“As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you. 29 He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.” 30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord. 32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him in chains.[c] And he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal. 34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.” 1 Samuel 15.27-35
What a sad journey for Saul. He, who was chosen by God, never fulfilled the role of leader or king that the people desired. Saul could have been the faithful arm of the Lord, but he chose disobedience over faithfulness.
When Samuel realized that Saul had not obeyed God and came to confront him, Saul was unwilling to let Samuel leave. So much so that when Samuel tried to depart, the hem of Saul’s robe was torn in two — symbolizing the beginning of the divided kingdom of Israel.
Samuel told the king that God, who is the Glory of Israel, “does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.” Once again, Saul admitted, “I have sinned.” Finally, Samuel agreed to return with Saul to worship the Lord and to make a public appearance before the elders. However, after that, Samuel never went to see Saul again, signifying that God’s favor and glory had departed from him.
Isn’t this the worst and final judgment — for God to leave us alone, to never return, and to give up on us? Thankfully, through Jesus and the new covenant, we have a God who never gives up on us. Even when we give up on Him, sin against His name, and reject Him as Lord, He will not leave or abandon us.
Finally, as the prophet and messenger of the Lord, Samuel had to enforce God’s judgment and decrees by putting Agag to death. Samuel reflected the righteousness of God. He was God’s ambassador, while Saul was anything but.
Today, when the Lord calls, will we heed His call? Will we listen to His voice and respond to the name of the Lord? Will we undertake the difficult tasks He calls us to do? Will we obey and follow His Word?
During this Advent season, let us make room for the Lord, who is the Glory of Israel. Let us prepare the way for Him and place our hope in His Word. Let us lean into the Covenant Child, Jesus, and put our faith in His name so that we might not face judgment but live eternally with Christ in heaven.
“O Lord God, these Old Testament stories are not for the faint of heart! Your character does not change. You are the God of truth. Come now, Holy Spirit, and draw all people to Your name. Enable us to walk in newness of life and find our hope in Jesus. I love You, Lord, and praise Your name, for You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen.