“To OBEY (shama`: to cause to hear) IS BETTER than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22) Most Christians in the family of faith learn the importance and blessing of obeying God, but those who choose TO DISOBEY lose out on GOD’S BLESSINGS or FACE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. Some people in the Bible thought they could ignore or manipulate God’s commands. One sad example is King Saul, a proud man the prophet Samuel addressed with these sober words: “to obey is better than sacrifice.” Why did Samuel say those words, and what can we learn from Saul that might change our own attitudes about obedience?
What did Saul do? God told Saul TO DESTROY a certain city and everything in it because of its VERY EVIL INFLUENCE, “But Saul SPARED Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and was unwilling to utterly destroy them.” (1 Samuel 15:9) Saul thought his way was better! “So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT, And stubbornness IS AS INIQUITY AND IDOLATRY. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has REJECTED YOU from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about obedience. In the story of the Ten Commandments, we see just how important the concept of obedience is to God. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 sums it up like this: “Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed.” In the New Testament, we learn through the example of Jesus Christ that believers are called to a life of obedience. Jesus said, “If you love Me, KEEP My commandments.” (John 14:15)
The Apostle Paul says, “…I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is truly the way to worship Him. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed (metamorphoō: to be changed into another) by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to TEST and APPROVE what God’s will is—HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham