“Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.”
Context:This verse is part of the account of Saul, the first king of Israel, seeking guidance from a medium known as the Witch of Endor.
Saul had disobeyed God’s command by sparing the Amalekite king, Agag, and allowing the people to keep some of the spoils of war (1 Samuel 15). As a result, God had rejected Saul as king and chosen David to be his successor.
In 1 Samuel 28, Saul finds himself in a desperate situation as the Philistines gather to fight against Israel. He seeks counsel from the Lord, but God remains silent and does not respond through prophets, dreams, or the Urim and Thummim (sacred objects used for seeking God’s guidance). In his desperation, Saul turns to the forbidden practice of consulting a medium.
When Saul requests the medium to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel, an unexpected event occurs. Samuel’s spirit actually appears, and he delivers a message to Saul. The verse in question, 1 Samuel 28:18, is part of Samuel’s response to Saul.
The verse begins with Samuel reprimanding Saul for not obeying the voice of the Lord. God had commanded Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites and their possessions as an act of judgment because of their wickedness (1 Samuel 15:3). However, Saul failed to fully carry out God’s instructions. He spared Agag, the Amalekite king, and allowed the people to keep the best of the livestock. Samuel goes on to say that Saul did not execute God’s fierce wrath upon Amalek. By disobeying God’s command and showing mercy to the Amalekites, Saul demonstrated a lack of obedience and reverence for God’s authority.
Therefore, as a consequence of Saul’s actions, the Lord had allowed this situation to occur‑the dire circumstances that Saul was currently facing. The verse highlights the significance of obedience to God’s commands. Saul’s disobedience had serious consequences for himself and his kingdom. God expected Saul to carry out His instructions without compromise, but Saul’s actions revealed a lack of faithfulness and submission to God’s will.
It’s important to note that this verse does not imply that God directly caused Saul’s current situation. Rather, it suggests that God allowed the consequences of Saul’s disobedience to take their course. God’s judgment upon Saul was a result of his own choices and actions.
The broader lesson we can draw from this passage is the importance of obedience to God’s commands. It reminds us that partial obedience is not enough. God desires our complete surrender and faithfulness in carrying out His will. When we disobey or compromise His commands, there can be negative consequences for ourselves and those around us.
In summary, 1 Samuel 28:18 serves as a reminder of the consequences of Saul’s disobedience. Saul’s failure to obey God’s command to execute judgment upon the Amalekites led to the rejection of his kingship and the challenging situation he faced. This verse emphasizes the importance of wholehearted obedience to God’s commands and the need to honor His authority in our lives.
