1. 1Samuel A Window into the Heart …or “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge but he who hates correction is stupid” Prov. 12:1

2. 1Samuel Parent/normal “0” buts buts Spouse/ equal Increasing differences many Spouse/ equal Children/ subordinate Increasing differences Spouse/normal, “0” buts

3. 1Samuel ‘But’ First…. Why favor the Kenites? Num. 19:29-32 Descendants of Moses father-in-law; Jethro Jethro= familiar name Reuel=formal name Hobab=generic male relative Reuel=formal name Hobab=generic male relative

4. 1Samuel Does God ‘regret’ or become ‘grieved’? Does God ‘regret’ or become ‘grieved’? (Gen.6:6,7 or Ex. 32:14) (or the Finite grappling with The Infinite) Num. 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? 1 Sam. 15:29 “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

5. 1Samuel We can only view/ understand God from our perspective. Ps. 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry. We look at how God treats a situation and it looks like he changed His mind or ‘repented’. ‘The turning is NOT because he was caught off guard or received new information but he is going to express a different attitude toward someone or thing because events make it more fitting now to express than before’ (paraphrase from John Piper sermon on 1 Sam.)

6. 1Samuel Now….Back to the Story Samuel reminds Saul who is in charge Samuel reminds Saul who is in charge (vs.1-4) God anointed him and restored his army God gives him a mission God gives him a mission (vs. 2,3) The Amalekite’s time is up! “Destroy EVERTHING and EVERYONE” Saul carries it out… (huh?) Saul carries it out… (huh?) (vs. 7-21) He spares the king, valuable stuff He deludes himself and lies to Samuel Saul is presented with an opportunity!

7. 1Samuel Samuel confronts Saul 1 Sam. 15:22,23 Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”

8. 1Samuel Saul makes his decision He lies He lies (vs. 20) He blame shifts He blame shifts (vs.21) He accepts no consequence He accepts no consequence (vs. 25) He cares only to save face (vs. 30) He responds; I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. “Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”

9. 1Samuel The proper decision should look like; 2 Sam. 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Ps. 51:1-4 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.

10. 1Samuel Saul’s consequences 1. 1. vs. 26; But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 2. vs. 35; Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

11. 1Samuel For Discussion; What about this passage speaks loudest to you?