Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

In this post, I would like to share with you the following story from the Bible of how King Saul was punished by God for not obeying His instructions, which were given to him by Samuel.

In our human judgement, we sometimes make false assumptions which we think could please God. Saul was scared of his soldiers. In order to appease them, he made a decision based on the false assumption that God would, after all, be pleased with a sacrifice.

"Here is what the Lord of hosts says: 'I carefully observed how the Amalekites opposed Israel along the way when Israel came up from Egypt." (1 Samuel 15:2).

"So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don't spare them. Put them to death - man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.'"" (1 Samuel 15:3).

"However, Saul and the army spared Agag, along with the best of the flock, the cattle, the fatlings, and the lambs, as well as everything else that was of value. They were not willing to slaughter them. But they did slaughter everything that was despised and worthless." (1 Samuel 15:9).

"Then Samuel got up early to meet Saul the next morning. But Samuel was informed, "Saul has gone to Carmel where he is setting up a monument for himself. Then Samuel left and went down to Gilgal."

When Samuel came to him, Saul said to him, "May the Lord bless you! I have done what the Lord said."" (1 Samuel 15:12-13).

Samuel replied, "If that is the case, then what is this sound of sheep in my ears and the sound of cattle that I hear?"" (1 Samuel 15:13-14).

"But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle - the best of what was to be slaughtered - to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal."" (1 Samuel 15:21).

"Then Samuel said, "Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22).

"For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and presumption is like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king."" (1 Samuel 15:23).

"Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have disobeyed what the Lord commanded and what you said as well. For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes. Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship the Lord."" (1 Samuel 15:24-25).

"Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to one of your colleagues who is better than you! The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind."" (1 Samuel 15:28-29).

How many times in our lives, have we been forced to make decisions contrary to expectation?

God can never be bribed by human greed. Amen !


Scripture taken from the NET Bible : -
http://bible.org/netbible/