Title: Get Rid of the Agagite
Theme: To show the importance of full obedience.
Text: 1 Samuel 15:1-23
• Offering: Matthew 25:21 — “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’"
Introduction
1 Samuel 15:1-35 Samuel also said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the Lord. (2) Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt.
(3) Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' "
(4) So Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah. (5) And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and lay in wait in the valley. (6) Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed 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 attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. (8) He also took Agag 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, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
(10) Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, (11) "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night. (12) So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, "Saul went to Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal."
(13) Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord." (14) But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my 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 the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed."
(16) Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on." (17) So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? (18) Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' (19) Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?" (20) And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. (21) But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal."
(22) So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. (23) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king."
This seems like a simple task and a simple act of disobedience. Saul had his excuse for keeping the sheep and the king, yet this is not what God wanted him to do. This nation, the Amalekites and run rough shod over the Israelites, they were a thorn in the flesh.
This was more than an act of disobedience. It was an act of mistrust for God’s plans and purposes. God could see the future. Let me take you to Esther.
Haman The Agagite
Esther 3:1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
Esther 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.
Esther 3:8-9 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. (9) If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries."
Haman fell in the lineage of the Agagite. But how if Saul was to utterly destroy the nation. Tradition says that he was the son of the king or at least in the palace and he got loose. So by Saul’s disobedience this man escaped and lived to attempt to destroy a nation. You could tell by his utter contempt and hatred for the Jews that there was more than just “bowing down”.
Illustration:
If we don’t destroy and bury that devil we are fighting now it will come back to bite the next generation.
Generational Curses
Exodus 34:6-7 “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the father upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and fourth generation.” Similar scriptures are Exodus 20:5, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:9.
(22) So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. (23) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king."
I think it is interesting that Moses and Samuel uses the words iniquity here. What is an iniquity?
Iniquities
H5771
- Original: עוון עון
- Transliteration: `avon
- Phonetic: aw-vone'
- Definition:
1. perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
a. iniquity
b. guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
c. consequence of or punishment for iniquity
- Origin: from H5753
- TWOT entry: 1577a
- Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine
- Strong's: From H5753; perversity that is (moral) evil: - fault iniquity mischief punishment (of iniquity) sin.
H5753
- Original: עוה
- Transliteration: `avah
- Phonetic: aw-vaw'
- Definition:
1. to bend, twist, distort
a. (Niphal) to be bent, be bowed down, be twisted, be perverted
b. (Piel) to twist, distort
c. (Hiphil) to do perversely
2. to commit iniquity, do wrong, pervert
a. (Qal) to do wrong, commit iniquity
b. (Hiphil) to commit iniquity
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
2. He was bruised for our iniquities
The meaning of “iniquities” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to twist, to distort or to bend”. Often times an iniquity will start as a bended version of the truth; a slight distortion of the real. An iniquity puts its own twist on life, values, mindsets, etc. Upon further study of God’s word it seems like iniquity is different from transgression in that it is something handed to you whereas transgression is something you personally do. Let me explain:
We read in Deut. 5:9-10 “You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, and showing mercy and steadfast love to thousands and to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
The twisted, distorted and bent things that originated over three to four generations before you are handed to you through genealogies and bloodlines. Did you know that your transgression today may become your child’s iniquity? Now let me be clear! You are not paying the price for the sins of your father or grandfather. Each person will give an account before the Lord for his or her own actions, righteous or sinful. We can never use other people’s sin as an excuse for our own calamity. What I want to point out is that there are things you do today that can affect your children and their children and things done by your father and his father before him can impact your life in a real way as well. It is interesting how things like alcoholism, drug abuse, poverty, heart disease, asthma, etc. follow through the generation of a family. Why is this? I believe it is because of untreated iniquity. Let’s look at a Biblical example:
Examples of Generational Curses in Scripture _ from notes from the internet on Generational curses. Had to share.
ABRAHAM - In Genesis 20 we read of Abraham and Sarah who journeyed to the South country. Abraham told Abimelech , the king of Gerar that Sarah is his sister in fear that the king will kill him if Sarah was known to be his wife. This was not a total lie. Sarah was his half-sister who also became his wife. His was a half truth which is a half lie; the truth with a twist. The king took Sarah into his harem because he thought she was merely Abraham’s sister, but in a dream the Lord exposed the whole truth to the king and catastrophe was averted.
Now let’s jump to the next generation. In Genesis 26 we read that Isaac and Rebekah, Abraham’s son and daughter in law journey down to Gerar because of a famine in the land. When they arrived in Gerar some of the men asked Isaac about Rebekah and he told them that she was his sister! Again Abimelech the king saw that she was actually his wife and had to expose the lie for what it was. Isn’t that interesting. Years before Abraham told a twisted version of the truth in Gerar and now when faced with a similar situation his son, Isaac, also reverted to a lie. Only this time it was a blatant lie and not a half truth. The twist got twisted even further. Abraham’s transgression became Isaac’s iniquity; a weak-spot that provided a temptation for Isaac to transgress in similar fashion than his father before him.
Are you ready to look at the third generation after Abraham? Isaac and Rebekah had twins called Jacob and Esau. The name Jacob means “heal-catcher, surplanter or deceiver”. According to the Bible Jacob deceived his own father to obtain the blessing of the first born. Later he wrestled with God and the Lord even changed his name to Israel which means “prince of God or celebrated”. Can you see the pattern? What originates as a half truth grows though the generations of Abraham that Jacob’s character became twisted to deceive. Abraham opened the door with his transgression and both son and grandson stepped through that door of iniquity.
