1 Samuel 15:32-35 – An endless hope versus a hopeless end

The prophet obliged the king and returned with him. It was then that the king bowed before the Lord in an act of worship. Nothing was said about Samuel honoring the king. In fact, what he did was exactly the opposite. He carried out what the king had failed to do. He ordered for Agag to be brought before him. A period must have elapsed and Agag thought to himself that they had reneged on the order about executing him. He comforted himself and when summoned came cheerfully to the prophet. Agag was oblivious that his end was drawing near. So long as God can find a faithful man, no plan of the Lord will ever be thwarted.

Why must God deal so severely with Agag? Verse 33 gives us a hint to the reason. It says, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” This is call recompense. “Do not be deceived” so the Bible says, “what a man sows that he shall also reap.” Fallen human beings often don’t consider the consequence of their actions. But God does. And as people who love the Lord, He expects us to care how we conduct ourselves. We must never forget that while God offers grace freely, He will also administer justice judiciously. God's graciousness should make us more careful with how we walk and not make a mockery of His grace by living carelessly. God’s righteousness demands that judgment be meted out for wickedness, no matter who has committed it.  

Samuel and Saul parted ways and each went their separate routes. The former to Ramah and the later to Gibeah. They did not meet again until the death of Saul. That signals the end of his reign. The failure of Saul was the result of his sinful tendency. When that sinful nature is not dealt with and be brought under the sovereign reign of God, it leads us to a hopeless end. We say this is tragic because he started with so much hope. And hope is a good start. What’s more important is how one ends. We are reminded that relationship with God is an ongoing journey. And what we do, between the starting and the ending, matters. When we act congruently with God’s instruction, our faith journey will sustain, and we will attain a life of endless hope. But if we don’t act congruously with the purpose and intent of God, it will lead us into a hopeless end. The choice is ours!