Saul: King of ExcusesSample

Failure to Finish the Job

Verses 32-35 provide the gruesome final details of the story. In verse 3, Samuel commanded Saul to devote the Amalekites to destruction. Saul had failed, and it fell on Samuel to complete the task. He requested King Agag be brought to him. Agag came to Samuel in a confident, stately manner. Having escaped the sword of Saul, a man of violence, Agag thought he would be safe with this harmless old prophet of the Lord, a man of peace.

Samuel declared God’s justice in verse 33, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” Sin demands justice. Samuel then hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. Samuel devoted Agag to destruction as the Lord had commanded Saul to do. He did not neatly dispose of Agag; instead, he butchered him with his knife. We are often tempted to not fully obey God’s law, but a big part of repentance is returning to God. If we are to do so, we must fully obey Him. And sometimes that can be difficult or messy.

Saul’s refusal to complete the execution himself is further evidence of his unrepentant heart. And this time, the consequences were very public. Murder crime scenes with evidence of “overkill” are telling to investigators, as they often reveal emotions and a personal relationship between the killer and the victim. However, Samuel’s blatant “overkill” of King Agag was not due to anger or personal displeasure at having to finish Saul’s work. Instead, the destruction of King Agag was making a point about how we are to obey God’s commands completely and thoroughly. It was also a clear and shocking statement to the Israelites about Saul’s disobedience and the removal of God’s favor. Despite his rationalizing, blame-shifting, and attempts to save face, Saul, the “king of excuses,” was humiliated in front of his people. Likewise, our efforts to cover up our sins and avoid public consequences will fail.

Saul’s stubborn disobedience and blame-shifting didn’t just cost him his throne; it cost him God’s favor. He remained unrepentant and more concerned with the opinion of men than with losing the blessing of God’s presence. We must confess our sins with repentant hearts and completely follow God. Anything less is just an excuse.

In summary, when we are caught in a sin, let us repent and turn to God rather than make excuses. God desires repentant hearts more than He desires external obedience. We must be careful not to utilize the five types of excuses used by King Saul: feigning obedience, blame-shifting, empty apology, confessing without consequence, and not finishing the job. They are merely excuses for disobedience. Rather than make excuses, we must repent and turn to God for lasting forgiveness.