30th.: Saul Passes Blame
Previously, Saul gave many excuses for not obeying God (see yesterday's webpage).
Saul should have wiped out the Amalekites (see 1st Sam. 15:3, 20-21).
Instead, Samuel instructed,
“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 hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
and stubbornness is as iniquity, and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the
word of the Lord, he has also rejected thee from being king.” (1st Sam. 15:22-23).
God had given Saul the chance to make a valid case for himself.
But Saul remained stubborn.
He refused to admit his error (1st Sam. 15:17-19).
When Saul heard that he was rejected from being king, he finally acknowledged,
“I have sinned, for I transgressed the commandment of the Lord,
and thy words, because I feared the people.” (1st Sam. 15:24-25).
When pressed, Saul admitted wrongdoing, sorta.
But he also still blamed the people. Put another way, he basically said, “It’s not my fault!”
When we do wrong, we need to acknowledge to God the full responsibility for our wrong.
“Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction. But he that regards reproof shall be honored.” (Pr. 13:18)