Examples For Our Learning

It is written:

Exodus 17:9- And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of Elohim in mine hand. 10- So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11- And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12- But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13- And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14- And YAHWEH said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

Yahweh declared this prophecy to obliterate Amalek and Yahweh chose a certain man to perform it:

1 Samuel 15:1- Samuel also said unto Saul, YAHWEH sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of YAHWEH. 2- Thus saith YAHWEH of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3- Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 4- And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5- And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. 6- And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7- And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. 8- And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9- But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 10- Then came the word of YAHWEH unto Samuel, saying, 11- It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto YAHWEH all night. 12- And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

This is the first clue of the purpose in Saul’s heart. He had set up a memorial for himself in Carmel. And for what?
He was only attempting to do what Yahweh had told him..but apparently he was taking the credit for it!

1 Samuel 15:13- And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of YAHWEH: I have performed the commandment of YAHWEH. 14- And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15- And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto YAHWEH thy Elohim; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

Apparently Saul knew that he had not done right. First, these sheep and oxen were not even sacrifices to begin with since the children of Israel didn’t raise or keep these sheep. A true sacrifice comes out of your own being or possession. Second, He blamed the people “THEY” did this/that. But when it speaks of what was destroyed, he says “WE” have utterly destroyed. The people saw that the spoil from the Amalekites was good. Not only did Saul try to take the credit for destroying the Amalekites, but when the people desired something different than Yahweh’s commandments, Saul compromised obedience! Saul was trying to justify his disobedience by setting forth his own standard of righteousness, not commanded or given by Yahweh.

1 Samuel 15:16- Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what YAHWEH hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. 17- And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and YAHWEH anointed thee king over Israel?

Right away, Yahweh condemns his pride:

1 Samuel 15:18- And YAHWEH sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19- Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of YAHWEH, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of YAHWEH? 20- And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of YAHWEH, and have gone the way which YAHWEH sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

I think Saul is pretending here to try and make a case….but it isn’t working.

1 Samuel 15:21- But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto YAHWEH thy Elohim in Gilgal.

Here he is giving the same excuse that Aaron gave with the golden calf (casting off the disobedience upon others) but we know that Saul did not utterly destroy them as Yahweh had told him. He spared the king and their spoil which Yahweh told him to destroy.

1 Samuel 15:3- Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

But Saul did not.

Proverbs 14:12- There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Perhaps it seemed right to Saul to keep the spoil, but partial obedience is disobedience in the eyes of Yahweh!
Saul had to have known of the prophecy. Yahweh even reminded him about what Amalek did against Israel
but Saul blamed the people:

1 Samuel 15:21- But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto YAHWEH thy Elohim in Gilgal.

1 Samuel 15:22- And Samuel said, Hath YAHWEH as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of YAHWEH? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

This is something that David understood when he sinned with Bathsheba and Uriah.

Psalms 51:16- For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

Even then, works did not make up for sin. A man had his only hope in the mercy of Yahweh.

1 Samuel 15:23- For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of YAHWEH, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

This is an incredible statement by Samuel! Not only did he classify Saul’s actions as Rebellion, but he equated Rebellion with witchcraft and stubbornness as idolatry!! To be rebellious is to join in Satan’s plan. Saul was rebellious and Saul was stubborn. His stubborness made him set himself up as an idol rather than giving Yahweh the honor.

1 Samuel 15:24- And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of YAHWEH, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

He feared the people because he loved himself and the praise of men more than the praise of Yahweh. This was also a characteristic of the scribes and pharisees:

John 12:42- Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43- For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of YAHWEH. 44- Yahushua cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

This is a VERY common thing that prevents someone from believing and accepting the truth. Those in Christian leadership…even if they know the truth are too afraid to teach it because they ‘fear the people’. Therefore they ‘obey their voice(the people’ rather than the voice of Yahweh! Woe to them for their witchcraft and idolatry lead Yahweh’s people astray just as the false prophets led Israel and Judah astray!! And what did Yahushua say?

Matthew 7:15- Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Just as it is today, Saul allowed the people to do a different way of worship than Yahweh commanded! They thought they could sacrifice (worship) by doing it the opposite way Yahweh told them to. Even so, today many have chosen their own way of worship such as 1st day Sabbaths rather than 7th day Sabbaths, Pagan holi-days in favor of Yahweh’s Holy days, Counterfeit names rather than the true names, etc etc!!

Now we will learn the heart of Saul. His pride prevented him from obeying the voice of Yahweh and here he repents..or does he?

1 Samuel 15:25- Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship YAHWEH. 26- And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of YAHWEH, and YAHWEH hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 27- And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28- And Samuel said unto him, YAHWEH hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. 29- And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 30- Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship YAHWEH thy Elohim.

Now again we see the heart of Saul. He says “honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people.”
I don’t think that is true repentance from the heart. Rather, it is again the desire for to be accepted by the people.

1 Samuel 15:31- So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped YAHWEH.

This is a lesson given for our learning also:

1 Corinthians 10:7- Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8- Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9- Neither let us tempt the Messiah, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10- Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11- Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12- Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but YAHWEH is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

We need to beware also of the fear of man. It should not even be a consideration when seeking the truth in Yahweh’s word. We should not ever attempt (like Saul did) to conceal selfishness and self love under the cloak of religious zeal and gratitude! This was the mistake of Saul, the mistake of the scribes and pharisees, and the mistake of this age also.

The ones of this age must be warned! We must go and warn the people of this serious mistake, It has caused lawlessness/Torahlessness to abound! It may fall on deaf ears, as did the messages of Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel and even Yahushua the Messiah, but we are commanded to deliver those who are drawn toward the way of death:

Proverbs 24:11- If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12- If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

Lest we be found the wicked and lazy servant:

Matthew 25:25- And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26- His master answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27- Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

If you have been given the talent of gold, His truth…hide it not!!! Either make use of it or give it to someone who will!

Matthew 25:28- Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29- For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30- And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It is time brethren, for time is short. It is time to cry out, RESTORE!!

Isaiah 42:21- YAHWEH is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 22- But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

It is time to deliver those drawn toward the ways of death, who are hidden in the prison houses (churches, houses and synagogues) that are plundered by the shepherds who feed themselves!!

Ezekiel 34:2- Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Master YAHWEH unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Yes, some things never change and yes, the shepherds SHOULD feed the flocks:

Matthew 24:45- Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46- Blessed is that servant, whom his master when he cometh shall find so doing. 47- Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

It is time to work. It is time to find and walk in the way of truth. It is time to Restore. It is time..for the time is near, even at the doors.