24 Then Saul said to Samuel , " I have sinned ; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words , because I feared the people and listened to their voice . 25 "Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord ." 26 But Samuel said to Saul , "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord , and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel ." 27 As Samuel turned to go , Saul seized the edge of his robe , and it tore . 28 So Samuel said to him, " The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor , who is better than you. 29 "Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind ; for He is not a man that He should change His mind ." 30 Then he said , "I have sinned ; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel , and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God ." 31 So Samuel went back following Saul , and Saul worshiped the Lord .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:24-31
Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:24-31
(Read 1 Samuel 15:24-31)
There were several signs of hypocrisy in Saul's repentance. 1. He besought Samuel only, and seemed most anxious to stand right in his opinion, and to gain his favour. 2. He excuses his fault, even when confessing it; that is never the way of a true penitent. 3. All his care was to save his credit, and preserve his interest in the people. Men are fickle and alter their minds, feeble and cannot effect their purposes; something happens they could not foresee, by which their measures are broken; but with God it is not so. The Strength of Israel will not lie.