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Improvising
1 Samuel 13:12-13 “So I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering. And Shemu’ĕl said to Sha’ul, “You have been foolish. You have not guarded the command of YHWH your Elohim, which He commanded you.” Another translation rather says, Saul forced himself to make an offering. He made a decision, even though He didn’t get an answer from Samuel or YHWH.. so he decided to take things into his own hands. And it might have seemed like a good idea.. it was an offering!
1 Samuel 15:22-23 Then Shemu’ĕl said, “Does YHWH delight in burnt offerings and slaughterings, as in obeying the voice of YHWH? Look, to obey is better than an offering, to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of YHWH, He also does reject you as sovereign.”
It does not matter what excuse Saul came up with, that he did it to please YHWH, to make an offering, or because he was afraid of the people and followed the crowd.. the reason does not matter. For every action, even if repented, there must be a consequence. And responsibility must be taken for the consequence. Only then true healing can begin – once the consequence for the actions have been accepted with a humble heart.
The word used in the translations for compelled, or feeling forced to do something, in hebrew is APAQ H662 – ‘āp̄aq. Meaning to stay strong, containing yourself, the burning desire to do something (like crying or fighting). Saul couldn’t contain himself and acted in his own way, in other words improvising. We see this word used later by the prophet Isaiah where YHWH says He is refraining, holding himself back, holding His peace, to cry and destroy and devour (Isa 42,63,64).
Repent and Comfort
1Sa 15:29 “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
Another translation says it like this, “Moreover, the Eminence of Yisra’ĕl does not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”
Yet another translation says, “Elohim of Israel does not lie or change his mind, because He is not a mortal who changes his mind”
Then in verse 35, “And Shemu’ĕl did not see Sha’ul again until the day of his death, for Shemu’ĕl mourned for Sha’ul. And YHWH was grieved that He had made Sha’ul to reign over Yisra’ĕl.”
Repent, relent, change mind or heart, grieved. Here we have a very interesting Hebrew word, which seem to have a double meaning. The same word, NAHAM H5162 – nāḥam, means COMFORT and REPENT. To be sorry, moved to pity, change your mind, grieved. So the one moment Samuel is saying in verse 29 that YHWH is not a man to be sorry, or change His mind. In this context Saul didn’t want to accept the consequence of his actions. THAT is something that cannot be changed. YHWH is an Elohim of laws and righteousness, but He has grace too. Like in the case with Mirriam, she still had to experience leprosy for 7 days, but YHWH was gracious to forgive her. We HAVE to accept the consequence of our actions.
In verse 35 it says that YHWH did NAHAM, for He was moved and grieved that Saul was king. This word is also used, and was first used in the case with Noah and the flood. Genesis 5:29, 6:6-7 “And He called Him NOAH (H5146 – nōaḥ), to comfort NAHAM concerning the creation..”, “and YHWH repented/be sorry NAHAM that He had made”.
Noah brings comfort NAHAM for the sorry/grief NAHAM.
