1 Samuel 15:27 says, And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. When Samuel turned to leave Saul after telling him that the kingdom was going to be removed from him, Saul grabbed hold of him so tightly that he tore Samuel's garment. We cannot physically force God to bless us by grabbing hold of His people today and demanding that they bless us. Verse twenty-eight adds, And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. Samuel used the tearing of his garment as a way to illustrate God's taking the kingdom away from Saul. Just as Saul had torn his garment, God had torn the kingdom away from Saul and had given it to one who was better than him. This did not mean physically better, but spiritually better. We may be the best physically to do what God needs done, but if we are not the best spiritually, He will call someone who is. Verse twenty-nine continues, And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. Samuel told Saul that the Strength of Israel, God Himself, would not lie, so Saul could be certain that what Samuel was telling that God had revealed to him would certainly come to pass. As God's word says, "Heaven and earth may pass away, but God's word is eternal." Samuel also said God did not repent, because He had no reason to. What He had decided about Saul and his kingship was nothing that needed Him to change His mind about. God does not make mistakes that He later has to change His mind about, nor will He ever be guilty of anything He needs to repent for. Verse thirty states, Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. Saul at least acknowledged that he had sinned, but it was more of an attempt to get Samuel to stand before God for him than a genuine repentance I believe. He also referred to God as Samuel's God and not as his God. We cannot repent to a God Who is not our God. Verse thirty-one adds, So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD. Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshipped the LORD. Matthew Henry says this may have been more to appease the people of Israel than out of a real concern for Saul. I don't believe Samuel compromised God's direction in order to do this though. The new king, David, was not yet ready to assume the throne, and God had said He would give them a king, and He did not go back on His word. When God tells us He will do something He will always do it, even if He is doing it to show us that we were wrong in what we asked for. Verse thirty-two declares, Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. Samuel sent for Agag, who was already supposed to have been killed, and Agag came to him meekly and said that surely the bitterness of death was past. He was hoping to continue to be spared. Sometimes those who have treated Christians the worst, if they find themselves in a bad situation, will call out to those same Christians for help, saying surely you don't still hold me responsible for my past actions. Verse thirty-three adds, And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. Samuel said that just as Agag and those who followed him had made women childless by the sword, likewise Samuel was going to make Agag's mother childless by the sword, and he cut Agag into pieces before the LORD. Samuel did not attempt to hide what he was doing, but did so openly before the LORD, which I believe implied that he had God's blessing in doing so. Anything that we as followers of Christ are doing today, we should be able to do it openly in front of God and His people,. Verse thirty-four continues, Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. After that, Samuel and Saul parted ways. Samuel had anointed Saul and then had to tell him what God had said about the kingdom being taken from Saul, so there was little left to keep them together. Sometimes, we may have to let certain people go from our life, because they are toxic to our relationship with God. Of course,I believe that we should do this only after a lot of prayer asking God's guidance in the situation. Verse thirty-five concludes, And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.. Samuel no longer came to Saul, but he continued to pray for him in sorrow. Saul could have been a great king had he been faithful to God. We may have to part company with someone for Godly reasons, but we should never stop praying for them. We are told God repented of making Saul king, not because God had been wrong, but because Saul did not obey Him. If God calls us to a position today, if we fail, it won't be because God made a mistake in calling us,but because we failed to be obedient to His will for us. God didn't call Saul for him to fail, but because He acknowledged Saul’s potential to be a good king.
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