Saul disobeyed God by sparing King Agag and the best possessions, revealing that partial compliance is not true obedience.
In 1 Samuel 15:9, Scripture says, “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.” (v.9). Saul was Israel’s first king (reigning roughly from 1050 to 1010 BC), anointed by the prophet Samuel to lead God’s people (1 Samuel 10:1). Historically, God had commanded Saul to “utterly destroy” the Amalekites, a people who dwelled in the southern regions of Canaan near the Sinai desert (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Israel was to leave nothing alive because of the Amalekites’ cruelty against them (Exodus 17:8-16; 1 Samuel 15:3). Yet here, King Saul and his soldiers kept alive King Agag of Amalek, as well as the best parts of the spoils, sparing what looked good to their eyes while destroying only the worthless items. This partial obedience was blatant disobedience in God’s sight, revealing that Saul valued the approval of the people’s desires more than God’s clear command.
In disobeying, Saul displayed a tendency to keep back what he found useful or valuable for himself and his people. The text states that everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed (v.9). Notice how the verse not only specifies that what was best and desirable was spared, but also indicates that the people were not willing to comply fully with God’s instructions. This demonstrated the heart issue at play: they prioritized personal gain and human logic over the requirement for complete obedience to the Lord. As a result, the prophet Samuel confronted Saul, telling him that to obey was better than sacrifice. Ultimately, this disobedience led the Lord to reject Saul from being king, paving the way for David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).
The story of Saul’s partial obedience is a vital reminder that God sees the heart and desires undivided devotion. Jesus Himself cites the importance of a genuine heart of obedience (John 14:15), calling believers to lay aside selective submission in favor of wholehearted faithfulness to God’s will.
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1 Samuel 15:9 meaning
In 1 Samuel 15:9, Scripture says, “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.” (v.9). Saul was Israel’s first king (reigning roughly from 1050 to 1010 BC), anointed by the prophet Samuel to lead God’s people (1 Samuel 10:1). Historically, God had commanded Saul to “utterly destroy” the Amalekites, a people who dwelled in the southern regions of Canaan near the Sinai desert (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Israel was to leave nothing alive because of the Amalekites’ cruelty against them (Exodus 17:8-16; 1 Samuel 15:3). Yet here, King Saul and his soldiers kept alive King Agag of Amalek, as well as the best parts of the spoils, sparing what looked good to their eyes while destroying only the worthless items. This partial obedience was blatant disobedience in God’s sight, revealing that Saul valued the approval of the people’s desires more than God’s clear command.
In disobeying, Saul displayed a tendency to keep back what he found useful or valuable for himself and his people. The text states that everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed (v.9). Notice how the verse not only specifies that what was best and desirable was spared, but also indicates that the people were not willing to comply fully with God’s instructions. This demonstrated the heart issue at play: they prioritized personal gain and human logic over the requirement for complete obedience to the Lord. As a result, the prophet Samuel confronted Saul, telling him that to obey was better than sacrifice. Ultimately, this disobedience led the Lord to reject Saul from being king, paving the way for David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).
The story of Saul’s partial obedience is a vital reminder that God sees the heart and desires undivided devotion. Jesus Himself cites the importance of a genuine heart of obedience (John 14:15), calling believers to lay aside selective submission in favor of wholehearted faithfulness to God’s will.