82 14 Habits of Highly Effective Disciples
15:22–23. Samuel pronounced judgment on Saul, using a poetic format
of four couplets to deliver an emphatic condemnation and rejection of
the king. The first two pairs of poetic verse emphasized God’s desire for
our total obedience, even above the offerings we might bring to him.
The latter two couplets described Saul’s disobedience as rebellion and
arrogance, which are as equally serious as the sins of divination (seek-
ing the guidance of other deities or spirits) and idolatry. By disobeying
God and choosing to create his own path, Saul had elevated himself to
God’s role. He had displaced God with an idol, himself. Because Saul
had rejected God, God rejected him as king.
15:24 –26. While Saul made an attempt at confession, he still refused to
accept full responsibility. He again blamed the soldiers and added that he
was afraid of them. Instead of fearing God and listening to God’s voice,
Saul feared the people and listened to their voice. Samuel responded to
Saul’s plea for restoration by repeating the judgment of rejection.
15:27–28. As Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the hem of the
prophet’s robe, a gesture that indicated submission and supplication.
Unfortunately for Saul, he tore the robe, and Samuel used the torn robe
as a prophetic metaphor for the way that God had torn away the king-
ship from Saul and his descendants (cf. 1 Samuel 13:14).
Case Closed (15:29–35)
15:29. The Hebrew verb, “to change one’s mind,” has different meanings
depending on the context. Here the context ref lects the firm finalization
of God’s judgment on Saul. Samuel declared that the “Glory of Israel”
(that is, God) would not change his mind about the decision to reject
Saul as king. When the same verb is used in 15:11 and 15:35, the con-
text points to an alternative meaning, indicating God’s “regret” over the
decision to make Saul king.
15:30 –31. Saul finally admitted that he had sinned without trying to jus-
tify his actions or blame anyone else. Perhaps for this reason, Samuel did
change his mind and decided to go with Saul, despite the fact that Saul
still seemed most concerned about how the people of Israel viewed him.