“Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it…because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended…GODLY SORROW BRINGS REPENTANCE THAT LEADS TO SALVATION…but WORLDLY SORROW BRINGS DEATH.” (2 Corin. 7:8-10) Saul disobeyed God and made excuses about it but did not repent, he just had WORLDLY SORROW, “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. 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.” (1 Sam. 15:22-23)
When King David was confronted by the prophet Nathan over his sin, his reaction was decidedly different. Surely his sin was grievous, for he had committed adultery with a married woman but he was filled with GODLY SORROW and prayed, “Have mercy upon me, O God, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. AGAINST YOU, YOU ONLY, HAVE I SINNED…” (Psa. 51:1-4)
“After removing Saul, God made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART; DAVID WILL DO EVERYTHING I WANT HIM TO DO…” (Acts 13:22)
-Bill Stockham