Trust and Obey

²² But Samuel replied:

   “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
   as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
   and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
   and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
   he has rejected you as king.”

1 Samuel 15:22-23

To obey is better than sacrifice... Wow

In this chapter the Lord commands Saul to destroy Amalekites for their wickedness when the Israelites first came to Canaan. God was specific about His command to destroy everything that the Amalekites held in position, which includes everything from women, children, babies and even animals. Essentially God wanted a genocide in wiping out the ethnic group of the Amalekites who did wrong to the Israelites.

God delivered on his promise to Saul, as his battle was a successful in defeating the Amalekites. Unfortunately, Saul didn't obey God's complete instructions as he made exceptions to spare the king and the choice selection of animals. Whether it was Saul greed or his idea to offer the animals as sacrifice, God was infuriated with Saul for disobeying His command. Samuel was then sent to go confront Saul to lay down the shift justice of the Lord. At first Samuel tries to weasel his way out of the conflict blaming his men, but later owns up to his actions when Samuel tells him that God no longer accepts him as king. 

I can definitely relate to Saul. I always seem to ruin what God commands me to do by manipulating his command and twist the truth to get what I want. Whether its skimming off the top or deliberately doing the opposite, it'll still considered missing the mark of God's command which is essentially a sin. Thank God he gives me mercy because I fail all the time in completing his tasks... Rather than being ripped from God's favor, I'm forgiven with Christ's blood, and redeemed to still be his child after so many failures. 

God has made it clear to me that he requires my obedience more than what I can sacrifice for his name. TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE. Difficult as it is, I'm going to strive more to heed to his commands and to obey even when things get tough or there's a lack of desire to do so. I understand he wants the best for me and obeying allows the best to be come fruition.


God I pray you would spur me to be more obedient to your will. There is nothing greater in life to fear and obey you. Help me to have the same desire as you so that whenever I do your will it would be as natural as breathing. Thank you for your endless mercy.

In Jesus name Amen

Supplemental Verse!

 ⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”