“And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.”
This verse is part of the narrative where Samuel, the prophet of God, confronts Saul:the first king of Israel, for not fully obeying God’s command regarding the Amalekites. To understand the significance of this verse, we need to explore the context and events leading up to it.
In the previous verses (1 Samuel 15:1-12), God had given Saul:a specific command through Samuel. God instructed Saul:to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions, leaving nothing alive. This was a divine judgment upon the Amalekites for their past wickedness against Israel. However, when Saul led his army into battle, he spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites, and some of the best livestock.
When Samuel arrives, Saul greets him with the words, “Blessed be thou of the LORD.” Saul initially appears to be showing respect and reverence to Samuel as a prophet of God. However, he follows this greeting with the statement, “I have performed the commandment of the LORD.”
Saul’s claim that he has fulfilled God’s commandment is a blatant misrepresentation of the truth. His words indicate either a delusion or an attempt to deceive Samuel. In reality, Saul had not fully obeyed God’s command to destroy everything related to the Amalekites. His disobedience would have serious consequences for both him and his kingdom.
This verse serves as a turning point in Saul’s reign. Samuel, being aware of Saul’s disobedience, is now going to confront him and reveal the gravity of his actions. Samuel proceeds to question Saul about the sound of sheep and cattle that he hears, despite God’s command to destroy them all. Saul tries to justify himself by saying that he saved the best livestock to sacrifice to the Lord, but Samuel rebukes him, saying that obedience is better than sacrifice.
The story of Saul’s disobedience in 1 Samuel 15 highlights the importance of complete obedience to God’s commands. Saul’s partial obedience and rationalization of his actions led to God rejecting him as king over Israel. It serves as a lesson for us today, reminding us of the significance of following God’s instructions with wholehearted obedience, without adding our own interpretations or justifications.
In conclusion, 1 Samuel 15:13 captures the moment when Saul, in an attempt to defend himself, claims to have fulfilled God’s commandment despite his disobedience. This verse sets the stage for Samuel’s confrontation and the subsequent consequences of Saul’s actions. It reminds us of the importance of wholehearted obedience to God’s commands and the consequences that can arise from partial obedience or disobedience.
