A Grieving God – Divine Regret
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What does it mean that God regrets? (1 Samuel 15:11, 29, 35)
There exists in this text a question that needs to be asked and considered. What does it mean that God regrets or repents? We are told twice in this chapter that God regrets or repents. Then we are told that God does not. The issue is context. The word na?cham has quite a few meanings and its meaning is based on context. The word can mean “to suffer grief”, “to be moved to pity”, “to be sorry”, or “to change one’s mind”. So, first we have a word that has not just one meaning or sense, but that is flavored by the context.
We have this in English, as well. We have all bumped into someone and said, “I’m sorry.” And we’ve all had that wise-cracking friend to remark, “I know you’re sorry, but what am I?” Depending on the context, the word can mean two entirely different things.
But, still that does not resolve this apparent conflict. Does God regret, or doesn’t He? How can He regret and not regret at the same time?
Two Options
To some, the issue of God’s regretting is a problem. This problem is made even worse by the fact that some translations use the word “repent.” Some use the word “grieve.” Depending on how this is interpreted, this can be seen as a challenge to God’s omniscience, His ability to know the future.
So, I want to take a few minutes and deal with this faithfully, pastorally, in a way that brings glory to God.
1. When God chose Saul to be king he did not foresee Saul’s willful disobedience.
2. When God chose Saul to be king he did foresee Saul’s willful disobedience.
Scripture confirms that God knows the future. In fact, God’s knowledge of the future is one of the things God Himself says separates Him from other would-be gods.
Isaiah 46:8-10 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, (9) remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
Jesus uses God’s foreknowledge to comfort us in prayer; Matthew 6:8 “your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Therefore, if God knows the future, in what way does He “regret” or “repent” concerning Saul’s rebellion (vv. 11,35). I believe the difference is found in the context. It is based on relationship. The short answer is this; God grieves over our sin, and He grieves over the consequences. He has pity on sinners.
Psalm 148:8-9 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
God loves us, and in a very real way He grieves over our sin, He grieves when we reject Him. God is loving and feels emotional pain when His creatures rebel against Him.
So, what does it mean that God does not “regret” or “repent”? (v. 29)
Here, the context is judgment. Unlike man, which is subject to change, is unfaithful, as seen clearly in Saul, God is faithful and consistent, not arbitrary. While He has compassion and grieves over having to punish sinners, He will not relent from punishing sin and rejecting sinners. He will not change His mind in regards to condemning sin. He hates it. He always has and He always will.
In a very real sense this is a picture of God loving the sinner but hating the sin, because of the broken relationship and the necessity of judgment. God defends His glory, even at great personal cost.
Personal Application
So, consider this today. God in heaven is personally concerned with your relationship to Him. Even if you are not a believer, God is gracious and merciful to you. He has been slow to anger, and He has abounded in steadfast love to you. God has been good to you and has shown you mercy.
Yet, in your unrepentant sin, in your unwillingness to come to Him, worship Him, serve Him, love Him as the only soul-satisfying object in the entire universe, you grieve Him.
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