‘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.’
I Samuel 15:22
I’m learning.
And.
God.
Has been.
Faithful.
In.
Teaching me.
That.
Obeying.
Him.
Is.
Better.
Than sacrifice!
Saul.
Was sent.
On.
A mission.
To.
Destroy.
The people.
Of.
Amalek.
‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”’
I Samuel 15:2-3
However.
Saul.
Did.
Destroy.
The Amalekites.
But.
He spared.
King Agag.
And.
Their.
Best cattle.
‘He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.’
I Samuel 15:8-9
Then.
The Lord.
Spoke.
To.
Samuel.
Regarding.
Saul’s actions.
‘Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night. ‘
I Samuel 15:10-11
When.
Samuel.
Confronted.
Saul.
About.
His disobedience.
Saul thought.
He.
Had done.
Everything.
The Lord.
Asked him.
To do.
‘Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord ! I have performed the commandment of the Lord .”’
I Samuel 15:13
And.
Samuel.
Asked.
Saul.
Why.
Is.
There.
Cattle.
Left over.
From.
The battle.
‘And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”’
I Samuel 15:15
Look.
I’ve been.
There.
When.
I followed.
The Lord’s.
Instructions.
But.
I did.
It.
How.
I wanted too.
Instead.
Of.
How.
He told me.
To do.
It!
For example.
Giving.
The Lord.
His portion.
But.
I give.
Only.
Half.
Or.
Spending time.
With.
My family.
But.
I cut.
Their time.
Short.
To.
Talk.
On.
The phone.
With.
Someone.
That.
Could have.
Waited.
Ultimately.
The Lord.
Wants us.
To be.
Obedient.
To.
His word!
And.
Not.
Man’s word!
Unfortunately.
That’s why.
Saul.
Sinned.
Against.
The Lord.
Because.
He feared.
Man!
‘Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. ‘
I Samuel 15:24
I pray.
That you.
Gain.
Something.
From.
What.
The Lord.
Revealed.
To me.
This morning.
Especially.
To not.
Fear man!
And.
Obey.
God’s word!
Because.
He views.
Rebellion.
And.
Stubbornness.
As.
A sin!
Therefore.
Humble yourself.
And.
Seek.
The Lord.
Daily!
I love you!
And.
I pray your day is blessed!
In Jesus name, Amen!
