“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Amen
Becky – I just listened to The Bible Recap about this passage, and it was really helpful yet again. She said the word translated “regret” here can also be translated “grieved.” So, He didn’t make the wrong choice, but it still grieved Him to see Saul fall away. God’s best was not for Israel to have an earthly king, but he gave them one because of the hardness of their hearts.
What a powerful message I needed to hear in this time! “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
2nd Corinthians might be my favorite book of the Bible so far…. I feel like I’ve highlighted almost every line haha. From today I love the verse that says, we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned.”
God’s timing is perfect… I have fallen behind in the readings, but this is one that I needed to read today. My mental health is always in flux, I have been struggling with depression lately, but this entire chapter of 2 Corinthians jumped out at me. I may be struggling, but through that God is still here with me, and he can use me in my weakness for something far better than I can imagine.
6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. amen !! -ellie
2 Corinthians 4…the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. …7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
Our weakness allows His great glory to be displayed. We are pressed on every side but not crushed! We have His great power in us, which is why we never give up!!!
Verse 18 in Corinthians (While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.) points back to what Samuel said when he was looking for the future king, “man looketh on the outward appearance but God looketh on the heart”.
The outward appearance doesn’t matter, because it is temporal. The heart and what is inside matters because it is eternal
One of the Saddest lines in scripture “and God regretted”. Really stood out to me about the nature of Gods heart and how it aches when we let Him down. Makes me want to love Him better
So many good comments here! What really caused me to think today was the part that said Saul had “an evil spirit from the Lord”. I really had to mull that over. Does God send an evil spirit? what i did notice is that this event is THE way that God brings David into the realm of royalty. Who can soothe that spirit? – oh David! No one knows he’s been anointed as next king. But he’s called into service – where God wants him to be – because of this evil spirit that God allowed to bother Saul. This will keep me thinking the rest of the day -probably longer!
This is so interesting to pick up. I remember reading it for the first time and just being reminded of Gods total sovereignty. He can do exactly as he pleases to bring about His plans and purposes
“For the things that are seen are transient, but the unseen is eternal.” My husband reminded me of that just this morning, as I was getting worked up over a text message that was particularly upsetting. The things we see can be blinding!! Circumstances and relationships that require extra attention divert our eyes from the One who deserves our hearts. Lord, that we would ALL seek to serve you in the matters unseen, not for our glory but for Your will, and Your fame!
15:22-23 “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
“But I did obey the Lord”, cried Saul. I guess almost obeying doesn’t count. He just kept the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord and didn’t kill the Amalekite king. He had a better way than God’s way, or at least that is what he thought. Samuel tells him that obedience is better than sacrifice–which is sort of a double entendre. Sacrifice is many times the grand gesture that all can see. Obedience involves a walk before the Lord and a listening heart . It takes longer. It involves humility. When I don’t listen it doesn’t involve killing or not killing Amalekites, but it is just as important to God for me to be obedient as it was for Saul to be…
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Absolutely love this. It really helped to remind me and residues me of the hope I have always had in my eyes. Going through tuff times is exhausting, it practically drains the life out of you. There are choice we make each day, and each day is a brand new day, a day to learn from, and just as each day passes with a new start, day by day passes we as well are renewed. (:
This is my first time reading through the story of Saul and Samuel. It’s like a movie! But as I read chapter 16, Saul’s negligence for following God’s instructions in full really stuck out to me. I too have been In situations where I realize God wants me to do something; whether it’s asking for forgiveness from someone I wronged or just to do a certain action. If I just do that thing half way, or resolve myself to journaling about what God wants me to do, God keeps reminding me that’s not enough. Like how Saul killed the Amarite people, but he kept the good stuff for himself. He did the easy part.
This passage reminds me that the easy part is easy. God knows we can do that. My true faith is tested when I do what God wants fully and faithfully.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
I’ve been going through a difficult time lately and this is such a powerful reminder that our best days are never in the past and God is renewing our spirit everyday. Thank you Jesus for the love you freely give.
Beautiful verses and thoughts Jen. These verses stuck out to me too as I’m having a particularly exhausting day…nothing especially important but just a tough day. And the words I am resting in are, “…our inner self is being renewed day by day.” Every day…good or bad our inner selves are being renewed. What a hopeful thought.
This reminds me of a conversation I was having with my husband recently about God’s will vs our free will. I chalked it up to our feeble human minds not being able to comprehend God fully but that one day He will explain it to us when we’re with Him. Samuel says that God doesn’t change his mind like a human…but isn’t regret almost like changing your mind? It’s like changing your mind about how you feel about a decision you made… I really feel so unintelligent trying to work through this but I guess it just shows how we can never fully comprehend God’s ways maybe?
God is immutable (unchanging) Hebrews 6:17-18…regret in this context is that God is compassionate, taking pity on the situation and the choices Saul made. One thing about free will is that it is limited as well because nothing can trump God’s sovereignty!
