he would forsake Israel when they sinned.

So move forward, forsake your sin, follow the Lord, and serve Him with all your heart. You are his son or daughter. Rest in that. Don’t let the enemy convince you of the lie that you have gone too far astray. You haven’t.

In chapter 15, we read, “…but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

What does it mean when it says that the Lord regrets something that he did? Does it mean that God saw that he’d made a mistake?

When I lose my temper and speak crossly to someone I love, later on, I regret it. Did I make a mistake when I lost my temper? Was it wrong to say what I said the way I said it? Usually.

When I forget to do something that my wife, the Lovely Lady LeeAnn, asked me to do. I regret it when I have to tell her that I forgot. I disappointed her. I made a mistake.

Can God make a mistake? Not if he’s God. God is by his very nature, perfect. And we’ve recently read where God said, “I do not change my mind.”

So what does it mean when we read that God regretted something that he did, in this case, that he made Saul king over Israel?

Well, the Hebrew root for the word “regret” is “to sigh.” If you’re a parent, you understand this kind of sigh. I remember watching my kids making mistakes, and my wife and I sighing in disappointment. Many times we can see what led up to the fateful moment, but in the hopeful love of a parent, we so wanted them to make the right decision. And when the inevitable happened, and they made the wrong decision, all we could do was sigh.

This gives us an idea of the regret that God had. Here in chapter 15 of 1 Samuel, God knew that Saul would fail, but it still made him sigh when it happened.

I’m sure if you think about it, you can remember a time or two where you’ve experienced this kind of thing too.

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Tomorrow is Psalms Wednesday and our reading will be Psalms 36 through 38.

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And until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Thank you so much for inviting me into your day. Bye.

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Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Transcript corrected by Denise