I Samuel 15:35
“Samuel had nothing to do with Saul from then on, though he grieved long and deeply over him. But GOD was sorry he had ever made Saul king in the first place.”
“Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.”
Saul’s disobedience cost himself and others too. Samuel had high hopes for Saul. Scriptures do not tell us how many hours he had invested in Saul. It seems there was enough to develop great affection between them. Consequences of sin always ripple outwards, catching the innocent in their disruption. Samuel’s aching heart was one. God’s also. Mysteriously God knew Saul’s failure at the beginning but also hoped for his success. God our parent hopes for our best while standing firm as God our judge. Saul’s life shows us the parent and the judge are one and cannot be separately massaged to fulfill our covert desires.
Lord, I see myself in Saul. Like him, I easily justify my sin to myself. Then, I will try to justify it before you too. Rescue me from the tyranny of myself. Remove the black spot of sin from my heart and make me whole.