Obedience of Convenience

Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
September 10, 2011

Deuteronomy 21: 1-14, ‘When you go out to war against your enemies, and ADONAI your God hands them over to you, and you take prisoners, 11 and you see among the prisoners a woman who looks good to you, and you feel attracted to her and want her as your wife; 12 you are to bring her home to your house, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails 13 and remove her prison clothing. She will stay there in your house, mourning her father and mother for a full month; after which you may go in to have sexual relations with her and be her husband, and she will be your wife. 14 In the event that you lose interest in her, you are to let her go wherever she wishes; but you may not sell her for money or treat her like a slave, because you humiliated her.’

It is very interesting that the Scripture allows an Israeli who goes to war, to take for himself a woman from the goyim to be a wife, as well as the stipulations that are given for the process. Notice, he may find her attractive at the time of war, but G-d issues restrictions for her becoming a wife that virtually eliminate any outward signs of beauty. Her hair is shaved off, her nails trimmed, her ‘prison’ clothes removed (usually her best clothes would be worn when taken into captivity) and she is basically put into seclusion for a month to mourn the death of her family. Then her captor is to reassess his desire for her and either marry her or free her in a respectable way.

This passage, although unusual to our modern day behavior, emphasizes G-d’s truth that infatuation is not love and passion or lust is not love and there should not be confusion about this point. Attraction to a mate should be spiritual first and then physical. Physical attraction is still important, but should not be the primary reason for relationship.

Even our L-rd was not especially physically attractive. Our attraction to Him is spiritual first. There is a distinction made to eliminate a natural tendency for physical attraction alone.

Isaiah 53:1-2, ‘Who believes our report? To whom is the arm of ADONAI revealed? 2 For before him he grew up like a young plant, like a root out of dry ground. He was not well-formed or especially handsome; we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us.’

Recognize that Saul did not obey the L-rd but spared the best spoils of war for himself rather than completely obeying the command.

1 Samuel 15:1-4, ‘Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, "ADONAI sent me to anoint you king over his people, over Isra'el. Now listen to what ADONAI has to say. 2 Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'I remember what 'Amalek did to Isra'el, how they fought against Isra'el when they were coming up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack 'Amalek, and completely destroy everything they have. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, children and babies, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"

Did Sha’ul (Saul) obey?

1 Samuel 15:8-10, ‘He took Agag the king of 'Amalek alive; but he completely destroyed the people, putting them to the sword. 9 However, Sha'ul and the people spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, and even the second best, also the lambs, and everything that was good - they weren't inclined to destroy these things. But everything that was worthless or weak they completely destroyed.

Saul spared what he considered the best of everything. He did not obey; he allowed himself to be guided by his senses and the outward attraction of what he saw. Not only did he completely miss a lesson G-d was teaching about the value of inward character but by not obeying G-d to destroy Amalek future generation of Israelites were directly affected through his descendants, namely Haman during the time of Esther.

G-d had made it clear what to remember!

Deuteronomy 25:17-19, ‘"Remember what 'Amalek did to you on the road as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you by the road, attacked those in the rear, those who were exhausted and straggling behind when you were tired and weary. He did not fear God. 19 Therefore, when ADONAI your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies in the land ADONAI your God is giving you as your inheritance to possess, you are to blot out all memory of 'Amalek from under heaven. Don't forget!”

Note that the instruction is to ‘don’t forget’. However, we are to forget when sins are forgiven!

Hebrews 8:12, ‘because I will be merciful toward their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.’

Isaiah 43:25, ‘I, yes I, am the one who blots out your offenses for my own sake; I will not remember your sins.’

However, when sins are not forgiven and there is no repentance, we are to remember!

It was over 400 years later that Saul was to remember the what Amalek had done!

Saul did not obey completely and made excuses to Samuel about it. Although, G-d’s heart weeps for those who stray, forgiveness isn’t given unless there is repentance.

Exodus 34:7, ‘showing grace to the thousandth generation, forgiving offenses, crimes and sins; yet not exonerating the guilty, but causing the negative effects of the parents' offenses to be experienced by their children and grandchildren, and even by the third and fourth generations.’
But how great is the forgiveness offered!

Isaiah 1:18, ‘"Come now," says ADONAI, "let's talk this over together. Even if your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; even if they are red as crimson, they will be like wool.’

Colossians 2:13, ‘You were dead because of your sins, that is, because of your "foreskin," your old nature. But God made you alive along with the Messiah by forgiving you all your sins.’

Saul’s heart did not turn toward the L-rd; his obedience was an obedience of convenience! And his disobedience resulted in the kingdom being taken from him. It was then through Samuel that G-d’s vengeance was taken on the Amalekite.

1 Samuel 15:2, ‘Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'I remember what 'Amalek did to Isra'el, how they fought against Isra'el when they were coming up from Egypt.’

Saul was instructed to remember. The Hebrew word used is ‘paqad’ which means to visit or to make a deposit. At Yom HaDin (Judgement Day) the deposit is returned.

So, when we are forgiven, we also are compelled to forgive.

Ephesians 4:32, ‘Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.’

It is a shame that Saul’s heart never turned to the L-rd for forgiveness. However, it is never too late; we are never too old to turn to Him or to obey Him! What happened to Saul does not have to happen to us.

Further Reading: John 1:9-12, Hebrews 13:4-5, 17, John 3:16-17, Revelation 1:5, Hebrews 9:14, 1John 1:7, Ephesians 1:7