We saw yesterday that Saul chose to disobey the command of God by saving back some of the Amalekite people and livestock. He had apparently decided that God's command to destroy the people and their possessions entirely was not a good idea. When confronted by Samuel, Saul says that the plunder is to serve as a special service to God. This is not what the Lord had directed. It was not the desire of our God. Saul's idea of what would be good was directly contrary to God's will. It is very clearly described as evil. Verses 22-23 of 1 Samuel 15 remind us that God's desire is faith and trust. Our faith and trust in the Lord results in obedience to his commands. Our decision not to obey God's commands is a sign of rebellion and idolatry.
What happens when we consistently disobey the Lord? It appears from 1 Samuel that we eventually reach a point where the Lord no longer gives us repentance and we no longer receive forgiveness. This does not indicate that we were never believers. It does indicate the very real possibility that people who are genuine believers, consecrated by God to his service, may deny the Lord and depart from the faith.
May the Lord bless us with repentance, with a tender heart to obey him, with a desire to seek his face and receive the forgiveness that he grants us in Christ Jesus, who has died to bear our sin and shame.
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