1 Samuel 15:11

It repenteth me. See on Gen. 6:6; Ex. 32:14; Judges 2:18. Many have found it hard to reconcile this statement with 1 Sam. 15:29, that God “will not he nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” Both verbs are forms of nacham, which Gesenius defines as “to lament” or “to grieve” because of the misery of others, and hence “to pity”; also, because of one’s own actions, “to repent.” In no place does the Bible say that man repents of the good he may do — but only of the evil. Yet God is said to repent of the good He does as well as of the evil (see Jer. 18:7-10). “Man’s repentance implies a change of mind. God’s repentance implies a change of circumstances and relations” (PP 630). The word nacham should be translated in such a way as to bring out this thought.

Under the principle of free choice God makes of no man a mere machine to carry out the divine purposes. True, these purposes will be carried out eventually (Isa. 46:10), but the individual or nation called to carry them out does not therefore forfeit the privilege of choosing to comply with or to reject God’s proposals (see Ed 178). He who at first says, “I will not go,” but changes his mind, is far better than he who promises to go but later decides not to (see Matt. 21:28-32). In each case, if the instrument of God’s desire proves unworthy, God “grieves” over the individual’s decision but permits him to pursue the course he has chosen and to reap the seed he has sown. Saul’s decision to follow his own desires did not in the least thwart God’s eternal purpose, but it did provide an opportunity for God to demonstrate His long-suffering, in permitting Saul to remain king. The natural sequence of cause and effect is one of the great lessons to be learned by man in this great controversy between good and evil.

It grieved Samuel. Literally, “it kindled Samuel.” Where this verb is used in connection with the word “anger,” it is usually translated, his “anger was kindled.” This is the only instance in the OT where the verb charah is translated “grieved.” It is incorrect to translate, “Samuel was angry,” for the further statement is added that Samuel “cried unto the Lord all night” (see v. 11). The prophet was so disappointed and perplexed that he sought the Lord with all his heart to learn the way out of the deplorable situation.