But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.
1 Samuel 15:9 ESV

When God requires something of man, it's important to give it in the way in which God specifies, not how we would rather do it. The means of righteousness are an integral part of the end.

My son and his wife stopped by with their heir newborn earlier. I’ll see them church on Shabbat. My youngest is visiting her sister at MU this weekend. Got to give the glory to Yahweh for this intact family. We put God first, we homeschooled, and we did without. Now we get to enjoy these blessings watching them mature.

Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
1 Samuel 15:6 ESV

Saul didn't always do the wrong thing. He wasn't a completely evil man. He gave up significant military advantage by warning the Kenites, a tribe of Midianites, of what was about to happen.

This evening, at 8:30pm CDT, is the PREMIERE of our new Shabbat Virtual Gathering over on our YouTube channel! We are excited to fellowship with you! https://www.youtube.com/@Trium....phInTruthMedia/video

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.
1 Samuel 15:3 ESV

"Devote to destruction" isn't a sacrifice, but it is a command to engage in holy war. No mercy, no exceptions.

This also isn't necessarily a punishment any more than amputating a limb is punishing the limb. Sometimes God disposes one part of his personal property in order to save another part. Every orchard keeper, forester, rancher, and oncologist does the same.

For your Maker is your husband, YHWH of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
Isaiah 54:5

"Husband" in this verse is Hebrew ba'al. This verse proves that titles used by false gods are not necessarily rendered pagan or idolatrous by such misuse. Ba'al might have been used as the proper name of a pagan deity, but it is also a perfectly acceptable title to use for YHVH. Just don't confuse the beings behind the labels.

https://soilfromstone.blogspot.....com/2016/11/words-a

This evening is Shabbat. Let's start prepping! Don't forget to join the premiere of our Shabbat VIRTUAL gathering over on our YouTube channel at 8:30pm CDT.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭122‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Let all those who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned back.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭129‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Contrast: loving Zion brings a blessing, hating Zion brings shame. Why? Because Jerusalem is better than other cities?

Nope. Because it's chosen by God as you were chosen by God despite our unworthiness.

I’m often asked why Bible translations are often different from each other. While the basic premise is consistent, different translations may be based on different manuscripts. Should this have any influence on the trust you place in our creator? No! However, it should have an influence on how you practice your faith.

On this date in history, 09/13/1814: Francis Scott Key is inspired to write The Star-Spangled Banner during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. #otd #tdih #warof1812