April 12

1 Samuel 15-17 (biblegateway.com)

The Fall of a King and the Rise of a Shepherd

As we step into 1 Samuel 15–17, we’re reminded that God sees not as man sees. These chapters bring us face-to-face with two very different responses to God’s calling: Saul, who allowed fear and pride to lead him into disobedience, and David, whose courage came from a deep trust in the Lord. It’s a powerful contrast that invites us to look inward. Are we offering God half-hearted obedience, or are we walking in faith, even when the odds seem stacked against us? This section of Scripture stirs us to pursue a heart that truly honors God.

Long before Saul’s time, during Israel’s wilderness wanderings, the Amalekites had launched a brutal surprise attack on the Israelites from the rear. This was a cowardly act that God promised to one day punish (Exodus 17:8-16). That time had now come. Through the prophet Samuel, God commanded Saul to carry out this divine judgment.

In 1 Samuel 15, the Lord gives Saul a direct command through Samuel to completely destroy the Amalekites and everything that belongs to them, that is, to place them under the ban kheirem of holy war (Deut. 20:16-18). Anything placed under God’s ban was to be completely destroyed. This command was meant to keep idolatry from taking root in Israel, since many of the banned items were connected to pagan worship. Violating this command was a serious offense, punishable by death (see Joshua 7), because it showed open disregard for God’s authority and instructions.

Saul proceeded to do the bidding of Samuel, but not entirely. Saul gathers an army and defeats the Amalekites (v. 4–7), but he disobeys God by sparing King Agag and keeping the best of the livestock (v. 8-9). Saul’s partial obedience reveals his flawed priorities. He fears man more than God and chooses what seems right in his own eyes rather than fully submitting to the word of the Lord. Saul’s actions were not only disobedient, they were also arrogant and rebellious, demonstrating his disregard for the word of the Lord. The Bible makes it clear that disobedience and rebellion are as serious in God’s eyes as idolatry and witchcraft (v. 23). It also reminds us that partial obedience is still disobedience.

The Lord informs Samuel that He regrets making Saul king because Saul has turned from following Him and disobeyed His commands (v. 10-11). God’s statement here is one of sorrow, not a confession of error. Because God is all-knowing, He does not make mistakes. So, when it says God “regretted” making Saul king, it doesn’t mean He changed His mind the way humans do. Rather, it reflects a shift in His disposition toward Saul after Saul’s heart turned away from Him. Saul stopped serving God and started serving his own interests. God’s grief over Saul’s disobedience is real, but it doesn’t imply that choosing Saul was a misstep in God’s larger plan for history.

Consequently, Samuel is deeply grieved and cries out to God all night. When Samuel confronts Saul the next morning, Saul claims to have obeyed the Lord (v. 13). Samuel immediately challenges this falsehood. “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” (v. 14). Saul tries to justify his disobedience by claiming that the animals were spared for sacrifice (v. 15), and were brought because of the insistence of the soldiers (v. 20-21). Saul believed he had achieved a great victory over the Amalekites, but from God’s perspective, it was a major failure. Saul disobeyed God’s command and then tried to cover it up by lying to Samuel about what had really happened. Whether Saul thought his deception would go unnoticed or didn’t believe he had done anything wrong, he was ultimately fooling himself.

When people choose dishonesty, they often begin to believe the very lies they tell, and over time, this self-deception blurs their sense of right and wrong. Believing your own lies not only distances you from God, it also damages your credibility and trustworthiness with others. In the end, truth and integrity always prove stronger than deception.

Samuel then delivers one of the most profound theological statements in all of Scripture: “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (v. 22). This declaration cuts to the heart of true worship. God is not impressed by outward religious acts when the heart is far from Him. Sacrifices, no matter how costly, are meaningless if they are offered in disobedience. What God truly desires is a heart that listens to Him, trusts Him, and walks in humble submission to His will. Samuel’s words confront the dangerous mindset that external acts of worship can cover up internal rebellion.

Samuel goes on to call Saul’s behavior what it truly is, rebellion and arrogance, comparing them to the serious sins of divination and idolatry (v. 23). This is a stunning indictment. It shows that rejecting God’s command is not a small oversight; it is, in essence, putting one’s own will above God’s, just as idolatry places something else in God’s rightful place. By comparing rebellion to witchcraft and arrogance to idolatry, Samuel makes clear that the root of disobedience is a failure to honor God as Lord.

Though Saul admits his sin in words (v. 24), his immediate concern is not with being restored to God, but with saving face in front of the people. His desire to maintain his image shows that his heart is still not truly repentant. He is more interested in preserving his reputation than in genuinely humbling himself before God. This moment exposes a tragic flaw in Saul’s leadership.

This passage challenges us to examine the authenticity of our own obedience. Are we offering God our full trust and surrender, or are we going through the motions while quietly clinging to our own will? True worship begins with a heart that says, “Yes, Lord,” even when obedience is costly.

