1Sa 15:2Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 1Sa 15:3Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 1Sa 15:10Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 1Sa 15:11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments……. 1Sa 15:28And 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.

 

King Saul paid a huge price for not obeying the precise instructions of God to him through the prophet Samuel. To draw a parallel into modern times, it is evident that submission to authority in Church to follow precise instructions is a big problem today. It seems that it is a bigger problem in the secular world as well.  The results are rebellion and idolatry which stems from pride. Rebellion is as witchcraft and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry. This is what was said to King Saul. It may seem as harsh words and his punishment extreme but what people do not realise is, God is serious. King Saul’s failure to follow God’s instructions to him as his final authority was treated by God as witchcraft. Maybe, King Saul thought that he could do what he liked because it was not God who spoke to him directly but Samuel the prophet. Maybe, he thought he could always talk his way out of it with a man which he tried to do in explaining his error to Samuel. What he did not realise was, the instructions he received through the prophet, though he was a man, was actually from God.

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