The word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD.” And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?”
Comment: Nobody had to tell God what Saul had done. It is not that God is inspecting us through a magnifying lens seeking some little error that he can punish, but we can’t fool Him, He knows! I don’t know how God told Samuel about the event but note that Samuel was angry (?at Saul) that he cried all night (?in despair; ?in prayer; ?in shame, on behalf of people’s rejection of God as their King); he set out on an unpleasant task.
Previously Saul built an altar for God, now he builds a monument to himself! And then he tries to pull the wool over Samuel’s understanding. With delightful, I suspect sarcasm, Samuel says but then why are the woolly ones bleating in the background!
Prayer: I know that I cannot fool You, my God. Help me not to deceive myself.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage. I remember as a child, learning a Bible verse which said, “Be sure your sins will find you out.” I’ve looked in the Concordance for it, but I cannot find it. It has probably been changed from the KJV to read a bit differently now. But I still remember those words. And they are so true. Nothing can be hidden from God’s eyes. He knows and sees everything we do and say. This, to me, is a daily challenge. God bless you.
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