We sometimes know that our kids are going to be disobedient but we still give them instructions, and then their free will kicks in . God still regrets our disobedience, even when He’s sure it’s going to happen.
I love when the OT and the NT have verses that are similar in theme. The way God does that is so cool!
1 Sam 16: 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
2 Cor 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Beautiful parallel!! I love being able to see the connections others make in our reading. I rested on both of those verses be didn’t connect the dots the way you did. Thx for sharing!
I had to look further into this also. Here’s a great insight I found from john piper: “For God to say, “I feel sorrow that I made Saul king,” is not the same as saying, “I would not make him king if I had it to do over.” God is able to feel sorrow for an act in view of foreknown evil and pain, and yet go ahead and will to do it for wise reasons. And so later, when he looks back on the act, he can feel the sorrow for the act that was leading to the sad conditions, such as Saul’s disobedience.”
I heard a message where the preacher talked about everything is subject to God and just like how Satan entered into the presence of God, was about roaming the earth seeking whom he could devour, had to first get permission to test Job, within the parameters God set… Everything except Jobs life and wife could be tested. God is good and in him there is no evil, however in this instance God allowed an evil spirit to torment Saul. Does not mean that every evil spirit thing is God ordained though. Does that make sense or help?
In the absence of the Spirit of God, men are vulnerable to evil spirits. When we are no longer submitted to Him, his covering is gone from our lives and therefore we have no protection from evil and its destructive effects.
Here is what my study note say about “an evil spirit from the Lord” : This statement and similar ones in Scripture indicate that evil spirits are subject to God’s control and only operate within divinely determined boundaries.
King Saul’s downward spiral always reminds me of the damage of our pride and ego and makes me wonder what would of happened if he had taken ownership of his rebellion and truly repented instead of blaming others and trying to get Samuel to bargain for forgiveness on his behalf when he wasn’t broken in his own heart about what he chose to do by going against Gods command.
22 And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”
❤️
We do not lose heart – though we are wasting away, we are being renewed
❤️
❤️
22And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
May we obey and listen to the Lord in Jesus Name! Amen.
✅
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Amen
✔️
❤️
17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
I find it hard to read that God ‘regretted’ making Saul King, surely he knew the outcome when he appointed him?
Becky – I just listened to The Bible Recap about this passage, and it was really helpful yet again. She said the word translated “regret” here can also be translated “grieved.” So, He didn’t make the wrong choice, but it still grieved Him to see Saul fall away. God’s best was not for Israel to have an earthly king, but he gave them one because of the hardness of their hearts.
What a powerful message I needed to hear in this time! “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
❤️
✅
2nd Corinthians might be my favorite book of the Bible so far…. I feel like I’ve highlighted almost every line haha. From today I love the verse that says, we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned.”
God’s timing is perfect… I have fallen behind in the readings, but this is one that I needed to read today. My mental health is always in flux, I have been struggling with depression lately, but this entire chapter of 2 Corinthians jumped out at me. I may be struggling, but through that God is still here with me, and he can use me in my weakness for something far better than I can imagine.
May we obey and listen to the Lord rather than presume on his kindness and rebel against him by rejecting His Word.
❤️
6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. amen !! -ellie
2 Corinthians 4…the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. …7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
Our weakness allows His great glory to be displayed. We are pressed on every side but not crushed! We have His great power in us, which is why we never give up!!!
Verse 18 in Corinthians (While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.) points back to what Samuel said when he was looking for the future king, “man looketh on the outward appearance but God looketh on the heart”.
The outward appearance doesn’t matter, because it is temporal. The heart and what is inside matters because it is eternal
One of the Saddest lines in scripture “and God regretted”. Really stood out to me about the nature of Gods heart and how it aches when we let Him down. Makes me want to love Him better
Agreed!
So many good comments here! What really caused me to think today was the part that said Saul had “an evil spirit from the Lord”. I really had to mull that over. Does God send an evil spirit? what i did notice is that this event is THE way that God brings David into the realm of royalty. Who can soothe that spirit? – oh David! No one knows he’s been anointed as next king. But he’s called into service – where God wants him to be – because of this evil spirit that God allowed to bother Saul. This will keep me thinking the rest of the day -probably longer!
This is so interesting to pick up. I remember reading it for the first time and just being reminded of Gods total sovereignty. He can do exactly as he pleases to bring about His plans and purposes
“For the things that are seen are transient, but the unseen is eternal.” My husband reminded me of that just this morning, as I was getting worked up over a text message that was particularly upsetting. The things we see can be blinding!! Circumstances and relationships that require extra attention divert our eyes from the One who deserves our hearts. Lord, that we would ALL seek to serve you in the matters unseen, not for our glory but for Your will, and Your fame!
Amen!
Accomplishments and looks mean nothing! Focus on the heart which should be after God! (1 Samuel 16:7)
GOD is so mighty…but it’s amazing to know we can displease him strongly. I pray that I please him with my life.
