Is God perfect?

[Nigh]

Does God make mistakes? This question was asked me when I stumbled apon the following verse while looking for the verses about the witch raising Samuel's spirit.
(1 Samuel 15:35)
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel

So did God make a mistake and he is admiting it here? Thoughts please. Thank you and God bless,
Nigh

BTW:These are not my thoughts or questions, but a friends, and I could not answer him properly.

 

[Jesuslovesu]

God is perfect more perfect than we can understand ( if that even makes sense) If you look at the meaning for in strongs for repented it says

H5162
נחם
nâcham
naw-kham'
A primitive root; properly to sigh, that is, breathe strongly; by implication to be sorry, that is, (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself): - comfort (self), ease [one’s self], repent (-er, -ing, self).


God knows the outcome of all before it happens but we are still given a CHOICE. Just like when you are telling a child over and over again not to do something and they do you can actually "sigh" as the when are they going to get this.

Actually if you think about it Saul made a choice that was out of God's will and God was grieved by it. That does not mean God made the mistake it ment man once again did their own will.

If this scripture is used to point out a "fault" of Godwell it is just plain old lie. When this scriputre points out that man makes choice that grieves God! If though you repent and truly mean it you are forgiven because God forgives all.

Reading then in chapter 16 you read where David becomes King which then shows that if you are not willing to be used by God , God will use someone who is. So when makeing choices dont be a saul and grieve God. It is also a lesson about back sliding

 

[jjkirk]

I agree with sister jesuslovesu,

God did not repent in the sense we would repent of something, for example other translations render the word as 'regretted' in the context of exasperated/frustrated, and emotional response which does not constitue imperfection but a sense of realness a finite person could relate to.God was frutrated with His people who begged for a King and the King failed just like God said he would, because the only King Israel needed was God, but they insisted on being like the other countries and this exasperated Our Father because He told them not to be like the pagans and what would happen if they did and lo and behold it did.

hope this helps you with your witnessing to your friend

Peace be with you,
John

 

[eardog]

I will give you my small insight on the matter. If you are a store owner and you have two sons, you will want to give the store to your oldest son when you are gone. however, after watching the boys maturing in life, you realize the youngest is better suited for the job. Knowing what would be said if you did not give the oldest his birthright, you allow him to run the store under a very watchful eye. You already know he will soon be overwhelmed and want out of the deal. This is when you turn the store over to who you know is better suited for the task. To some it may look as if you repented, or turned away from the oldest to the youngest. You have done nothing wrong. You gave both sons what they wanted, one merely had to wait while you helped the other.

The people wanted a king (1 Samuel 8:1-8). Before God gave them a king he told them what they would be getting themselves into (1 Samuel 8:9-22). God gave them their king, but he had another man in mind he wanted to build up (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Therefore he let Saul mind the store while he built David into the king he wanted him to be. God did nothing wrong, the people wanted a king, he gave them a king knowing who he would truly make king.

If I try to help someone in every way I know how, and this person keeps rejecting all my advice. After some time I may repent, or turn away from trying to help this person. I have done nothing wrong, because I really tried to help.

God told Saul of his rebellion (1 Sam, 15:13-19), and told him he, God, was not a man. So he, God, would not repent. By this we can see that the word repent may be used to get another message through. Since God had no sin to turn away from, when the Lord repented, he was saying I will no longer help, or answer Saul anymore (1 Samuel 28:6).

God is still, and always perfect. He could not want us to be something he is not. Colossians 1:28, and 4:12

I love the answers I have read. God bless us all.
eardog

 

[TDS52]

A very good question and great answers, as well. I will not add anything to them, but it brought back to my mind a message I once heard entitled, "You Got What You Asked For, But Lost What You Had" from the same portion of scripture in 1 Samuel 8. I'm sure the people regretted asking for a leader such as they got.

By the way, to answer your question, GOD IS PERFECT IN ALL HIS WAYS, but I'm sure you know and I understand the reasoning behind the question. GBU!!!

 

[Nigh]

Brothers & Sisters,
Thank you for all the replys and thoughts so far. They are very helpful. I believe eardog has done a great job of putting it striaght.
Thank you all.
God bless,
Nigh

 

[Nigh]

I have found this.

"Repent" means "to have a change of mind." When the Bible tells sinners to repent, it means to change their direction, to turn from their sins. God’s "repenting" is when He turns away from His fierce anger toward sinners. He warns men of the consequences of their disobedience. If they repent (turn from their sins), He will "repent" by not pouring out His promised wrath on them. For instance, Jonah 3:8,9 says, "Let them turn every one from his evil way...Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?" (See also Jeremiah 18:8.)

What do you think? Is this an exceptable answer?
Thank you.

God bless,
Nigh

 

[Daniel_TX]

You may like to know first off that there is no tenses in the Hebrew language so when translating into English there is problems. The same thing is basically said in Genesis 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. You must always remember, God made us with free will. God knew before he ever made us or the angels, that Satan would turn on him, that we would sin. God doesn't like sin, God doesn't approve of it, and God is not the author of sin. God created us with free will and able to make our own choices knowing that we would make mistakes and that He would have to die for us on the cross. You may want to know why did God make us if He knew all this would happen. God did it because He had the end in mind. Yes there would be some bad times along the way, but ooooh there is some good times as well. God had the end in mind. God had that end picture in mind of us being saved and rejoicing and worshiping him. Thank Jesus that Jesus created us, despite of all the mistakes that we would make along the way.

 

[Mike]

If God were not perfect , then Jesus would not have been an acceptable sacrifice for sin . God is perfect in every way . If God were not perfect , then there would have been no measure in which to judge Saul . Mike

 

[Yeshua]

God is Perfect.

God is PERFECT.

When God REPENTS it means that his heart is full of sarrow because of our foolish choices that bring about our own distruction, suffering, etc.

When we repent it is a heart full sorrow for the bad choices we have made.

It is not GOD's will that any should be lost.

It is a HEART thing.

God feels for us. God's heart is not changed but ours should be change forever.

It is our understanding that falls short and not his inperfection because he IS PERFECT.

In of JESUS the Christ, Our LORD, the ONLY begotten Son of GOD.

Does God make mistakes? This question was asked me when I stumbled apon the following verse while looking for the verses about the witch raising Samuel's spirit.
(1 Samuel 15:35)
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel

So did God make a mistake and he is admiting it here? Thoughts please. Thank you and God bless,
Nigh

BTW:These are not my thoughts or questions, but a friends, and I could not answer him properly.

 

[TDS52]

AMEN! AMEN!! AMEN!!! Nigh, your response is the aceptable one in my knowledge of our great GOD...perfect in all HIS ways.