Are You Still Clinging To Sin?

The Daily Reading For Today Is 1 Samuel 15:

After Saul's successful victory over the Philistines, does Samuel seek to take away the reward that he has clearly done in God? (v.1)

John 3:19–21 (NKJV)

19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Therefore Samuel is doing nothing more than confirming what the LORD has already spoken. (v.1)

However, it was spoken that Saul's kingdom would not endure, but why?

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 (NKJV)

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one'sone's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one'sone's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone'sanyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone'sanyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Does it have anything to do with what he seeks to build with? (v.2, 9)

Is God righteous to devote one thing for destruction and another for honor? (v.3)

Romans 9:17–24 (NKJV)

17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ""For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."" 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, ""Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?"" 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ""Why have you made me like this?"" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Therefore since the land of Israel is what is devoted to the holiness of God, why must those things that offend not be permitted to enter and be left for destruction? (v.3)

Revelation 21:26–27 (NKJV)

26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb'sLamb's Book of Life.

Revelation 21:5–8 (NKJV)

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, ""Behold, I make all things new."" And He said to me, ""Write, for these words are true and faithful."" 6 And He said to me, ""It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.""

And what does this signify but the future coming destruction of the whole world that will be cast into the eternal lake of fire in the separation of the kingdom of God from the kingdom of men? (v.3)

Revelation 20:11–15 (NKJV)

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Matthew 25:31–46 (NKJV)

31 ""When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." 37 ""Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" 40 And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." 41 ""Then He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me." 44 ""Then they also will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?" 45 Then He will answer them, saying, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me." 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.""

Therefore this is profitable for establishing doctrine, and the doctrine of hell includes, dare I say, little children down to those caught in the conception of sin in the womb. (v.3)

[ʿowlel, ʿolal /o·lale/] n m. From 5763; TWOT 1579c; GK 6407 and 6408; 20 occurrences; AV translates as ""children"" 13 times, ""infant"" three times, ""babes"" twice, ""child"" once, and ""little ones"" once. 1 child, boy.

[nuwq /nook/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 1332; GK 3567; AV translates as ""nursed"" once. 1 (Hiphil) to suckle, nurse.

Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong'sStrong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NKJV)

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 51:5–6 (NKJV)

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

1 John 1:8 (NKJV)

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Therefore Amalek is the image that this doctrine represents for us who are learners of Christ. And therefore, how are we to apply this doctrine except by the very hand of the confession of the church that professes Christ as the Lord of lords? (v.4)

Psalm 137:8–9 (NKJV)

8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, Happy the one who repays you as you have served us! 9 Happy the one who takes and dashes Your little ones against the rock!

Isaiah 13:16 (NKJV)

16 Their children also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; Their houses will be plundered And their wives ravished.

Jeremiah 13:14 (NKJV)

14 And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together," says the Lord. "I will not pity nor spare nor have mercy, but will destroy them."'"

Hosea 13:16 (NKJV)

16 Samaria is held guilty, For she has rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword, Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, And their women with child ripped open.

Psalm 2:9 (NKJV)

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"

[ʿowlel, ʿolal /o·lale/] n m. From 5763; TWOT 1579c; GK 6407 and 6408; 20 occurrences; AV translates as ""children"" 13 times, ""infant"" three times, ""babes"" twice, ""child"" once, and ""little ones"" once. 1 child, boy.

Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong'sStrong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

Therefore how are we to understand this but by applying the doctrine spiritually to our own hearts and minds, that as literal as it was according to the Old Covenant nature of the flesh, it will be as literal as it is according to the New Covenant nature of eternal death. And so we teach that all sinners will have their part in the lake of fire who are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life and that only those who are elect according to God's sovereign fore-love will be saved from the corruption of sin and death.

Romans 8:19–21 (NKJV)

19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Romans 8:28–30 (NKJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 9:8–13 (NKJV)

8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."

