“Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.”
In this verse, we find Samuel:the prophet and judge of Israel, speaking to Saul, who was the first king of Israel. This particular conversation takes place after Saul had been given a specific command by God regarding the Amalekites.
To understand the context of this verse, we need to look at the previous verses. In 1 Samuel 15:1-3, the Lord commanded Saul through Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all that they possessed. God’s command was clear and explicit, leaving no room for compromise. The Amalekites had shown great hostility towards Israel during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, and God had determined to execute judgment upon them.
However, in the subsequent verses (1 Samuel 15:7-9), we learn that Saul did not fully obey God’s command. Though he attacked the Amalekites, he spared their king, Agag, and the best of their livestock. Saul and his army had essentially deviated from God’s instructions.
Context:In 1 Samuel 15:10-15, Samuel confronts Saul about his disobedience. Saul tries to justify his actions by claiming that he had saved the livestock to offer them as sacrifices to God. It is in response to this explanation that Samuel tells Saul to stay and listen to what the Lord had said to him during the night.
The verse itself is relatively short, but it sets the stage for Samuel to relay God’s message to Saul. It demonstrates Samuel’s authority as a prophet and Saul’s willingness to hear and receive the word of the Lord, as he responds to Samuel’s instruction to “Say on.”
This verse highlights the importance of obedience to God’s commands. Saul’s failure to fully obey God’s instructions led to severe consequences for him and his kingdom. It serves as a reminder that partial obedience is still disobedience in the eyes of God. God desires wholehearted obedience from His people, and He expects us to follow His commands without compromise.
In summary, 1 Samuel 15:16 captures a pivotal moment in the interaction between Samuel and Saul. It reveals Saul’s readiness to hear the message from God, which sets the stage for the further unfolding of the consequences of his disobedience. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of complete obedience to God’s commands and the need to seek and heed His instructions in our lives.
