How does 1 Samuel 15:5 demonstrate Saul's approach to God's commands? Verse in Focus 1 Samuel 15:5 — “Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.” What Saul Seems to Get Right • Moves quickly after receiving the command (cf. 1 Samuel 15:1-3). • Positions Israel’s forces for battle, signaling readiness to carry out the task. • Presents himself as the instrument of God’s judgment on Amalek (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Where Cracks Begin to Show • Chooses his own tactic—“lay in wait”—something God never specified. • Relies on human strategy before wholehearted submission (Proverbs 21:3). • Treats the mission like a military campaign to manage, not a divine word to obey without alteration (Deuteronomy 12:32). Foreshadowing Later Disobedience • The calculated ambush hints at a negotiator’s mindset; that same mindset will spare Agag and the best livestock (1 Samuel 15:8-9). • By inserting his own method at the outset, Saul lays groundwork for selective obedience (James 1:22). God’s Standard in Contrast • Complete, immediate, unfiltered obedience (Exodus 19:5; John 14:15). • Dependence on God’s direction rather than personal ingenuity (Psalm 20:7). Key Takeaways • Partial obedience often starts by mixing our ideas into God’s clear commands. • A heart that strategizes before it surrenders will eventually compromise. • True obedience measures success by faithfulness, not by efficiency. |
    |