I expect you are familiar with the saying: “The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine.” This well-known saying fits when we consider what God says about the Amalekites in the Old Testament.
“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God.
Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget” (Deuteronomy 25:17-19).
The time came for God’s justice to be delivered to the Amalekites, and Saul was chosen to lead this mission.
And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord.
Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt.
Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey” (1 Samuel 15:1-3).
In today’s YouTube discussion, we talk about how people have struggled over the years with understanding a God who loves the world but also allows destruction. My answer involves two points.
(1) We believe God is holy, just, and loving. Any judgment from God is filtered through his holiness, justice, and love.
(2) I don’t have trouble with what I can’t understand in the Bible. What I struggle with are the things I do understand but am not currently obeying in my life.
Care for the Kenites
As Saul was on his way to punish the Amalekites, he encountered a tribe that needed to escape judgment.
And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.
Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. “So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:5-6).
The story of the defeat of the Amalekites is summed up in one verse.
And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt (1 Samuel 15:7).
The main focus of the rest of the chapter is on Saul’s disobedience, not his victory over the Amalekites.
Devoted to the Lord
The phrase “devoted to destruction” means giving things or people completely to the Lord, usually by destroying them entirely. This was what Saul and his army was to do to the Amalekites.
However, under Saul’s leadership God’s order was not obeyed.
And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword.
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction (1 Samuel 15:8-9).
Some of my friends might say of Saul in the language of the street that he was “half-stepping.” Saul did some of what God asked, but then picked and chose the parts that suited him, avoiding the rest.
God’s Regret
God told Samuel that He regretted making Saul king because of Saul’s disobedience. This act of disobedience and God’s regret troubled Samuel deeply. He cried out to the Lord all night.
The word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.”
And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night (1 Samuel 15:10-11).
When we reach heaven and get to talk to some of God’s great men and women, it would be wonderful to spend time with Samuel. We could ask him what was happening during that long night of agonizing prayer.
Samuel was known as a man of prayer, a great intercessor, and a servant of the Lord. I imagine there was quite a struggle that night between God and Samuel as they talked about what had happened with Israel’s first king.
Reflections
James highlights the double-minded human, who is unstable in all of their ways (James 1:8).
A double-minded person might want to serve God, but their main loyalty is to themselves. They tend to pick and choose which parts of God’s will they want to follow.
Saul is a perfect example of why we should aim to be single-minded, or as Jesus said, pure in heart.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5:8).
The difference between a double-minded and a single-minded person is striking. A double-minded person is unstable, as seen in Saul’s story.
On the other hand, Jesus says a single-minded person is pure in heart and can see God. They notice God’s work in their lives and have a personal relationship with Him.
They enjoy a friendship with God, like Samuel and later King David.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 