God’s command was clear: Israel was supposed to destroy the Amalekites. King Saul, blinded by his own sin, failed to complete this task; seeking to justify his actions, he replaced true obedience with religious formalism. This passage stands as a warning of sin’s deceitfulness—and also the steadfastness of God and His purposes. As Alistair Begg points out, while God felt sorrow over Saul’s sin, the Lord is always true to His word and consistent in dealing with disobedience.