1 Samuel 15:24-31 – Living for God's approval

Convicted by Samuel’s words, Saul acknowledged that he had sinned and violated the commandments of God. He confessed that he feared the people and pled with Samuel to forgive him and return with him. He had chosen to follow the wrong voice – the voice of the people. At the onset of his coronation, the injunction to him was to fear the Lord and obey His voice. But Saul did the very opposite, he feared the people and listened to their voice. He had shown himself to be a man after men’s hearts. Of course, Samuel stoutly refused. he said to him "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 

We can imagine a little tussle between the prophet and Saul. Samuel was resolute about not returning with him. There was a despairing Saul seizing the shirt off Samuel’s robe and the prophet sought to move away. What ensured was a piece of the prophet’s robe was torn off.  That prompted Samuel to say to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. Also, the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.” For us who know the latter part of the story, we know who that better man was. He, of course, is none other than David. However, he was better not because he was morally more upright but because he followed hard after God.

Realizing that Samuel was dead serious, he again acknowledged his sin and this time he wanted Samuel to help save his face. He sought dignity so that he would not lose face among his people. So his plea was “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.” Even at this point, he was still concerned about what people would think about him. We do not know the reason, but Samuel did return with him. It is a known fact that every one of us wants to be approved, appreciated and accepted. However, we must know that to be approved, appreciated and accepted by God is more important than anyone else’s. We must learn to live for the audience of one, God Himself. We have the tendency to live for the applauds of men. But we must make up our mind whose approval would we rather have. Once we have that issue determined, no amount of praise from men will cause us to stray us from God.