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Lessons from Saul and Amalek

Bill Fix
10/25/15 - Sunday

• History of the Amalekites
  • Likely descendants of Esau – Gen. 36:12
    • But see, Gen. 14:7
  • Cowardly attacked Israel – Deut. 25:17-19
    • “Did not fear God”
  • Israel’s first battle – Ex. 17:8-16
  • Nomads who continued to harass Israel – Jdg. 3:12-13; 6:3-5
• God’s Judgment of Amalekites
  • Original command to blot them out – Deut. 25:19
  • Direct command given to King Saul to “utterly destroy” them – 1 Sam. 15:2-3
  • Saul attacked them (from Havilah all the way to Shur) – 1 Sam. 15:7
• Saul’s Disobedience (1 Sam. 15)
  • Took King Agag captive – v. 8
  • Spared the best of Amalek’s flocks– v. 9
  • Blamed others – v. 21
  • Others apparently escaped – 1 Sam. 30:1-5
• Saul’s Misunderstanding
  • “I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” – v. 13
  • Animals to sacrifice “which should have been utterly destroyed” (v. 21), “and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” – v. 15
  • “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord… and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.” – v. 20
• Consequences of Saul’s Actions
  • Disappointment to others – 1 Sam. 15:11, 35
  • Cost him his kingdom – 1 Sam. 15:23-26
  • Later put out of misery by Amalekite – 2 Sam. 1:8-10
  • Agag not spared – 1 Sam. 15:32-33
  • Others had to finish the job – 1 Sam. 30:1-5, 17-19; 1 Chron. 4:43
  • Haman’s plot against Jews – Est. 3:1, 6
• Lessons for Us
  • We must utterly destroy sin in our lives – Col. 3:2-10
  • We can’t pass the buck to others – 2 Cor. 5:10
  • God wants full obedience – 1 Sam. 15:22
    • Not our place to question why…
    • Must worship how God has authorized – Jn. 4:24
    • Can’t neglect any duties – Mt. 25:14-30