“Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Sam 15:23).
In dealing with the Amalekites, it wasn’t enough that they should be “harassed” (1 Sam 14:47). Amalek had been the first enemy to attack Israel after their exodus, and at that time the Lord had said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book…that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven” (Ex 17:14). The Amalekites in the Amarna tablets are called the Khabbati, or “plunderers.” It seems they were not fussy about whom they fought with, as long as they fought against the people of God. We saw them joining with the Canaanites when the Israelites were at Hormah (Num 14:45). In the book of Judges, they linked themselves with the Moabites (Jdg 3:12-13) in the days of fat Eglon, and sided with the Midianites (Jdg 6:3) until God raised up Gideon to defeat them. Their specialty seemed to be the repeated destruction of the Israelites’ land and food supply, seeking to starve them into submission. So God had borne with this troublesome nation for many years, but the time had finally come for His judgment to fall. Now, in an untimely show of mercy, “Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings,…and were unwilling to utterly destroy them” (1 Sam 15:9). When Samuel arrived, Saul claimed to have done what he had been commanded, but Samuel replied, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears?” (v 14). I confess, when I’m quick to condemn Saul for his partial obedience—really disobedience—I can hear the Spirit’s pleading in my own heart: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” (v 22). The antidote? Keep little in your own eyes (v 17), and remember that the Lord is THE LORD (see vv 16-19, 22-23).