The Penalty for Disobedience
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Prior to Samuel’s announcement that God had rejected Saul as king [1 Samuel 15:23], Saul stoutly defended his course of action. Only when sentence was pronounced and the penalty became known was he willing to admit erring from the divine command. . . . It was not the sincere desire to do right that impelled this admission, but the fear of forfeiting his kingdom. It was only when confronted with this prospect that he feigned repentance, with the objective of saving, if possible, his position as king.” Realizing the kingdom was lost, Saul again blamed the people for his sin and begged Samuel to intercede for him with the Lord.
Instead, Samuel added further punishment.
“And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel” (v. 26).
Saul feared his authority would be impossible to maintain once word got out God had deserted him. He begged Samuel to honor him before the elders by publicly worshiping with him. “By divine direction Samuel yielded to the king’s request, that no occasion might be given for a revolt. But he remained only as a silent witness of the service.
“An act of justice, stern and terrible, was yet to be performed. Samuel must publicly vindicate the honor of God and rebuke the course of Saul. . . . Above all who had fallen by the sword of Israel, Agag was the most guilty and merciless; one who had hated and sought to destroy the people of God, and whose influence had been strongest to promote idolatry. He came at the prophet’s command, flattering himself that the danger of death was past. Samuel declared: ‘As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord.’ This done, Samuel returned to his home at Ramah, Saul to his at Gibeah. Only once thereafter did the prophet and the king ever meet each other.” To reject God’s leading and follow one’s own inclination leads to disaster.
