What does 1 Samuel 15:35 mean?
Following Samuel's confrontation of Saul (1 Samuel 15:12–22) and declaration that the Lord had rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:23), the prophet and the king part ways and return to their homes (1 Samuel 15:34). Although they will live close to each other for several years, they won't see each other in an official capacity again. Other than a bizarre encounter (1 Samuel 19:18–24), Saul won't speak to Samuel again until the day of his own death (1 Samuel 28:19).Samuel grieves over Saul. The Lord had chosen Saul to be king; Samuel had revealed this to Saul and had anointed him as king (1 Samuel 15:1). Samuel had mentored Saul, in a sense. The anger he expresses to Saul when they are together now turns to sadness when they are parted, perhaps revealing the Lord's own emotions about Israel's first king.
Still, the chapter ends by repeating what the Lord said of Himself earlier (1 Samuel 15:11). He felt grief over what has happened to Saul as king of Israel. The Hebrew word used here has broad meaning, and can refer to an admission of a mistake, but also to grief, pain, or even comfort. Samuel was clear that God makes no mistakes (1 Samuel 15:29). Yet the Lord can respond emotionally to the effects of sin and disobedience (Genesis 6:6–7; John 11:33–37).
It is telling that both Samuel and the Lord grieved over Saul so deeply. God is not vindictive and He does not rejoice in sin or its consequences (Ezekiel 18:30–32; Isaiah 45:22–23). "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (Psalm 103:8). God the Son took on human flesh, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again to deal with sin (John 3:16–18; 1 Corinthians 5:17–21). God Himself bore the penalty of sin so that we might have life (John 10:10; Romans 5:6–11; Ephesians 2:1–10)! When people choose to reject Him or His ways, it grieves Him. Second Peter 3:9–10 puts this into perspective: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." God desires all to come to repentance, and He will bring righteous judgment.
