The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

I Samuel 15:22-28, “And Samuel said, ‘Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.

23 ‘For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.’

24 “Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

25 ‘Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.’

26 But 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.’

27 And as Samuel turned to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.

28 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.'”

The problem in the passage above is not a problem with the commentary; it’s a problem with Saul’s refusal to accept it. When we find ourselves questioning the LORD’s Word, either as to its accuracy or as to its relevancy in our lives, we have a problem!

Saul’s sin ultimately brought him the rebuke of the LORD through the ministerial voice of Samuel. Saul was intentionally attempting to overlook his prior sin of sacrificing on the altar of the LORD. Samuel was aware of Saul’s sin; he was also aware of Saul’s attitude. He refused to travel with Saul. Neither he nor we ought to attempt to run with both sides.

Ultimately, Saul “seized the edge of (Samuel’s) robe and tore it.”

Samuel immediately pronounced a judgment against Saul, saying, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.”

That must have stung bitterly! Yet, what Samuel said, he said as from the LORD! Saul spoke against the “LORD’s anointed.” Be careful about criticizing those whom the LORD has placed over you. They are His men. He has anointed and trained them for our benefit.

Saul might have been extremely useful in the LORD’s work. Yet, he dared to criticize the LORD by criticizing the LORD’s servant. None of us (servants or not) are ultimately “in charge.” We ourselves have responsibilities for which we must give an account (2 Tim. 2:15).

May our prayer be that we might become a credit to our LORD and to the responsibilities He has entrusted to us.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom