Scripture
1 Samuel 15:22,23-“But Samuel replied, ‘What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.’"
Observation
Victory in the war was had, the enemy was defeated, the spoils were taken, and it was time to celebrate, right!? Well, that’s what the people thought, but the spoils that they had taken would soon stand as key witnesses to their conviction and judgment. You see, God assured their victory if they did two things: 1. Fight. 2. Destroy everything. Simple, right!? I don’t know if temptation got the best of him, I don’t know if pride and rebellion captured his heart, and I don’t know what motivated his decision, but King Saul’s heart was swayed. The bottom line was that he directly disobeyed God’s command, and the bleating of the sheep he brought back from the battlefield would be the song that would seal his fate. Saul’s last-ditch effort was to rationalize his sin by suggesting that he only brought the sheep back to sacrifice them in worship to God, and herein we find Samuel’s wise rebuttal: What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice?
Application
God desires my obedience over and above anything else, thus I need to remember:
1) God loves us and is after our hearts. Yes, he delights in our worship and sacrifice, but He desires for those to come out of an overflow of surrender, trust, and obedience. Martin Luther once said, “I had rather be obedient than able to work miracles”, and that desire for obedience at all costs is what God searches for. I wonder how often I base my relationship with God on all the things I do for Him, and the victories had, at church and disregard the “smaller” things like my attitudes, compromises, and selfish actions away from the church.
2) Partial obedience is the same as disobedience to God. He desires complete surrender and compliance. There are times where I’m willing to obey to a point, forgive to a point, love to a point, yet God asks for complete obedience to His ways. What areas have I not fully obeyed? Whether it’s cutting out areas of sin and temptation, giving grace and patience to my wife and children all the time, or forgiving and loving all people all the time, where am I falling short?
3) People are watching and following our examples, thus our commitment to obedience is paramount. King Saul’s job was to lead the people in God’s ways, yet his example was one of rebellion, bringing the people into his sin. Whether you’re a leader at work, church, school, or even in your home, we need to strive to follow His commands and lead others in that same pursuit.
Prayer
Jesus, I’ll admit that sometimes it’s a battle to fully obey, so please help me to control my emotions, my fleshly desires, and my stubborn heart. Forgive me for the times I chose to rebel and chose my own way over Yours. May You find delight in my obedience today. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
