To Obey is Better than Sacrifice
1 Samuel 15:1-35
Key verse: 15:22
“But Samuel replied: ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Last time we saw the nation Israel had a great victory in battle though they were vastly outnumbered and outgunned. It started with Jonathan’s courageous faith in God. He said, “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving!” In today’s passage we come back to Jonathan’s father Saul, whose character traits are diametrically opposed to his son. We will learn about the importance of our attitude before God in regard to our relationship with God. May God teach us how to please him with a life of obedience toward his word.
I. God’s Mission for Saul (1-11)
As the passage begins, the prophet Samuel who was used by God to anoint Saul as king approaches Saul with a message from God. Read verses 2-3 for the message God had for Saul. “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” Samuel’s instructions begin by saying, “This is what the Lord Almighty says…” These words are not just a great prophets words, they are the very word of God. They are God’s direction for Saul. So it is very important that Saul listen to and obey God’s direction. Israel recently had a great victory over their enemies the Philistines. Now God would work against an even older enemy of Israel- the Amalekites. About 200 years earlier the God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. As they traveled peacefully in the wilderness on the way to Canaan, the Amalekites attacked Israel. Moses told Joshua to lead the men in fighting. Moses lifted his hands in prayer to God and the Israelites were winning. But when Moses’ arms grew tired and he dropped them, the Amalekites were winning. So Aaron and Hur had to hold up Moses’ hands all day until Joshua and the Israelites overcame the Amalekites. (Ex 17:8-16) At that time the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Now it was a couple hundred years later. Israel had a king and army. It was time for God’s justice against those who attacked his people. Here we can see God’s justice will be carried out against his enemies sooner or later. And God protects and honors his people. So God gave Saul the clear mission in v.3 to totally destroy the Amalekites- men, women, children, infants, cattle, sheep, camels and even donkeys. Some people think they can oppose God and persecute God’s people with no consequence. Many people live like this today. But the day of God’s judgment will be complete for those who oppose the Lord Almighty.
How did Saul carry out God’s mission? Accdg. to v.4 he gathered 210,000 soldiers- this was huge compared to the 3,000 that fought against the Philistines that dropped as low as 600 (ch.14). In v.6 Saul gave advanced warning to the Kenites who had showed kindness to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. He suggested they take a temporary leave of absence. They would be saved because they supported God’s people. Then Saul and the army attacked the unsuspecting Amalekites and routed them (slide??). The surprise attack was a great military success. However, there was a serious problem. Read v.9.
“But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs- everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.” How did Saul do? At first it looks great- big success. Then there is the word “But”. For one, they spared King Agag. He was the wicked king and leader of the nation God was judging was spared. The king was the representative of the nation. We don’t know exactly why Saul spared him. Probably he saw some use or benefit by keeping the king alive- maybe his wealth or political influence. Also they spared the best of the cattle. v.9 says they spared everything that was “good” (in their eyes) and they were “unwilling” to destroy them “completely”. Here we see the basic problem. Saul and the army were unwilling to completely carry out God’s word and mission. They carried out God’s command for the most part, but they modified it slightly according to their own will. It was rebellion and disobedience to God’s clear command.
In verse 11 we see the response of God and Samuel to these events. God said, “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.’ Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the Lord all that night.” Saul’s disobedience to the word of God was not a light matter. It brought grief to the heart of God. Samuel knew the seriousness of the situation and cried out for God’s mercy on Saul as a father would plead on behalf of his son. The matter was not carrying out God’s instructions- his word. Sometimes we have a relativistic view towards the word of God. We pick and choose what teachings we will follow. We like that God will bless us. But we don’t like to deny ourselves in order to follow God’s ways. We are in danger of becoming like Saul- doing what pleases ourselves rather than humbly submitting ourselves to the will of God. This brings sorrow to God’s heart and will break our relationship with God. Let’s think more about our relationship and attitude toward God and his word.
II. To Obey is Better than Sacrifice (12-35)
The Lord and Samuel were grieving over the disobedience of Saul. But what was Saul doing? Look at v.12. “…Samuel went to meet Saul, but he was told, ‘Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone down to Gilgal.” While the Lord and Samuel were grieving, Saul was setting up a monument in his own honor. What pride! God sent him on the mission. But he did not obey God and did not thank God for the victory. Whether he realized it or not, he stole glory and honor from God for himself. M. Paula passed the medical board exam last week. She and M. Daniel gave thanks to God. one of many blessings...lt. If we don’t thank God we are stealing honor from God and grieve God because of our pride.
In v.13-15 Saul saw Samuel coming and said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” How ironic. Saul seems to seriously think he obeyed God’s instructions, whereas in v.11 God clearly said he did not obey God’s instructions. His pride was blinding him to the reality of the situation. Samuel heard animal noises- “Baaaah…. Moooo…” And there was Saul exclaiming, “I have carried out the Lord’s instructions!” So Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” In v.15 “Saul answered, ‘The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” Samuel confronted Saul with his disobedience. It was an opportunity for Saul to realize his sin before God and confess to Samuel and to God. But Saul did not repent. He started making excuses- “the soldiers did it… besides we were going to use them to sacrifice to the Lord… but we totally destroyed the rest.” M. David said he sounded like Adam in the Garden confronted by God over their disobedience of eating the fruit from the forbidden tree. Saul tried to rationalize the situation. Hey, we though we would save them to sacrifice to God- that’s a pretty good idea, right? Hey, give me some credit here… (slide...)
