To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice
July 25, 2007
I hope that you have been getting something out of this walk through Saul's life. In many ways I can see that my life is similar to Saul's. Maybe yours is also. What I find to be a big difference is that Saul never seemed to learn from his mistakes. He just keeps on making them over and over again. In particular, as king, he thinks he has the right to do what ever he pleases.
Today we look at a turning point in Saul's life. God tells him through Samuel to do something for Him. It is clear as the nose is on my face.
1Sa 15:2-3 KJV
(2) Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
(3) Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
God is saying to Saul, if it breathes, kill it. This will be a total destruction. Saul should have remembered his history because those who do not are bound to repeat the same mistakes. If you remember in the book of Joshua, God told the Israelites to totally destroy the city of Jericho. One of the men though chose not to and stole some things and hid them. Israel list the next battle and he wound up loosing his life. Saul did know his history because in v. 6 he tells the Kenites to get out of the way of the battle because they had shown kindness to Israel when they came out of Egypt.
1Sa 15:7-9 KJV
(7) And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
(8) And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
(9) But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Well, it looks like Saul followed instructions. He killed all the people, and the imperfect livestock he killed. A king is like a brother to him so he could not kill him. Is this what God asked for though? No! God wanted utter and complete destruction.
Do we sometimes hear God and half follow His directions? Does the Bible say to men to love their wives as Christ loves the church? Does it say to woman to respect and submit to your husband? Does it say for children to obey your parents? Or does it say to do these things when it is convenient and save the best of your life for yourself? When we do not do what the Word says to do, much less what God tells us to do individually, are we any better than Saul? Sorry if I am stepping on your toes here but God is stepping on mine as well.
1Sa 15:13-15 KJV
(13) And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
(14) And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
(15) And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
Saul tries to hide from his sin by saying that he is doing it for God. Do we hide behind activities, good activities, clean wholesome activities, so that we can avoid doing those things that we are told to do? Again, are any better than Saul in these things?
That day Saul lost his kingdom. Our kingdom is in heaven. Will we loose our kingdom? Can we loose our salvation? I can not answer that question as I am not a Bible School graduate, though I have my own opinion. I would think that every time we do not do as God tells us we sin, and another piece of my mansion in heaven comes off. I could end up with a shack, but I will have a place in heaven. I could also do what God tells me to do and have a really nice place. Just my thoughts.
1Sa 15:22-23 KJV
(22) And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.
(23) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
