Past Commentary by a Common Terry
That's good enough, right?
May 31, 2026
I am blessed to be a part of two Bible studies each week at different apartment buildings in town. Both are textual studies. In last Wednesday’s study at one of the buildings, we covered the fall of King Saul from God’s good favor.
Saul was the first king of Israel. The Hebrews demanded a king, one who would go out and fight their battles and allow them to be “...like all the nations…” (I Samuel 8:19-20) While God was displeased with their demand, He did not stop it. He sent Samuel to anoint Saul, the son of Kish of the tribe of Benjamin. He was an obscure choice, probably not making anyone’s top 25 list of potential kings. But he was strong and handsome and a head taller than everyone around him. He cut a striking figure and fit the bill.
He started well, leading the people to victory in battle and showing some restraint and wisdom in how he dealt with his critics. He seemed, initially, to be led by a strong sense of humility and self-awareness. For a while, after being anointed and announced, he continued to work in his father’s fields. Hardly the action of a newly minted king, wouldn’t you say?
Saul grew into the role and accepted the serious responsibility of being a king to this nation that was still finding its way among the nations that populated the lands around them. It seemed there was one battle after another to fight. As he grew into his identity as king, he also grew impetuous, impatient, and impulsive.
In I Samuel 13, Saul led the troops in battle against the Philistines (they would be a thorn in his side throughout his reign). Samuel, the man and prophet of God, gave him specific instructions to wait until he arrived to offer the burnt offerings before going into battle. When Samuel was delayed, Saul assumed the role of Samuel and offered the sacrifices.
“You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God,” Samuel told him. (I Samuel 13:13) And from that time on, he was destined to lose his kingdom. Had he been faithful and obedient, his family could have ruled for generations to come. But, because of his sin (and some still to come), Jonathan, his son, would never be king. Instead, some kid named David would become the heir apparent to the throne, stealing it as far as Saul was concerned.
A study of Saul provides quite an insight into how a man can deceive himself. In I Samuel 15, he was instructed by God through Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites. Utterly destroy. No people left. No possessions left. No flocks or herds should survive. This was the severe punishment God reserved for the descendants of Amalek because of the way they treated the wandering Jews in the wilderness way back in Exodus 17. Because of their refusal to treat Israel kindly as they left Egypt, God vowed His punishment on them. It was time for that promise to be fulfilled. It fell to Saul to carry out God’s intentions.
But he didn’t. He kept some of the herds. He set aside the finest of the sheep, oxen, calves, and lambs. Instead of killing King Agag of the Amalekites, he took him prisoner. Saul even set up a monument to himself at Carmel. You can read the details in I Samuel 15.
When Samuel arrived, he asked why he was hearing the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen. Saul’s answer is shocking, and yet, in some ways typical.
There’s a lot here to chew on. Are we capable of not only defying God’s will, but then convincing ourselves we’re doing God’s will? Is it possible to become blind to sin and lose sight of what is important and matters to God?
We should do more with this next week.
Saul was the first king of Israel. The Hebrews demanded a king, one who would go out and fight their battles and allow them to be “...like all the nations…” (I Samuel 8:19-20) While God was displeased with their demand, He did not stop it. He sent Samuel to anoint Saul, the son of Kish of the tribe of Benjamin. He was an obscure choice, probably not making anyone’s top 25 list of potential kings. But he was strong and handsome and a head taller than everyone around him. He cut a striking figure and fit the bill.
He started well, leading the people to victory in battle and showing some restraint and wisdom in how he dealt with his critics. He seemed, initially, to be led by a strong sense of humility and self-awareness. For a while, after being anointed and announced, he continued to work in his father’s fields. Hardly the action of a newly minted king, wouldn’t you say?
Saul grew into the role and accepted the serious responsibility of being a king to this nation that was still finding its way among the nations that populated the lands around them. It seemed there was one battle after another to fight. As he grew into his identity as king, he also grew impetuous, impatient, and impulsive.
In I Samuel 13, Saul led the troops in battle against the Philistines (they would be a thorn in his side throughout his reign). Samuel, the man and prophet of God, gave him specific instructions to wait until he arrived to offer the burnt offerings before going into battle. When Samuel was delayed, Saul assumed the role of Samuel and offered the sacrifices.
“You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God,” Samuel told him. (I Samuel 13:13) And from that time on, he was destined to lose his kingdom. Had he been faithful and obedient, his family could have ruled for generations to come. But, because of his sin (and some still to come), Jonathan, his son, would never be king. Instead, some kid named David would become the heir apparent to the throne, stealing it as far as Saul was concerned.
A study of Saul provides quite an insight into how a man can deceive himself. In I Samuel 15, he was instructed by God through Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites. Utterly destroy. No people left. No possessions left. No flocks or herds should survive. This was the severe punishment God reserved for the descendants of Amalek because of the way they treated the wandering Jews in the wilderness way back in Exodus 17. Because of their refusal to treat Israel kindly as they left Egypt, God vowed His punishment on them. It was time for that promise to be fulfilled. It fell to Saul to carry out God’s intentions.
But he didn’t. He kept some of the herds. He set aside the finest of the sheep, oxen, calves, and lambs. Instead of killing King Agag of the Amalekites, he took him prisoner. Saul even set up a monument to himself at Carmel. You can read the details in I Samuel 15.
When Samuel arrived, he asked why he was hearing the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen. Saul’s answer is shocking, and yet, in some ways typical.
- “I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” (verse 13)
- He blamed the people—”the people spared the best of…” (verse 15)
- Even when Samuel explained it to him, he replied, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord…” (verse 20)
- And a second time, “But the people took of the spoil…” (verse 20)
There’s a lot here to chew on. Are we capable of not only defying God’s will, but then convincing ourselves we’re doing God’s will? Is it possible to become blind to sin and lose sight of what is important and matters to God?
We should do more with this next week.