“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night.
God does not change His mind as we do; He wills an alteration in His method when the creature turns away. Saul turned back from following Him through covetousness and partial obedience, and made himself God's enemy. Samuel spent the whole night wrestling with God in prayer for Saul's restoration, grieving not for himself but that any sinner should forfeit God's favor.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Samuel 15:10-23
God's repentance means a change in His outward dealings, not in His counsel or decree, He is unchangeable. Saul turned from God's worship and broke His commandment about Amalek. Samuel grieved that one he had anointed should fall so soon, and prayed all night either for forgiveness or that God would make plain wherein Saul had failed.
AI summary
God's eternal counsel never changes, though He seems to repent when temporal election goes awry. Saul turned back from following the Lord and did not perform His commandments. Samuel's distress and all-night crying out show how the rejection of sinners grieves the righteous.
AI summary