Daniel Condurachi’s Blog

Photo of boys playing in the grass while the girls watched, at Comarna village, Iasi district, Romania

Some time ago I wrote about the conflict between Saul and David. Today I would like to write about how behaved Saul and David, when their reign seems to be taken from them.

Here is what happened.

22 Samuel said,
Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
and stubbornness is as idolatry
and teraphim (household good luck images).
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He also has rejected you from being king.

24 And Saul said to Samuel,
I have sinned;
for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord
and your words,
because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

25 Now, I pray you, pardon my sin
and go back with me,
that I may worship the Lord.

26 And Samuel said to Saul,
I will not return with you;
for you have rejected the word of the Lord,
and the Lord has rejected you
from being king over Israel.

1 Samuel 15:22-26

Saul almost has no dignity and he behaves like a child. Saul blames the people instead of taking the responsibility for his actions. More than that, instead of asking forgiveness from God, Saul tells Samuel to forgive him .

God has dedicated people for Him. But those people are not. They do not have the power to forgive instead of God. They might be wiser, they might be closer to God than we are, because they dedicate more to God. And they can not replace God by any means. Saul did as many people do today. They worship other people and pray to them, instead of praying to God. They practice idolatry. You can read more about this in my Idolatry post .

Saul continues his childish behavior.

27 And as Samuel turned to go away,
Saul seized the skirt of Samuel’s mantle, and it tore.

28 And Samuel said to him,
The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day
and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.

29 Israel’s God-of-Glory doesn’t deceive and he doesn’t dither.
He says what he means and means what he says.

1 Samuel 15:27-28

Instead of actual repentance, Saul tries to win Samuel by any means. I feel sorry for Saul, and so many times I am just like him. I try to justify my actions instead of accepting I am wrong and changing myself .

How David responds to the possibility of loosing his reign?

Then king David ordered Zadok,
"Take the Chest back to the city.
If I get back in God’s good graces,
He’ll bring me back
and show me where the Chest has been set down.
But if he says,
‘I’m not pleased with you’
- well, God can then do with me whatever He pleases .

2 Samuel 15:25-26