And therefore, isn't this designed by God to corner us into a position theologically that we cannot escape from? (v.5)

Ephesians 2:1–5 (NKJV)

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Colossians 2:13–15 (NKJV)

13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Why must we submit to and practice this doctrine in our confession of faith? (v.6)

John 3:16 (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Luke 13:2–5 (NKJV)

2 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

1 Corinthians 11:31–32 (NKJV)

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Luke 3:7 (NKJV)

7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

But what is the witness that stands against Amalek that God has chosen to devote his whole family to this eternal destruction and not the Kenites? (v.7-8)

Matthew 10:40–42 (NKJV)

40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

2 Timothy 4:14–16 (NKJV)

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. 16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

Who has the authority to determine what is despised and worthless? Who has the authority to declare something that is created as good? (v.9)

Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV)

3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

1 Peter 2:4 (NKJV)

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

Matthew 19:17 (NKJV)

17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

Matthew 12:32–34 (NKJV)

32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Does "the voice of the people" have the authority to declare the image of Agag as good over the voice of the LORD? (v.9)

Genesis 2:8–9 (NKJV)

8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:15–17 (NKJV)

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

Genesis 3:2–5 (NKJV)

2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Therefore what does the Word of the LORD say to correct this presumption? (v.10-11)

Romans 9:20 (NKJV)

20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"

And what is Samuel's dilemma regarding Saul? (v.11)

Does Samuel not have good ground to grieve on since Saul has exercised a measure of saving faith? But does Saul turn back as though to apostatize as some would have us to believe? (v.12)

Matthew 13:23 (NKJV)

23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Luke 8:15 (NKJV)

15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Is this a literal monument or merely a "dominion" dedicated to Saul's authority? (v.12)

יָד (yād). n. comm. hand. Refers to the end of a person's arm, including forearm, palm, and fingers.

The yād includes what is usually meant by the English word "hand" (2 Kgs 9:24), but it can also include the fingers (Gen 41:42) or the wrists (Gen 24:22). The hands could indicate strength and ability (Deut 16:17), or defiance (Isa 10:32) when used figuratively. The word is extremely common in the OT (used over 1500 times).

Lookadoo, J. (2014). Body. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

What was the commandment of the LORD that Samuel was commissioned to carry out? (v.13)

Can Israel be blessed while her king seeks a kingdom for himself and not for God? (v.12-13)

Therefore Saul's commission wasn't to be independent of the Levitical priesthood to establish for himself a dominion above the priesthood, which is what has Samuel grieved. (v.12)

Saul's responsibility as a spiritual king is to feed Israel, not rape her by making deals with her nobles against the commandment of God; therefore, how has he (not) obeyed the commandment of the LORD? (v.14)

Exodus 23:1–3 (NKJV)

1 "You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. 3 You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.

Leviticus 19:13–15 (NKJV)

13 'You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord. 15 'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.

Deuteronomy 1:16–18 (NKJV)

16 "Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him. 17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man's presence, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' 18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do.

Deuteronomy 10:17–19 (NKJV)

17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. 18 He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. 19 Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 16:18–20 (NKJV)

18 "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 20 You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

And what is wrong with sacrificing the animals of the Amalekites to the LORD? Wouldn't that allow them to preserve their own? But isn't that the point of the sacrifice, to offer up the best of your own labor so that it means something individual and personal in bearing fruit to God? But is God pleased in plunder as a peace offering to honor His holy name? (v.15)

Therefore, for whose freedom, honor, and glory was this battle fought? Was this offering to make peace for the voice of the people or to satisfy the voice of the LORD? (v.16-21)

Genesis 4:9–10 (NKJV)

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.

1 Kings 18:21 (NKJV)

21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.

