While I was in a biblical debate, a person got up and said the following: “God rejected Saul from salvation”, and this left me very thoughtful and I studied again the context of 1 Samuel chapter 15 where he fully tells us about this story. On this we will find only two opinions, those who say that God discarded him from the kingdom and those who say that God discarded him from salvation. For us it is very important to clarify these points through the Bible since many people are confused because they do not have a biblical answer to their questions.
Beginning with the text that we are going to consider, which is found in the first verse of chapter 15 of 1 Samuel:
Israel had asked Jehovah for a King because they wanted to be like the other nations (1 Samuel 8:5) and God established Saul as King of Israel. Despite the fact that Saul was going to occupy this important position, this did not mean that Saul could do with Israel as he wanted, but rather that he had to submit to the word of Jehovah.
Verses 2 and 3:
Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will punish what Amalek did to Israel by opposing him on the way when he came up from Egypt.
Go therefore and strike Amalek, and destroy all that he has, and have no pity on him; he kills men, women, children, and even breastfed ones, cows, sheep, camels, and donkeys.
God’s order is always clear, and the command was to kill off all men, women, and children, as well as cattle. God never told him to do as he pleased, but gave him a specific order that he had to comply to the letter, that is why God told Saul in verse one to be attentive to the word of Jehovah. It is our duty to be attentive to all the word of God to do as he tells us. We cannot claim to have better plans than God’s, since our plans may have weaknesses and may fail, however, God’s plans are perfect and always win.
Verse 7,8 and 9:
And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is to the east of Egypt.
And he took Agag king of Amalek alive, but he killed all the people with the edge of the sword.
And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of the larger cattle, of the fattened animals, of the rams, and of all that was good, and they would not destroy it; but everything that was vile and despicable they destroyed.
Saul might seem like a kind man who has shown great mercy by leaving the king of Amalek and part of the cattle alive to offer sacrifice to Jehovah for this great victory. However, he showed himself as a son of disobedience for not fulfilling God’s command. Jehovah will always be faithful in those things that he promises us (2Timothy 2:13) and we can see it through this story, since despite Saul’s infidelity, God gave him Victory over the people of Amalek.
In the following verses we can read the conversation between God and Samuel about this disobedience of Saul:
Verses 10 and 11:
And the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying:
I am sorry that I have made Saul king, because he has turned from following me, and has not fulfilled my words. And Samuel was grieved, and he cried to the LORD all that night.
In verse 13 we can read when Saul arrives and breaks the news to Samuel:
So Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord; I have fulfilled the word of Jehovah.
Saul says that he fulfilled the word of Jehovah, however, Saul did not fully fulfill the mandate, but left the king of Amalek alive and part of his cattle as if he were superior to God to break his orders.
So in verses 22 and 23 we can find our answer to the issue:
And Samuel said: Is Jehovah as pleased in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the words of Jehovah? Certainly to obey is better than sacrifices, and to pay attention than the fat of rams.
For as a sin of divination is rebellion, and as idols and idolatry is obstinacy. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he also He has rejected you from being king.
Verse 23 clearly says “he has rejected you from being king”. Nowhere is Saul being excluded from salvation, but the God who gives life, who takes it away, the God who gives riches, the God who impoverishes, the God who can do everything, the God who sets and removes kings in his infinite sovereignty he removed Saul from the reign over the people of Israel. Yes, Saul committed a disobedience to God, and this disobedience can influence his salvation. But there is the opportunity to repent of that sin, but unfortunately it was cast off to be king. And that’s the point in this story, Saul was cast out so he wouldn’t be king.
This has been our analysis on this subject that many have interpreted in two different ways. We hope that in one way or another you have been able to be edified with this article.
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