1 Samuel 15 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Samuel 15 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Israel’s first king, Saul, was appointed in approximately 1050 B.C.

• These events took place several years after Saul became king, probably between 1040-1010 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Samuel – God’s prophet. He was the last significant judge of Israel.

• Saul – God selected Saul to be the first king of Israel. He was from the tribe of Benjamin.

• Agag – The king of the Amalekites.

WHERE:

• The Amalekites lived in the land immediately south of the Israelite’s land, between Egypt and the Dead Sea.

• Samuel confronted Saul at Gilgal.

OUTLINE:

• GOD COMMANDS SAUL TO DESTROY THE AMALEKITES (15:1-9):

  • Samuel told Saul the Lord wanted him to make war on the Amalekites and destroy them. No human or animal was to be left alive.

  • God was going to punish the Amalekites because they attacked Israel shortly after God freed them from slavery in Egypt (see Exo 17:8-16; Deu 25:17-19).

  • Saul gathered an army of 200,000 men at Telaim.

  • Israel attacked Amalek and defeated them, but Saul decided to keep the strong animals and the king, Agag, alive.

• GOD PUNISHES SAUL FOR NOT DESTROYING THE AMALEKITES (15:10-31):

  • God was angry with Saul and He told Samuel He regretted making Saul king.

  • Samuel was upset by Saul’s failure to keep God’s command, and he went to confront him at Gilgal.

  • Saul greeted Samuel and told him he had successfully completed the Lord’s command.

  • Samuel disagreed and asked why the animals of the Amalekites were still alive.

  • Saul told him it was because the people wanted to bring them back to sacrifice them to God.

  • Samuel told Saul God would have been more pleased with obedience than sacrifices.

  • Saul made some excuses, but eventually admitted his sin.

  • As punishment, God rejected Saul as king.

  • Although the kingdom wasn’t taken away from him immediately, God was not going to bless him as He had in the past.

  • As Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore.

  • “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’” (15:28).

• SAMUEL KILLS AGAG AND PARTS WAYS WITH SAUL (15:32-35):

  • Samuel completed the will of the Lord by killing Agag, the king of the Amalekites.

  • Samuel went to Ramah and Saul went to Gibeah.

  • Samuel grieved Saul’s failure.

APPLICATION:

• There are kings and then there is the King of Kings.

• Saul was head over all Israel, but he still answered to God.

• All world leaders answer to God, and they retain their power only by God’s permission.

• Rom 13:1 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 

• The most powerful earthly throne is still a seat of submission to the Almighty.