1Sa 15:29 | KingComments | STEP | Samuel does not let himself be manipulated. He sticks to what God has told him and repeats this before Saul as the reason for his decision. Samuel remains at the side of God. When Samuel wants to leave, Saul seizes the edge of his robe. He wants to keep Samuel with him by force. This again self-willed act of Saul causes a tear in Samuel’s robe. Samuel immediately connects to the tearing of his robe a message from the LORD. He explains the tearing of his robe as a symbolic act for the fact that the LORD has taken away the kingship of Saul. Samuel adds that the kingship will be given to someone “who is better than” he. Samuel does not mention a name, but we know it is David. Samuel then gives a testimony about the incorruptibility of God and the immutability of His purposes. God is the Unchanging of His people. He does not have to come back to anything because He would have made a wrong decision. He does not have to return here to the judgment on Saul, as if He had passed judgment too quickly. He is not a man who would lie about a decision He has made or should regret ( ). A human being makes mistakes. As a result, he may have consequences that he would like to undo but cannot. This is not the case with God. God knows what He does. God perfectly oversees all the consequences of His actions. This has nothing to do with probability, but with His perfect knowledge of the person He Himself created. God knows what He can hold man responsible for and what He can expect of him. He does not overpower man. If man fails in his responsibilities, it is due to man himself. God’s knowledge that man will fail is related to His omniscience. He is God. The failure of the human being does not overtake him. Man’s failure is not the result of God’s wrong decision, but of man’s wrong decisions. That God also uses man’s failure to fulfill His plans of grace is a matter that we humans cannot explain. In this God asks us to trust Him.

‏ 1 Samuel 15:29

Saul Rejected as King

Samuel does not let himself be manipulated. He sticks to what God has told him and repeats this before Saul as the reason for his decision. Samuel remains at the side of God. When Samuel wants to leave, Saul seizes the edge of his robe. He wants to keep Samuel with him by force.

This again self-willed act of Saul causes a tear in Samuel’s robe. Samuel immediately connects to the tearing of his robe a message from the LORD. He explains the tearing of his robe as a symbolic act for the fact that the LORD has taken away the kingship of Saul. Samuel adds that the kingship will be given to someone “who is better than” he. Samuel does not mention a name, but we know it is David.

Samuel then gives a testimony about the incorruptibility of God and the immutability of His purposes. God is the Unchanging of His people. He does not have to come back to anything because He would have made a wrong decision. He does not have to return here to the judgment on Saul, as if He had passed judgment too quickly. He is not a man who would lie about a decision He has made or should regret (Num 23:19).

A human being makes mistakes. As a result, he may have consequences that he would like to undo but cannot. This is not the case with God. God knows what He does. God perfectly oversees all the consequences of His actions. This has nothing to do with probability, but with His perfect knowledge of the person He Himself created. God knows what He can hold man responsible for and what He can expect of him. He does not overpower man.

If man fails in his responsibilities, it is due to man himself. God’s knowledge that man will fail is related to His omniscience. He is God. The failure of the human being does not overtake him. Man’s failure is not the result of God’s wrong decision, but of man’s wrong decisions. That God also uses man’s failure to fulfill His plans of grace is a matter that we humans cannot explain. In this God asks us to trust Him.