Samuel tells Saul that the Lord has rejected him as king and that his kingdom will be given to another more worthy. This rejection was symbolized when Saul tore Samuel’s robe, prompting Samuel to declare that God had torn the kingdom from Saul and given it to another (v. 24-28). Saul had run out of excuses, and it was time to face the consequences. Though God was not rejecting Saul as a person and he still had the opportunity to seek forgiveness and restore his relationship with the Lord, the loss of his kingdom was final. The window for obedience had closed. Likewise, if we are careless with what God entrusts to us, the day will come when excuses won’t be enough. Sooner or later, each of us will have to give an account for how we’ve responded to God’s commands.

Though still recognized by the people as their king for about 15 more years, Saul was deposed by the Lord right then. Samuel then executes Agag himself, proclaiming, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women” (v. 33). The chapter ends with Samuel separating from Saul permanently and grieving over him (v. 34). The separation between Samuel and Saul symbolizes the permanent break that had formed between the Lord Himself and the disobedient king. Though God had permitted Saul to reign in response to the demand of the people, that decision now brought sorrow to the Lord’s heart (v. 35).

1 Samuel 15 presents a sobering reminder. God desires total obedience, not selective submission. Saul was given a clear command, but he chose to modify God’s instructions to suit his own preferences and justify them with religious excuses. His partial obedience, through sparing king Agag and the best of the livestock, was still disobedience in God’s eyes. The result? God rejected him as king. This account highlights a vital truth. When leaders, or any of us, prioritize personal agenda, public approval, or convenience over God’s Word, we risk forfeiting His blessing. God is not interested in outward displays of religiosity. Rather, He longs for hearts that are fully surrendered. His rejection of Saul isn’t harsh; it’s holy. It reveals that God’s justice holds those in positions of influence to a higher standard, expecting faithfulness not just in principle, but in practice.

This passage challenges us to look beyond our spiritual activity and examine the heart behind it. Are we offering God full obedience, or are we obeying selectively, just enough to feel justified, but not enough to surrender control? Like Saul, do we excuse compromise with good intentions, believing that sacrifice can substitute for submission? God makes it clear. “To obey is better than sacrifice.” True obedience is not about outward performance but inward alignment with God’s will. When we hold back parts of our lives, our time, our relationships, our habits, we are, in essence, saying that we trust our judgment more than God’s commands.

Take a quiet moment today and ask, is there anything God has asked of me that I’ve avoided, delayed, or reshaped to suit my own comfort or reputation? Have I masked disobedience with spiritual language or outward service? Saul’s story is a warning, but also an invitation, a call to wholehearted, humble obedience. Confess any areas of rebellion, no matter how subtle. Invite God to create in you a clean heart (Psalm 51:10) and restore the joy that comes from walking fully in His ways. Only full obedience leads to the fullness of blessing. Let Samuel’s words echo deeply, “To obey is better than sacrifice.”

1 Samuel 16 marks another transition in Israel’s history as God moves to anoint a new king after rejecting Saul. The chapter begins with the Lord telling Samuel to stop mourning for Saul and to go to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons (v. 1). Samuel fears for his life, but God provides a plan. He instructs Samuel to take a heifer and offer a sacrifice as a pretense and is told to invite Jesse to the sacrifice (v. 2-3). Samuel does as the Lord bids, and when he arrives, the elders of Bethlehem tremble, unsure of his intentions (v. 4). Samuel assures them that he has come in peace and then invites Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice (v. 5).

As Jesse’s sons are presented, Samuel is impressed with Eliab and thinks, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord” (v. 6). But God responds with a foundational truth, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (v. 7). This statement reveals God’s criteria for leadership. He values inner character over external impressiveness. Jesse presents seven of his sons, but God rejects each one (v. 8-10). Finally, Samuel asks if there are any more sons, and Jesse mentions the youngest, David, who is tending sheep (v. 11).

When David is brought in, he is described as glowing with health and having a fine appearance and handsome features, but it is not his looks that matter. God says, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one” (v. 12). Samuel anoints David, and the Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully upon him from that day forward (v. 13).

At the same time, the Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord begins to torment him (v. 14). Saul’s servants suggest finding someone who can play music to soothe him, and David is recommended as a skilled musician, warrior, and man of good presence (v. 15–18). David is brought into Saul’s service, and he finds favor in Saul’s eyes (v. 21). When David plays, Saul is relieved and the evil spirit departs (v. 23).

In 1 Samuel 16, we witness a powerful theological truth. God chooses leaders based not on outward stature, social standing, or human credentials, but on the condition of the heart. When Samuel was sent to anoint the next king of Israel, even he was tempted to assume the eldest, strongest, or most outwardly impressive of Jesse’s sons would be God’s choice. But God corrected him with these unforgettable words, “The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

This reminds us that God’s sovereignty is at work both in the exaltation and the rejection of leaders. He raises up whom He will and removes whom He will, according to His purposes. The difference between Saul and David was not their skill, strength, or charisma; it was their heart posture. Saul had the appearance of a king, but his disobedience and pride led to spiritual ruin. David, though young and overlooked, had a heart that longed for God, and God saw him in the pasture before anyone else saw him on the throne.

This chapter also highlights that the Spirit of the Lord is essential for godly leadership. Without the Spirit, even the most impressive human qualifications fall short. Once the Spirit departed from Saul, no amount of talent or experience could fill the spiritual vacuum left behind.