Therefore upon whose voice was Saul to have been commissioned? (v.22-23)

Romans 13:1–7 (NKJV)

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

But wasn't Saul's confession sufficient? (v.24-25)

1 John 1:6–10 (NKJV)

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

What word, then, is Saul continuing to reject if it is not the rod of discipline by which the kingdom has been taken away from him and given to another? (v.26)

It's not his soul that is being taken away as it is being taken away from the Amalekites, who are the image and example of the unconverted in this word of God, but only his authority to be king!

Matthew 16:24–26 (NKJV)

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:34–38 (NKJV)

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

Therefore Saul is retaining all his rewards that he received when he did obey, but he cannot progress any further until he confesses all of the LORD'S Word concerning him.

Therefore Saul is doing nothing more than reaching out with his flesh to cling to the means of his sanctification in his own strength, but it cannot succeed while he labors to progress by the power of the flesh. (v.27)

Psalm 119:25–32 (NKJV)

25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. 26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. 27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. 28 My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. 29 Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. 31 I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! 32 I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.

John 20:16–17 (NKJV)

16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"

Therefore the LORD will only use the most qualified vessel to lead change in Israel. (v.28)

For it isn't for God to change, but that man should! (v.29)

Therefore the most qualified man is the one who hears God and obeys His voice! But why does Samuel refer to God as the Glory (Strength) of Israel? (v.29)

How does Saul expect to accomplish the change that he desires except that he be viewed highly among the elders? (v.30)

Luke 16:14–17 (NKJV)

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 16 "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

Therefore isn't Saul putting too much trust in the elders? But who does Samuel return with Saul to honor? (v.31)

And by what example does Samuel use to demonstrate the Strength of Israel's honor? (v.32)

Romans 9:20–24 (NKJV)

20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Is being a cheerful giver a sufficient testimony concerning the standard of passing from death to life? (v.32)

John 5:24 (NKJV)

24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

1 John 3:14 (NKJV)

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

Therefore what is Samuel taking away from Agag's mother that Agag couldn't take away from Israel? And since Christ is the firstfruits of Israel, what fruit can abide in Agag's mother since the life of sin is being taken away from him? (v.33)

Luke 12:4–5 (NKJV)

4 "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

Matthew 10:28 (NKJV)

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Therefore what is the example that Samuel has set before us in the hacking of Agag to pieces but a doctrine that frees us to wage war on the spiritual nature of our sin? (v.33)

1 John 3:4–6 (NKJV)

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

Romans 6:2 (NKJV)

2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

1 John 3:14 (NKJV)

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

Leviticus 19:17 (NKJV)

17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.

John 12:46 (NKJV)

46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

Therefore this separation of the role of the government in Israel begins here because of the condition of the man in the likeness of his fall. (v.34)

Luke 5:8 (NKJV)

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

That's the necessary evil by which we must conduct this responsibility to put sin to death individually (1Cor.11:28). Therefore, God has separated the king from the priest for this purpose that we may trust in the exclusive mediator to intercede for us behind his holy veil. (v.34)

1 Corinthians 11:18–22 (NKJV)

18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

1 Corinthians 11:27–29 (NKJV)

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

1 Corinthians 11:32–34 (NKJV)

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Job 33:22–26 (NKJV)

22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners. 23 "If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness, 24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom'; 25 His flesh shall be young like a child's, He shall return to the days of his youth. 26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness.

Galatians 3:19–22 (NKJV)

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

1 Timothy 2:1–7 (NKJV)

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

And what does it mean that Samuel had not seen Saul until the day of his death? Is "his death" antecedent to Saul or to Samuel? (v.35)

1 Samuel 19:20–24 (NKJV)

20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, "Where are Samuel and David?" And someone said, "Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah." 23 So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

Surely, it could mean Samuel's death, but isn't it more likely to mean Saul's death since this is in the context of Samuel's grief over Saul's disobedience? Therefore this is declaring their peaceful reunion in glory by the blood of the true priest, prophet, and king. (v.35)

1 Corinthians 5:4–7 (NKJV)

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

John 10:6–18 (NKJV)

6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. 7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."