Plead Guilty

1 Samuel 15:12-30

The Lord was grieved that he had made Saul king. Samuel mourned for him too. But was Saul ever repentant of his sin? On his first meeting with Samuel after the feat, Saul even greeted him with a blessing. He was elated with the victory and maybe thought the old man was there to celebrate with him. It was a mission accomplished. He believed so. On Samuel’s initial inquiry, he was immediately defensive and passed the blame to his soldiers, as if his men can do anything without his consent. Trying to make light again their conversation, he diverted the topic back to their victory. Although I’m sure his mind now is replaying all scenarios and discreetly convincing himself that nothing went wrong. But Samuel pressed more, and this time, calling it disobedience. Feeling hurt, but not sorry, Saul denied the accusation, but his good excuses were failing him. He said he completely destroyed the enemies, but admitted sparing Agag. He blamed the soldiers for taking the livestock, but he reasoned it was for the sacrifice. He struggled with the idea that because something went wrong, everything else falls with it. He spared just one from the all the rest, took the best but killed all else, how could a drop of ink ruin the whole paper? The topic next moved to its consequence: God rejecting Saul as king. Samuel equated his sin to divination and idolatry. Now he’s losing it. Knowing he couldn’t run further, he admitted the sin, with the lame excuse of fearing his men.  He asked Samuel’s forgiveness (not God’s!) and begged him to come with him to worship. When his invitation was declined, he caught hold the old man’s robe that it tore, and God even used it to confirm that his kingdom has been torn as well. We would hope he would come to his senses now and seek peace with God. Sadly, his final request was not forgiveness. He pleaded Samuel to still honor him before the people. The monument he set up for himself proves all he cares was his name and not God’s.

Application:

I see five stages of sin-confrontation here: Disguise (nothing was wrong) – Denial (they were wrong, not me) - Disapproval (it was not all-wrong) – Defense (it just went wrong) -   Disregard (enough with the wrong).  I have to admit I went as far as the fourth scheme. God’s mercy kept me from taking that last step, for it would be most fatal.  I’m sure we’re all familiar being on the accused seat. How about browsing what goes on beyond our fence? Let’s see God’s five steps to calling us to repentance: Presence (He’s here) – Proof (He knows) – Principles (He said) – Punishment (He will) -  Pits (He grieves).  Isaiah confessed when he saw the holiness of God. David readily admitted his transgression at Nathan’s rebuke.  Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken when he heard the crow. Jonah was inside the fish belly when he uttered repentance. Samson sought the Lord at his last breath. Of course we don’t have to exhaust all options here. The point is, God is so patient with us. His love is unfailing, and his mercy, so great. No sin is bigger than the cross. And so Isaiah was sent off, David’s line was kept, Peter was instrumental in building the church, Jonah’s preaching saved Niniveh, and Samson killed more Philistines when he died than while he lived. As Creator, God alone can clean us thoroughly and make us new. Jesus’ death justified us, and even all records were nailed with Him. Why should we fear repentance when all our sins have been paid for? Plead guilty and you’ll be declared not guilty! Only in God’s court! Galing!