“Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” 14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” 15 And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet! And I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak on.” 17 So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? 18 Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 1 Samuel 15:14-21 NKJV
God who is worthy,
You are worthy,O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11). True, fact, statement, law and more than that – something we desire to give You God praise and glory, honour and worship..
Saul does not honour You. First he says, but I have performed the commandment (v 13). Then he adds, the bleating is only from the best that we kept to sacrifice (v15). thirdly, but I obeyed and utterly destroyed the Amalekites (v20). We are going to sacrifice those we kept in Gilgal (v21). You have to give it to him, he’s persistent in justifying himself. He could just not say sorry and then offer to put it right.
Better to confess than have to admit. Help us not to try to justify what we know is not right. Even if it is not particularly evil in itself. Sometimes what is no problem for one person is difficult for another. You know our weaknesses. Help us just to come as we are, honestly needing Your holiness, forgiveness, help and guidance. And You are so generous and kind.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 30th March 2026
Worthy o worthy are You Lord
Worthy to be thanked and praised and worshiped and adored
Worthy o worthy are You Lord
Worthy to be thanked and praised and worshiped and adored
Singing hallelujah
Lamb upon the throne
We worship and adore You
Make Your glory known
Hallelujah Glory to the King
You’re more than a conqueror
You’re Lord of everything
Lyrics: Mark S. Kinzer (written 1976)