KING DAVID - This is not an isolated incidence in Scripture. David, the beloved king of Israel was a great man but he also had his sinful moments. His ultimate transgressions were adultery and murder, sins for which he gained forgiveness through repentance and confession.
When we look at Solomon, David’s son we find a man gifted to succeed. God bestowed to Solomon an understanding heart (wisdom) along with great riches and honor. He started out in good form by building a temple for God that was simply amazing. His end was not as impressive at all. He ended with 700 wives and over 300 concubines! We read in 1 Kings 11:4 “For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect (complete and whole) with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.” As a result of his transgressions the kingdom of Israel was split into two and never retained the stature and glory as in the days of David. David opened the door to lust and sexual sin and Solomon walked through that same door in pursuit of 1,000 or more women, accommodating all their idolatrous customs that deceived him in the end.
Iniquities are real and create real challenges for so many people in their lives. They give the enemy a legal right to temp and deceive generations to follow. What makes the work of Jesus on the cross so powerful is that not only did He deal decisively with our transgressions, but also with our iniquities! Regardless of what iniquity your bloodline was exposed to, in Jesus they are all neutralized.
We read in Psalm 32:5 “I acknowledged my sin to You and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told] - -then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin.” David shows us the proper and only way to deal with our sin; through confession. You cannot ignore it and think it will go away by itself. No amount of money, even to good causes can absolve you from sin. Only the forgiveness of Jesus because of your repentance / confession of sin will do. 1 John 1:8-9 says: “If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, though and action].”
Do you see the two things mentioned in the verse above? He forgives our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. The unrighteousness mentioned here can also be translated “iniquities”. Sin is forgiven and iniquities are cleansed. The word cleanse speaks of “purification in a Levitical sense”. The Priest and Levites in Bible times took care of all the sacrifices in the temple. If someone was unclean they went to the priests and after sacrifices were pronounced clean. Jesus is our High Priest Who can purify your life and cleanse you because of what He has done. He was the Sacrifice! It was His blood that cleansed you! The evil cycles unhindered iniquity can establish in your life and the lives of your family are broken because of what Jesus did on the cross!
Difference between punishment and suffering
We see that it is possible to suffer because of a sin or sins that our parents or forefathers committed, but is that suffering punishment from God? Are we being punished for our parent’s sins? The answer is “NO!” We are not being punished for our parent’s sin! God didn’t say in Exodus 34:7 that he visits the “punishment” of the fathers upon the children; he said, “visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children . . .” He visits the “sin” upon the children and grandchildren. This means that the children and grandchildren will repeat many of the same sins.
The word “iniquity” here also means twisted. As if you take something and twist it tightly. Illustration: Coke bottle.
Some peoples beliefs become twisted. They are twisted with tradition. They are twisted with superstition. They are twisted with sinful behavior.
Definition of generation curses
One reasonable definition of a generational sin or curse is that it is “the natural consequence of ingrained behavioral patterns that are passed down from one generation to the next.” Generational sin can be viewed as learned behavioral patterns, and this includes “spiritual” behavioral patterns.
Individual Responsibility
I want to talk about this a little bit more, but before I do I want to point out our individual responsibility for our sins. In Ezekiel 18:2 we find that the children of Israel were trying to excuse themselves of their own individual responsibility for sin, for they were quoting a proverb, which said, “The father’s have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” They were basically saying, “Our father’s sinned, and we are unjustly being punished for their sins,” when in actuality they were being punished for their own sins.
The Lord said in Ezekiel 18:4, “The soul who sins shall die.” God basically told them, “You are not being punished for your parent’s sins, but for your own sins.”
The Israelites repeated the same sins of their forefathers, and so they were suffering the same consequences of their forefather’s sins. Likewise, many of us are repeating the same sins of our forefathers, and therefore we are suffering the same consequences, but we are not being punished for their sins.
A generational sin, or generational curse, is when we practice the sins of our forefathers, and these sinful behavioral patterns are ingrained within us, and they have remained in our households and families for many years.
Almost as a learned behavior. We don’t do any difference because we know no difference. Yet we are expected to react when know something is wrong.
Confession
It is time that we make a confession. I am that way because I am mean, I am that way because I am insecure. Not the devil’s fault.
Behavioral Sins
There are numerous sinful behavioral patterns and sins that can be passed on through the generations such as: Divorce, Addictions, Sexual Sins, Emotional Disorders, Depression, Bitterness, Negativity, Prejudice, Poverty, Failure, and Worry. You name it, and there is a very good chance that it can be passed on. I have heard that some health problems can be the result of generational sin. Some health problems are linked with stress and worry.
Well, worry is the sin of not trusting in the Lord, and it can become a generational sin, or learned behavior passed through the generations. I have heard that some mental illnesses are linked with fear, and fear can become a generational or learned sin as well. If you see a string or pattern of one of these things that I just mentioned running down through your family tree, then that’s a good indication of a generational sin or generational curse.
Wheat and the Tares – Why has God waited so long.
Parable
Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; (25) but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. (26) But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. (27) So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' (28) He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' (29) But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "
Conclusion
2 Kings 2:19-22 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren." (20) And he said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. (21) Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the Lord: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' " (22) So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
Dancing on the Grave of Your Enemy
When
