1 Samuel 15:11-35

“Saul has stopped following me. And I am sorry I made him king. He has not obeyed my commands.” Samuel was upset, and he cried out to the Lord all night long. Early the next morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul. But the people told Samuel, “Saul has gone to Carmel. He has put up a monument in his own honor. Now he has gone down to Gilgal.” Then Samuel came to Saul. And Saul said, “May the Lord bless you! I have obeyed the Lord’s commands.” But Samuel said, “Then why do I hear cattle mooing and sheep bleating?” Saul answered, “The soldiers took them from the Amalekites. They saved the best sheep and cattle to offer as sacrifices to the Lord your God. But we destroyed all the other animals.” Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” Saul answered, “Tell me.” Samuel said, “Once you didn’t think much of yourself. But now you have become the leader of the tribes of Israel. The Lord appointed you to be king over Israel. And he told you to do something. He said, ‘Go and destroy those evil people, the Amalekites. Make war on them until all of them are dead.’ Why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you take the best things? Why did you do what the Lord said was wrong?” Saul said, “But I did obey the Lord. I did what the Lord told me to do. I destroyed all the Amalekites. And I brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” But Samuel answered, “What pleases the Lord more: burnt offerings and sacrifices or obedience? It is better to obey God than to offer a sacrifice. It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of male sheep. Refusing to obey is as bad as the sin of sorcery. Being stubborn is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols. You have rejected the Lord’s command. For this reason, he now rejects you as king.” Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I didn’t obey the Lord’s commands. I didn’t do what you told me. I was afraid of the people, and I did what they said. Now I beg you, forgive my sin. Come back with me so I may worship the Lord.” But Samuel said to Saul, “I won’t go back with you. You refused the Lord’s command. And now he rejects you as king of Israel.” As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today. He has given it to one of your neighbors. He has given it to one better than you. The Lord is the Eternal One of Israel. He does not lie or change his mind. He is not a man. So he does not change his mind as men do.” Saul answered, “I have sinned. But please honor me in front of my people’s elders. Please honor me in front of the Israelites. Come back with me so that I may worship the Lord your God.” So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord. Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to Samuel in chains. Yet Agag thought, “Surely the threat of death has passed.” Samuel said to him, “Your sword caused mothers to be without their children. Now your mother will have no children.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal. Then Samuel left and went to Ramah. But Saul went up to his home in Gibeah. And Samuel never saw Saul again all the rest of his life. But he was sorry for Saul. And the Lord was very sorry he had made Saul king of Israel.