1 Samuel 15:27-31 (NASBStr)
As Samuel turned to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, “ The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.” Then he said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.” So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
When God's leader fails, what do you do? In the above passage we have a picture of failed leadership chosen by God (Saul) and what God did and how it did it, when that leader failed. In this chapter Saul was given a specific task to kill the king of the Amalikites (Agag). Agag had not only refused to offer Israel help when they came out of Egypt, but had actually become violent and aggressive toward them. God has a long memory and it was time for God's justice and Saul was to be the one, chosen by God, to carry out that justice. Not only does Saul fail to entirely wipe them out, he also erects a honor to himself for the victory. Samuel, God's prophet arrives on the scene and sees that God's Glory has been shamed by Saul's acts and announces that Saul has committed his final act of disobedience and is to lose his authority over the nation. These entire last chapters have been an example of the contrast between having God as king and having Saul as king. Samuel tells Saul the kingdom will be torn from him and than tells us a great truth about God:
1 Samuel 15:29 (NASBStr)
Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”
Unlike the weak moral fiber and fluid spine of Saul (and all human leaders) God is a God of consistency and constants. We don't have to worry about Him being happy one moment and angry the next. God is a constant. The NIV gives several references in regard to this truth found in other passages of Scripture: (See Nu 23:19; Mal 3:6 and notes; see also Ps 110:4; Jer 4:28. There is no conflict between this statement and vv. 11, 35, where the Lord is said to “regret” that he had made Saul king.) Saul has proven himself to be the perfect example of what happens when you put your trust in men to lead. Only God is that constant we can follow with assurance. Men will bend depending on how the wind blows (note that Saul blames all his leadership woes on bad follower-ship). God does not blow with the wind. He has the same plan He has always had. He might use different men; but the same plan. Saul left following God and sought glory for himself. Samuel reminds Saul of the Glory of Israel. But, he then follows Saul back to lead in worship. Samuel knew that God's plan would be worked out over time. Until then he respected the position Saul held, despite the person of Saul and his failures. We can rejoice that God has a plan and is working out that plan through His people. But, IF those people fail, the plan does not. We have a constant with God despite those He entrusts with the plan He is enacting.
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