In 1 Samuel 15, God commands King Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites as a form of punishment for their past sins against Israel. Saul gathers an army of 200,000 men and defeats the Amalekites, but he spares their king, Agag, and keeps some of their livestock.
God is displeased with Saul’s incomplete obedience and regrets making him king. He sends the prophet Samuel to confront Saul, who insists that he has obeyed God’s command. However, Samuel informs Saul that obedience is better than sacrifices, and that God has rejected him as king due to his disobedience.
Samuel proceeds to kill Agag himself, and he delivers a message from God, declaring that Saul’s kingdom will not endure and that God has chosen a new king who is better than him. Samuel leaves, and Saul is left feeling remorseful and afraid of the consequences.
Uncovering the depths of each verse in its context: