Obedience is Crucial
1 Samuel 15:22 Saul is instructed to go against the Amalekites, who were a cancer to the Jews, and kill every last one, including their livestock. Saul changes God's instructions to fit himself and suffers the consequences.
12/17/20251 min read
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.
1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV)
Saul is told to go against the Amalekites and kill every single one of them including their livestock. The Amalekites. who are referred to as an Old Testament antichrist, were the first people to attack the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. God knew that they were a cancer to Israel that needed to be removed. Saul, thinking that he knew better than God, left king Agag and the best of the livestock alive. Samuel approaches Saul about his sin, and instead owning up to it, Saul tries to explain it away. Saul captured king Agag to display his strength and power and claims that the spared animals were intended for sacrifices to God. The act showed that Saul valued his judgement over the decree of God. Samuel tells Saul that obedience is better and that he has been rejected as king.
Sauls actions resonate with us Christians today, emphasizing the importance of obedience in our faith. It serves as a reminder that true worship and devotion to God is not determined by the actions we take but by the obedience and love we have for the Word of God. We are called to live out our faith daily, treating people with love, kindness, and humility, and to act with integrity in our work and community. The passage encourages us to cultivate obedience in our hearts, putting aside mere rule-following, and instead prioritizing a relationship with God that is dynamic and charged with anticipation. Jesus declares God's command when He says in Mathew 9:13 "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Choose to obey God's commands with sincerity and dedication. Act with integrity in our daily lives, treating people with love, kindness, and humility. Prioritize a genuine relationship with God, characterized by trust and obedience. Evaluate our actions to ensure they align with God's will and expectations. And always seek God's guidance and strength in our spiritual journey, reflecting true worship through our obedience to God's Word. We need to remember that we were lost sinners, Jesus saved us, and obedience is crucial.