What Should You Do When Someone You’ve Mentored Lets You Down (1 Samuel 14-16)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Have you ever taken someone under your wing and watched them grow, only to see them let you, others, and God down?

The prophet Samuel certainly had this experience. 1 Samuel 14-16 narrates Jonathan's bold attack against the Philistines, leading to an Israelite victory, and Saul's subsequent disobedience to God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites, instead sparing their king and the best livestock. As Bill Arnold notes, “Partial obedience is really only disobedience made to look acceptable. Saul obeys God’s word to a degree in that he does in fact attack the Amalekites and win a great victory against them. But he convinces himself that he has satisfied the divine injunctions.^[1]

This disobedience leads God to reject Saul as king. 1 Samuel 15:10-11 says, ¹⁰ “Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, ¹¹ ‘I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.’ So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.”

As Robert Bergen writes, “The only other occasion in Scripture where the Lord stated that he was ‘grieved’ over peoples’ actions was when he observed the wickedness of humanity that led to the universal flood (Gen 6:7).”^[2] Bergen goes on to note, “The degree of similarity suggests that the writer was making a deliberate connection between the Genesis and Samuel narratives.”^[3]

So what is happening here? How could God change his mind soon after having Samuel anoint Saul king? Joyce Baldwin offers a helpful explanation when she says, “The Lord does not change his mind in the sense that his purposes change, but he could no longer use Saul. Saul himself was fully responsible for his attitudes and action. The sovereign God is so fully in control that he takes in his stride the actions of human beings and adjusts his plans when necessary, but achieves his ultimate aims.”^[4]

But this brings us to the following question: What made Samuel so angry that he spent the entire night in prayer? As Baldwin writes, “In the first place, Samuel’s theology was being put in question. Against his better judgment he had co-operated in king-making, announcing that Saul was the one whom the Lord had chosen (1 Sam. 10:1, 24; 11:15). Now it appeared that the Lord, who ‘will not lie or repent’ (v. 29), had changed his mind, and Samuel could not come to terms with this challenge to God’s sovereignty.”^[5] Now, the entire nation would suffer. A few verses later, in Chapter 15, we see this devastating exchange between Samuel and Saul.

²⁶ Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” ²⁷ When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the corner of his robe, and it tore. ²⁸ Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. 

While it’s easy to jump ahead to the next chapter and focus on Samuel anointing David as the new king, it’s essential to pause and consider the gravity of Samuel’s pain. Like Samuel, there are times when those we have invested in will turn their backs on us, others, and God. These moments are painful because we desperately hoped for a different outcome, and they might tempt us to doubt God’s work in the world. But in these moments, this is when we should voice our anger to God and keep moving forward in faith. God understands our anger and will start a new work in his time.

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | Lord, I praise you for your sovereignty and justice. You are the Creator of all things, and your decisions are perfect and righteous. I acknowledge your authority over all leaders and nations and am amazed at your wisdom in guiding the course of history.

Release | Father, I confess my own tendencies to disobey and rationalize my actions like Saul did. I release my justifications and my disobedience, laying them at your feet. Help me to let go of my desire to control outcomes and to trust in your perfect plan.

Ask | I ask for the courage and strength to obey your commands fully, without compromise or hesitation. Guide me in your truth and help me to listen closely to your voice, especially in moments of decision. Provide me with the humility to accept your will over my own desires.

Yield | Lord, I yield to your will and your timing. Just as Saul was reminded that obedience is better than sacrifice, I recognize that my obedience to you is paramount. Teach me to follow you faithfully, even when it challenges me. I surrender my plans, positions, and preferences to you, trusting that your ways are higher than mine.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ  

The story of King Saul underscores the necessity of obedience to God's commands. Saul's rejection as king due to disobedience foreshadows the coming of Jesus, the obedient King, who establishes his kingdom not through rebellion but through submission to God's will, even to death on the cross.

Our problem is we’re often tempted to fall for inferior models. We place our hope in certain communicators and Christian influencers, only to see them disappoint us. We invest in others, and they let us down. When this happens, and it will happen, Jesus understands. He not only serves as our perfect model, but he will never fail us.

For every Saul who disobeys, God raises up a David who obeys. Like Samuel, we’re not responsible for how people respond to God, and all we can do is keep pointing people to him. This keeps our mission clear and prevents us from lifting a heavy weight we were never intended to carry.

^[1]Bill. T. Arnold, 1 & 2 Samuel, The NIV Application Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003), 220.

^[2]Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, ed. E. Ray Clendenen and Kenneth A. Mathews, vol. 7 of The New American Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 170.

^[3]Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, ed. E. Ray Clendenen and Kenneth A. Mathews, vol. 7 of The New American Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 170.

^[4]Joyce G. Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 8 of Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. IVP/Accordance electronic ed. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 122.

^[5]Joyce G. Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 8 of Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. IVP/Accordance electronic ed. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 123.