Inerrant Lie #53

Another lie from "God's ineffable, inerrant word":

Samuel, the 'judge' of Israel was a hypocrite. He was likewise a liar, according to his own testimony of himself. Contextually, Moses and the prophets agree with Samuel's witness of himself that he lied in 'judging' Saul unworthy of the throne.

1 Samuel 15 tells the story of how Samuel 'served' Saul his walking papers. The narrative states that "the LORD" spoke to Samuel [perhaps while Sammy slept (or would have)], saying "It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments [1Samuel 15:11a & b]." Whether this witness of "the LORD" is true or false is beside the point.

The lie Sammy tells on himself for telling is found in his rebuke of Saul's allowance that, in certain matters, he, Saul-- like Moses, Samuel, and the LORD-- follows "the people," like to the way David is later said to have been taken [by "the LORD of hosts"] "from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel [2 Samuel 7:8, et. al.]." Sammy says, "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent [1 Samuel 15:29]."

Samuel's own testimony earlier in this same chapter (above) says otherwise. What else could "it repenteth me" mean? Likewise his later testimony, again in this same chapter, says otherwise. Six verses later, Samuel confesses: "and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel [1 Samuel 15:35c]."

Moses likewise says "the LORD" repented of destroying "the people" many times in the wilderness [Exodus 32:14, et. al.]. Jonah says he repented of destroying Nineveh [Jonah 4:2]. Jeremiah records presumably the same "LORD" confessing: "I am weary with repenting [Jeremiah 15:6]." Plus there's that whole flood thing [Genesis 6:6]. Either Sammy's a liar or the rest of the liars are. (It's really both, isn't it?)