And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
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
Samuel had no sleep after God spoke to him, so he rose in haste to meet Saul. But Saul reached Carmel first and erected a monument to himself, a pillar or trophy of his victory, before moving on to Gilgal in great pomp with the Amalekite king in tow, expecting to offer peace offerings there.
AI summary
That pillar Saul raised was sheer vainglory, a flagrant act of disobedience. His pride got the better of his duty: he built a monument to his own honor first, then went to Gilgal to offer sacrifice to God. The order of his affections is written in stones.
AI summary