1Sa 15:11 | KingComments | STEP | Then comes the word of the LORD to Samuel. The LORD tells Samuel of Saul’s disobedience and what is the consequence thereof. He decides to reject Saul and announces this to Samuel. The LORD says that He regrets that He has made Saul king. If God regrets anything, it is not because He must come back to a wrong decision made by Him. Regret in God is not what it is in us. In us it is a change of meaning and will, but with Him it is a change in His method. He does not change His will, but He wants a change. His regret is not the result of an act of Himself, but of man’s actions. God’s regret shows that He is deeply sad about what man has done with what He has given him, not about what He Himself has done. He never needs to revoke anything ( ). Although God knows everything in advance, including the evil that will happen, He is full of sadness when that evil happens. Samuel’s reaction to what the LORD tells him shows that he is a true man of God. He gets angry with Saul and at the same time he calls to God all night for this one man. Anger and grief can go together, as we read of the Lord Jesus ( ). There is anger about sin and grief about the sinner. Samuel is the great praying man, who has said that he will not cease to pray for the people ( ). His calling to God indicates a deep inner involvement and a great movement of mind.

‏ 1 Samuel 15:11

The Regret of the LORD

Then comes the word of the LORD to Samuel. The LORD tells Samuel of Saul’s disobedience and what is the consequence thereof. He decides to reject Saul and announces this to Samuel. The LORD says that He regrets that He has made Saul king.

If God regrets anything, it is not because He must come back to a wrong decision made by Him. Regret in God is not what it is in us. In us it is a change of meaning and will, but with Him it is a change in His method. He does not change His will, but He wants a change. His regret is not the result of an act of Himself, but of man’s actions. God’s regret shows that He is deeply sad about what man has done with what He has given him, not about what He Himself has done. He never needs to revoke anything (1Sam 15:29). Although God knows everything in advance, including the evil that will happen, He is full of sadness when that evil happens.

Samuel’s reaction to what the LORD tells him shows that he is a true man of God. He gets angry with Saul and at the same time he calls to God all night for this one man. Anger and grief can go together, as we read of the Lord Jesus (Mk 3:5a). There is anger about sin and grief about the sinner. Samuel is the great praying man, who has said that he will not cease to pray for the people (1Sam 12:23). His calling to God indicates a deep inner involvement and a great movement of mind.