The opening words of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith read, “The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience….” It continues in a later paragraph, “The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.” Language similar to this can be found in numerous statements of faith attested to by Christian churches across the world. To be an orthodox Christian is to believe that the 66 books that make up the Old and New Testaments are the Holy Scriptures and are the authoritative, inerrant and infallible Word of God.
However, some that say “amen” to that statement purposely neglect, or worse, dismiss parts of the Bible. Some narratives are so difficult (even offensive) that the reader’s instinct is to scramble for a way to provide an alibi for God. One such account is recorded in 1 Samuel 15 and the verse that puts some readers on their heels is verse 3. Through the prophet Samuel, God instructed Saul, “Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.”
One’s natural response is to ask why God would give such a command. That, however, is the wrong starting point. This is one of those role-clarifying moments like the Lord’s response to Job where He begins, “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to Me” (Job 38:3). God commits the subsequent four chapters to a one-sided, direct discourse of setting the record straight about Who God is and where Job fits within His creation. God is the Most High. He has the authority.
In addition to possessing divine jurisdiction, God is holy. His point of reference is Himself, not us.
Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. (Ezek. 36:22–23)
It is not only natural, but right to be shocked at God’s command for King Saul to carry out a profoundly violent judgment against the Amalekites, but the alarm must be assigned appropriately. In light of the authority and holiness of God the question is not “how could He do that to them?” but “why has He not done that to me?” That is a life altering change of perspective.
God was not playing a mind game with Saul. When Saul failed to obey His command thoroughly it cost him his crown. The king justified his actions by saying he was doing it for God, but Samuel exposed the lie and succinctly detailed the sin. “For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel” (1 Sam. 15:26).
Do you stand by the statement that the Bible is the authoritative, inerrant and infallible Word of God? Then you do not need to identify an alibi for Him. He doesn’t need you to get Him off the hook or improve His image. In fact, this releases you to read the Bible without reservation!
Further, you have the same choice that King Saul had, to accept or reject the word of the Lord. When you approach Scripture with the clear understanding of the distinction between the roles of the Author and the reader, you are prepared to learn humbly and submit thoroughly.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. (Ps. 19:7–9)