The Rev. Luke Brown, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ellsworth, Kansas, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Samuel 14:47-15:35.

God commanded King Saul to destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions as a punishment for their attack on Israel when they left Egypt. Saul obeyed—but only partially. Contrary to God’s command, he spared their king Agag and the best of their animals. Samuel confronted Saul for his disobedience and told him that YHWH had rejected him as king.

The Book of 1 Samuel beings with the unique birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel. Soon, the people of Israel begin to press upon the aging prophet Samuel to anoint a king over them like the other nations. YHWH assures Samuel that the people are rejecting their God, not Samuel. He advises Samuel to give the people what they want. What follows is the rise and fall of King Saul, the eventual anointing and coronation of David as king, the forerunner of Jesus. It’s a true story of political intrigue and warfare, but it’s also more than that. 1 Samuel shows us God working to save his people from their enemies and even from themselves.