We live in a world obsessed with image, achievement, and platform. But God is still looking for hearts fully devoted to Him. It’s easy to spend our energy cultivating a resume, reputation, or recognition, while neglecting the quiet, unseen work of character and integrity. This passage challenges us to ask ourselves, Am I more concerned with how I appear to others or with who I truly am before God? Are we drawn to people based on charisma, or do we discern with spiritual eyes? David was faithful in obscurity, tending sheep, playing music, and serving quietly. He wasn’t campaigning to be king; he was simply being faithful where God placed him. And God saw. Your quiet obedience, your integrity when no one is watching, your prayer life in secret, these are the things that matter most to God.

Take time this week to sit with the Lord and let Him search your heart. Ask Him to reveal any places where you’re driven by comparison, performance, or the desire to be seen. Invite Him to remove pride and replace it with humility. Ask for a heart like David’s. Trust that the same God who saw David in the field sees you right where you are. You don’t need a platform to have purpose. Your hidden faithfulness is not hidden from God. Be faithful in the field, and leave the throne to Him.

1 Samuel 17 presents one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, David’s defeat of Goliath. But more than just a children’s story, this chapter is a rich portrayal of faith, courage, and God’s power working through those who trust Him. The Israelites and Philistines are at war, positioned on opposite hills with the Valley of Elah between them (v. 1-3). Goliath, a giant of a man from Gath, stands over nine feet tall and taunts the armies of Israel daily for forty days (v. 4-10, 16). He challenges any Israelite to single combat, but none dare to fight him, including Saul, the king of Israel (v. 11).

David, the youngest son of Jesse, is introduced as a shepherd boy sent by his father to deliver food to his older brothers on the battlefield (v. 17–20). Upon arriving, David hears Goliath’s defiant words and is deeply troubled that no one is standing up to this Philistine who mocks the living God (v. 23-26). When David begins asking about the reward for defeating Goliath, his oldest brother Eliab rebukes him (v.28). But David’s heart is focused, not on himself but on God’s honor, and he persists in seeking a way to confront the giant (v. 29–30).

Eventually, David is brought before King Saul and volunteers to fight Goliath (v. 31-32). Saul expresses doubt, pointing out that David is just a youth and Goliath has been a warrior from his youth (v. 33). But David recalls how God empowered him to kill a lion and a bear while protecting his sheep, and he confidently declares, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (v. 37). Saul consents and offers his armor, but David declines, saying he is not used to it (v. 38–39). Instead, David chooses five smooth stones from the brook and approaches Goliath with his sling and shepherd’s staff (v. 40).

As David approaches, Goliath mocks and curses him by his gods, threatening to feed him to the birds and wild animals (v. 41-44). David responds with one of the most powerful declarations in Scripture: “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (v. 45). He continues, proclaiming that God will deliver Goliath into his hand so that “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (v. 46). David affirms that the battle belongs to the Lord (v. 47).

When the battle begins, David runs quickly toward the battle line, takes a stone, slings it, and strikes Goliath in the forehead, causing the giant to fall face down to the ground (v. 48-49). David then takes Goliath’s own sword and cuts off his head, sealing the victory (v. 50-51). Seeing their champion defeated, the Philistines flee in fear, and the men of Israel pursue them, defeating them along the way to Ekron and Gath (v. 52-53). David takes Goliath’s head to Jerusalem and places his weapons in his own tent (v. 54).

The chapter concludes with Saul inquiring about David’s family, revealing the growing interest in and recognition of David’s role in Israel’s future (v. 55-58).

God does not rely on human strength, size, or abilities to accomplish His purposes. Instead, He looks at the heart. When David defeated Goliath, it wasn’t his military expertise that led to victory; it was God’s power working through David’s faith. The story of David and Goliath serves as a reminder that the battle belongs to the Lord, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we surrender our inadequacies and trust in God’s power, He shows Himself faithful and mighty.

What “giants” are you facing in your life today? Like the Israelites, it’s easy to focus on our fears, limitations, and the overwhelming nature of the challenges in front of us. David’s example teaches us that when we have faith in God, the obstacles before us become opportunities for God’s power to be displayed. Trusting God doesn’t mean the absence of fear; it means stepping forward in obedience despite our fears and uncertainties, knowing that He will equip us to face what lies ahead.

Are you relying on your own strength, or are you depending on God’s? Consider the areas where fear has caused you to hesitate or retreat, whether in relationships, decisions, or stepping into new opportunities. Take those fears to God and, like David, speak truth to them. The battle is the Lord’s. Then, take that next step of obedience, trusting that God will fight for you and bring glory to His name through your faith in Him. Remember, it’s not about how strong you are but how strong God is through you.

In conclusion, these chapters remind us that God values our hearts more than our titles or appearances. Saul had the crown, but David had God’s favor because he trusted and obeyed. Whether we’re facing giants or dealing with the quiet battles of obedience in everyday life, we are called to walk by faith, not by sight. Let David’s story encourage you today. God can use anyone, no matter how small or overlooked, when the heart is fully surrendered. May we seek not just to appear faithful, but to truly follow God with humble, trusting hearts.