1 Samuel 15:10–12 (ESV)
10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.”
10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.”
1 Samuel 15:28–31 (ESV)
28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord.
28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord.
This thread just keeps getting longer the more you pull it. Saul’s incorrect thinking has been reflected not only in his words for people to hear, but now his physical actions for people to see. He set up a monument to honour who? Himself. Later when he’s told God’s taking the kingdom now what are Saul’s words? “I have sinned; yet honour me for everyone to see”.
What’s the word that keeps coming to my mind as I think on this thread I’m pulling today? Repentance. Saul had many opportunities to repent. Which is to turn his thinking toward God. Admit he is wrong, change his thinking and actions back to God’s ways. Yet he didn’t. He made excuses. He kept trying to draw people to himself instead of to God and His kingdom.
One of the most important ways we can honour God, put Him above ourselves, is repentance. Not just admitting you were/are wrong. But changing your thinking and actions so that you turn away from that wrong way. God gives so many chances. Saul could have repented so many times. But he didn’t honour God, he was only looking for honour for himself. Repentance takes us back to humility. And if your thinking is wrong then you think it leads to dishonour. But when we honour God, He honours us. It’s not a formula to get what you want, if that’s your motive then you aren’t truly honouring God are you? But it is true. God wants people to see what honouring Him looks like, and wants people to see that putting God in His proper place actually leads to the life God called us to live, the relationship He desires to have with us.
David’s biggest moment of repentance is when he has been confronted by Nathan after his affair with Bathsheba. He doesn’t make excuses, he knows he’s been called out and he accepts it. His son dies. It’s heartbreaking. He could have chosen to just double down in that moment and be angry at God, or become self destructive and gone all in in receiving God’s wrath. But he doesn’t. He confesses, he repents. He goes back to God. He keeps the kingdom God has given him.
Repentance doesn’t risk losing honour. Maybe in the short term, with a few people, but long term you are honoured even more. People respect someone who is humble enough to admit that they were wrong and change their ways. God loves the person that does, because they are choosing to obey Him and draw themselves closer to Him. If you want to honour yourself, who you are truly made to be, honour God and repent when you know you’ve turned from His thinking or ways. You’ll be better off. Your family will be better off. The people around you will be better off. And you’ll see at eternal consequence for it.