Course correction
1 Samuel 14:49 – 16:13
Chapter 16 introduces one of the most fascinating and pivotal people in scripture: David, son of Jesse.
God has chosen David to succeed Saul as king but, as we have seen with some other gifts from God, some assembly will be required. In this chapter, Samuel identifies David as king and anoints him in a private ceremony in front of his brothers, but there is a long and complicated path left to travel before David will actually take on the role.
For now Saul is still king.
Chapter 15 tells of one of his great victories, defeating the Amalekites. It is in this victory, though, that he brings about his own downfall.
While God had commanded through Samuel that all of the Amalekites were to be killed, along with their animals, Saul instead takes their king as a prisoner and allows his men to take the best of the animals as plunder.
When Saul confronts him, he uses two defenses: First, he claims the animals are being brought back for sacrifice to God, and secondly he blames the decision on his men, not himself.
Samuel responds by saying God desires obedience more than he desires sacrifices—in this case, the sacrifices come at as a direct act of disobedience. Also, even if it were true that the men were responsible for keeping the animals alive, that would show his weakness as king and his inability to see that God’s commands are obeyed.
Beginning in 15:26 and continuing through the rest of the chapter we read of one of the great questions of Christianity: does God change his mind?
15:29 seems clear when it says “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind…” but then 15:35 says, “And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”
That is followed by God taking steps to remove Saul from the throne and replace him with David, which looks like he is changing his mind.
While this is one of those questions that will always be debated, it looks to me that God is keeping to his word to give Israel a king, but changing how it is going to be accomplished. He does not, it appears, change the course he has set on, but is willing and able to adjust how that course will be lived out.
Keep this in mind as we continue reading both history and prophets, and see how many times God appears to make course corrections without ever changing his fundamental nature or overall direction.