What can we learn about God's character from His regret in 1 Samuel 15:35? Scripture Focus “Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death. Yet Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:35) The Setting: Saul’s Persistent Disobedience • Saul spared King Agag and the best of the Amalekite livestock (1 Samuel 15:9). • He rationalized rebellion as worship (1 Samuel 15:15). • Samuel declared that “rebellion is as the sin of divination” (1 Samuel 15:23). • Saul’s kingdom was therefore rejected by God (1 Samuel 15:26). What Does “Regret” Mean Here? • The Hebrew word (naḥam) can mean to be grieved, to feel sorrow, or to relent. • It describes real divine anguish over human sin, not ignorance of future events (cf. Genesis 6:6). • Scripture uses human terms so we can grasp God’s heart; this is anthropopathic language—true emotion expressed in a way we can understand. What God’s Regret Reveals About His Character • Relational Engagement – God is not detached; He grieves over our choices (Ephesians 4:30). • Moral Holiness – Sin offends His righteous nature; He cannot look on it with indifference (Habakkuk 1:13). • Faithfulness to His Word – God had warned that obedience mattered more than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). – When Saul crossed the line, the promised consequence arrived. • Sovereign Freedom – Although foreknowing Saul’s actions, God still acts within time to accomplish His perfect plan (Isaiah 46:10). • Patient Forbearance – Saul had multiple chances to repent fully; God’s regret shows patience exhausted, not arbitrary severity (2 Peter 3:9). • Emotional Intensity – The Creator cares deeply about the direction of human leadership and the welfare of His people (Exodus 34:6). Reconciling Divine Regret with Divine Immutability • 1 Samuel 15:29 affirms: “The Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind.” • God’s essence, purposes, and promises remain unaltered (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). • His responses vary according to human behavior, yet His eternal plan never shifts (Numbers 23:19). • Think of a fixed sun and a revolving earth—our movement produces the change of seasons, not a fluctuation in the sun itself. Living Application • Sin grieves God—take His holiness seriously. • Obedience matters more than external worship. • Leadership carries weight; private compromise leads to public loss. • Trust the Lord’s plan even when He removes a leader; His sovereignty and goodness remain intact. • Respond quickly to conviction; lingering rebellion invites regret from the One who loves us. Additional Passages Echoing These Truths • Genesis 6:6—God’s grief over pre-Flood corruption. • Psalm 78:40—Israel’s rebellion vexed Him in the wilderness. • Hosea 11:8—Divine compassion amid judgment. • Hebrews 12:6—The Lord disciplines those He loves. |
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