1 Samuel 15

“So Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being King.’” 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NKJV)

Over the years, I have purchased several homes and rented/leased a few apartments. I am generally not a big fan of the process of buying a home, but when I am in the mood/circumstance to find a new property, I always get so caught up in the positive aspects of a house that I neglect to see its flaws. That is why mortgage companies insist that home buyers purchase a home inspection. Sometimes, the outside elements of a structure (paint, landscaping, and decorating) are hiding serious flaws within.

While Saul’s (and the Kingdom of Israel’s) spiritual condition may look healthy on the outside, it is exposed to have serious foundational flaws. Saul wanted to appear to be righteous by picking which parts of God’s Word seemed worth following. He was even on his way to building a monument to himself! All the while, the Lord was not impressed. Saul was about to be replaced by one more worthy. Samuel delivered the news of God’s decision to Saul. As Samuel was leaving, an interesting thing occurred. Saul grabbed for Samuel’s clothing and caught the tzitzit (tassel) from Samuel’s robe, tearing it away. We know this from Samuel’s response.

“But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not return with you, for you have rejected the Word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.’ And as Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.’” 1 Samuel 15:26-28 (NKJV)

With that knowledge, imagine the gravity of the moment when David emerges from a Judean cave, holding Saul’s tzitzit, cut from his royal robe, announcing:

“Look, this day, your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed. Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe is in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.’’ 1 Samuel 24:10-11 (NKJV)

So, what is our takeaway today? A righteous man does good works, but good works do not make a man righteous. And the God who searches men’s hearts is always looking for those whom He may send. Seek the Lord continually, that He may send you, and do not cease searching His Word, so He will not cease using you!