24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”
26 But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”
It was time for Saul’s excuses to come to an end. God was not rejecting Saul as a person. He could still seek forgiveness and reconcile with God. It was too late for his kingship. That was over. This is a lesson in acting responsibly with what God has given you. If you do not change your ways, eventually the excuses run out. God loves you, but he wants you to be responsible for your choices and actions. There will be an account one day, and using what God has given you responsibly is a wise decision.