"Insincere Repentance" March 6 Readings: 1 Samuel 25-27

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Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026

This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New. 

Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 25-27

In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer. 

Background:  

One of the Hebrew words for fool is nabal, and this Nabal certainly lived up to his name. (Or perhaps the word is based on his behavior?) Abigail's husband refuses to help David, blustering about David's outlaw status. Abigail intervenes, showing herself to be a woman of wisdom. When the drunken Nabal sobered up and realized what he'd done, he died suddenly, and Abigail became one of David's wives.

Chapter 26 tells of David once again sparing Saul's life - returning good for evil. In chapter 27, David flees among the Philistines, feigning loyalty while continuing to fight against the enemies of God's people.

Daily Devotional: Insincere Repentance

“I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”

How much more sincere could a man be than Saul was in 1 Samuel 26:21. "I have sinned - committed a grave error." He made a commitment to make things right with David and to change his ways. Compared to some of the "mistakes were made" apologies that we hear today from our politicians and public figures, this is a model of genuine repentance.

Genuine repentance entails several things.

  • It requires an admission of sin without the attempt to justify, rationalize, or shift blame for the sin. Saul did that. 
  • It requires an intent to change and to correct the effects of the sin. Saul did that. 
  • It requires a genuine spirit of sorrow and humility. Saul seemed to have that. 

There was only one thing Saul lacked. One small thing. He did not genuinely submit his life to God or change his ways. Repentance is godly sorrow that leads to a changed life by God's power. Confession of sin is not a means of instant absolution, so you can continue in sin without guilt. The truly repentant person is also submissive to God. "Not my will but your will be done."

Saul apologized once to David for trying to kill him, then went right back to trying to kill him. Here, he expressed the deepest form of regret - truly moving words of repentance. But he wasn't willing to change. He wasn't willing to let God enter his heart and renew his mind. He wasn't willing to give up his vendetta against David.

His words of repentance were empty and insincere, no matter how beautiful they were. Repentance is not about speaking nice words of sorrow, but about submitting our lives to the Lordship of Christ and allowing the Spirit to conform us to Christ.


Father, may my repentance be as real as the power of your Spirit to change me. 

 

Consider God's Word:


Do you practice genuine and full repentance for your sin? 
Do you submit your life to Christ and let the Spirit change you, to conform you to Christ? 

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