Chapter 15

But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. (1 Samuel 15:9)

Partial Obedience is dangerous.

Saul spared Agag the king. The people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen. People will only imitate what the leaders do

Saul gained victory over the Amalekites but then it was not a sign of obedience towards God because Saul obeyed God selectively. (1 Samuel 15:8-9)

Even your victory can be infected with disobedience. Just because you got the victory does not mean you have obeyed the Lord fully.

The flip side is also true, just because you lost a battle does not mean you have disobeyed the Lord. Even in your failure there could be obedience.

For ex: Joseph obeyed the Lord and still landed in prison. Paul and Silas were beaten for preaching the gospel.

And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night. (1 Samuel 15:11)

The fact that the Lord had rejected Saul from being King grieved Samuel who had anointed him. He then prayed through the night. All night prayer is praying for something urgent.

And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” (1 Samuel 15:15)

The leader is responsible for his people. He cannot pass the blame on the people

But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” (1 Samuel 15:21)

The people took of the plunder. Saul was a weak leader

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” (1 Samuel 15:24-25)

Saul worshipped the Lord. One can worship the LORD even in disobedience