Was It Really That Bad?

 

22 And Samuel said,
“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 listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
24 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 bow before the Lord.” 26 And Samuel said to Saul, “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.” 

Yesterday we began to see inconsistencies in Saul's life and leadership. Today we see how he completely crossed the line. God told him to go and completely destroy the Amalekites, who had been a total affront to Him and constant problem to His people. Saul partially obeyed, and when confronted passed the buck to the people. When confronted by Samuel, he said: "Is it really that big of a deal?"  Saul shrugged it off with a half-felt "I'm sorry. Forgive me and let's move on.  But what Saul had done really was that bad. He had rejected God, His will, and His word, and increasingly felt like a law unto himself. That doesn't work