Saul Rejected

At Gilgal, facing an enormous Philistine army, Saul waits seven days for Samuel, who is supposed to offer the sacrifices. The people begin to scatter; Saul offers the burnt offering himself. Samuel arrives right afterward: “Thou hast done foolishly.” Saul’s kingdom will not continue: the LORD has sought out “a man after his own heart.” Soon afterward, Jonathan’s bold faith sends the Philistines into a rout, but a rash oath of Saul’s nearly costs his son his life. Then God commands Saul to put Amalek under the ban. Saul wins the battle, but spares King Agag and the best of the livestock. He claims to have obeyed; Samuel, however, hears the bleating of the sheep. “To obey is better than sacrifice.” As Samuel turns to leave, Saul grabs the edge of his robe, and it tears: in the same way the LORD tears the kingdom from Saul and gives it to another, one better than he.