15:22-23 “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
“But I did obey the Lord”, cried Saul. I guess almost obeying doesn’t count. He just kept the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord and didn’t kill the Amalekite king. He had a better way than God’s way, or at least that is what he thought. Samuel tells him that obedience is better than sacrifice–which is sort of a double entendre. Sacrifice is many times the grand gesture that all can see. Obedience involves a walk before the Lord and a listening heart . It takes longer. It involves humility. When I don’t listen it doesn’t involve killing or not killing Amalekites, but it is just as important to God for me to be obedient as it was for Saul to be…
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Absolutely love this. It really helped to remind me and residues me of the hope I have always had in my eyes. Going through tuff times is exhausting, it practically drains the life out of you. There are choice we make each day, and each day is a brand new day, a day to learn from, and just as each day passes with a new start, day by day passes we as well are renewed. (:
This is my first time reading through the story of Saul and Samuel. It’s like a movie! But as I read chapter 16, Saul’s negligence for following God’s instructions in full really stuck out to me. I too have been In situations where I realize God wants me to do something; whether it’s asking for forgiveness from someone I wronged or just to do a certain action. If I just do that thing half way, or resolve myself to journaling about what God wants me to do, God keeps reminding me that’s not enough. Like how Saul killed the Amarite people, but he kept the good stuff for himself. He did the easy part.
This passage reminds me that the easy part is easy. God knows we can do that. My true faith is tested when I do what God wants fully and faithfully.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
I’ve been going through a difficult time lately and this is such a powerful reminder that our best days are never in the past and God is renewing our spirit everyday. Thank you Jesus for the love you freely give.
Beautiful verses and thoughts Jen. These verses stuck out to me too as I’m having a particularly exhausting day…nothing especially important but just a tough day. And the words I am resting in are, “…our inner self is being renewed day by day.” Every day…good or bad our inner selves are being renewed. What a hopeful thought.
This reminds me of a conversation I was having with my husband recently about God’s will vs our free will. I chalked it up to our feeble human minds not being able to comprehend God fully but that one day He will explain it to us when we’re with Him. Samuel says that God doesn’t change his mind like a human…but isn’t regret almost like changing your mind? It’s like changing your mind about how you feel about a decision you made… I really feel so unintelligent trying to work through this but I guess it just shows how we can never fully comprehend God’s ways maybe?
Sara,
God is immutable (unchanging) Hebrews 6:17-18…regret in this context is that God is compassionate, taking pity on the situation and the choices Saul made. One thing about free will is that it is limited as well because nothing can trump God’s sovereignty!
We sometimes know that our kids are going to be disobedient but we still give them instructions, and then their free will kicks in . God still regrets our disobedience, even when He’s sure it’s going to happen.
So true. He doesn’t decide to not give us a chance just because He knows we will fail. What a good Father
I love when the OT and the NT have verses that are similar in theme. The way God does that is so cool!
1 Sam 16: 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
2 Cor 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
We need to focus on the internal and the unseen!
Beautiful parallel!! I love being able to see the connections others make in our reading. I rested on both of those verses be didn’t connect the dots the way you did. Thx for sharing!
Wonderful connection Laura! Thank you for pointing that out! :-)
How can God regret something? Didn’t He know Saul would be disobedient?
Bc he feels sorrow for the way Saul’s life turned out. Not bc He didn’t know, but just bc He doesn’t ever like to see His children turn from Him.
I had to look further into this also. Here’s a great insight I found from john piper: “For God to say, “I feel sorrow that I made Saul king,” is not the same as saying, “I would not make him king if I had it to do over.” God is able to feel sorrow for an act in view of foreknown evil and pain, and yet go ahead and will to do it for wise reasons. And so later, when he looks back on the act, he can feel the sorrow for the act that was leading to the sad conditions, such as Saul’s disobedience.”
thank you
Lisa, we have free will to choose because God doesn’t force us to love or obey Him.
How can God an evil sprit come from God? I don’t understand that part, I mean God is altogether good and an evil thing can’t be sent from him can it?
I heard a message where the preacher talked about everything is subject to God and just like how Satan entered into the presence of God, was about roaming the earth seeking whom he could devour, had to first get permission to test Job, within the parameters God set… Everything except Jobs life and wife could be tested. God is good and in him there is no evil, however in this instance God allowed an evil spirit to torment Saul. Does not mean that every evil spirit thing is God ordained though. Does that make sense or help?
In the absence of the Spirit of God, men are vulnerable to evil spirits. When we are no longer submitted to Him, his covering is gone from our lives and therefore we have no protection from evil and its destructive effects.
Here is what my study note say about “an evil spirit from the Lord” : This statement and similar ones in Scripture indicate that evil spirits are subject to God’s control and only operate within divinely determined boundaries.
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
King Saul’s downward spiral always reminds me of the damage of our pride and ego and makes me wonder what would of happened if he had taken ownership of his rebellion and truly repented instead of blaming others and trying to get Samuel to bargain for forgiveness on his behalf when he wasn’t broken in his own heart about what he chose to do by going against Gods command.
22 And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”