Samuel couldn’t take anymore and cut off Saul saying, “Stop!” Then in v.17-19 he told Saul what the Lord told him the previous night. That Saul started off small in his own eyes. He was a nobody, from the smallest tribe of Israel, but God made him the head of all the tribes as king. God sent him on an important mission to completely destroy the wicked people the Amalekites and wipe them out. So in v.19 Samuel directly confronted Saul, “Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” It was a second time to repent and confess his sin. In v. 20 Saul insists, “But I did obey the Lord. I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” Again Saul defends himself. He seems to have no understanding of what he did wrong. To him Samuel was being unreasonable. He risked his life to attack the Amalekites and it was a hard fought victory. He thought Samuel should be giving him high fives- way to go Saul! Saul Didn’t recognize sin…blinded pride… Later in 2 Samuel the next king, King David, secretly committed adultery and then murder to try to cover up his sin. When the prophet Nathan confronted him, David did not make any excuse or rationalization. He repented and Nathan told him God would take away his sin, though David would still have to bear many consequences. How about us? Do we rationalize and justify ourselves? “I had good intentions; I am serving God more than other people; I do right almost all the time- nobody’s perfect!” Or do we admit and confess our sins to God- our selfishness, laziness, greed, going our own way rather than God’s way. Pr 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” May we not try to cover up and excuse our sins, but repent and seek the Lord’s mercy.
Read v.22. “But Samuel replied, ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” Saul thought he was justified in what he did, especially since he claimed to be preparing to sacrifice to the Lord with the best of the animals. But Samuel rebukes Saul concerning the matter of sacrifices compared to obedience. Saul thought he could justify himself with his plan of sacrificing before God. There is suspicion he and soldiers wanted them for their own profit. We already know his pride to set up a monument to himself. But even in the best case in Saul’s defense- that he truly wanted to sacrifice to God- still, it was directly opposite of what God wanted. In that sense, Saul was justifying himself, “Look at me… God told me to do something, but I found an even better way.” In his arrogance he thought God should appreciate his sacrifice more than his complete obedience.
Sometimes we do the same thing, trying to pay for our guilt rather than obeying God. “I went to church every Sunday. I taught 12 people the Bible- I’m righteous!” God will not be manipulated. God requires our obedience. Is it forced obedience? No. It is because God deserves our obedience. God is our Creator who gave us life. God loves us. God provides for our needs. It is no more forced than obeying our parents who provided for us when we were children. Obedience is not easy, right? Why? Because it requires submitting ourselves to the will of God. But if we do, God will bless us. Jesus showed us the way. Just before his arrest and crucifixion Jesus was tempted to avoid the cross. But what was his decision? “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Lk 22:42) He obeyed God by submitting himself to God’s will. Then he was blessed by God through his resurrection and he became a source of blessing for all who trust in him. God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. It was unreasonable and Abraham could have run away. But Abraham set out to do it but God’s angel stopped him. What did God say? (Gen 22:18) “Through your offspring all nations will be blessed because you have obeyed me.” I realized how dangerous it is to be like Saul. I follow my own desires-my own will. I often justify myself based on my religious activities- teach Bible, go to meetings. But I have not been faithful to God with deep love for God and am slow to repent. I pray to please God by obeying him with a willing and thankful heart and be a blessing.
In v.23 Samuel says, “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.” Samuel explains that disobedience comes from rebellion against God’s authority. It comes from arrogance that thinks we are right and justified and there is nothing wrong with me. But these attitudes of disobedience are repulsive to God like sorcery and worshipping false gods. If we disobey God, but try to cover up with some religious activity, we are insulting God. We are like Cain who gave an offering to God while he was jealous of his brother and bitter towards God (Gen 4). In v.24-25 Saul finally admits his guilt saying, “I have sinned.” But he was too late after numerous corrections here and in the past. Also, he keeps asking Samuel to forgive him rather than God. And he wants Samuel to help him save his face before the people. He does not indicate true repentance through his actions. Therefore God would give his position as king would pass to someone else. Finally, in v.33 Samuel took care of the unfinished business. He put King Agag to death, completing the mission God had given bringing honor to the Lord as he deserves.
Through this passage let’s search our hearts before God, and find our areas of disobedience. How easy it is to try to cover up our disobedience with religious activities. May we be not delay or excuse ourselves, but repent and willingly obey God from our heart.
Read key verse 22.
People have different responses to the word of God. Some
My desires vs. God’s way…
Parable of those who did the will of master/father
Parable of sower??
God’s word-commands-(10 comdmts) worship God- no other; love neighbor…
Jesus vs. Phar’s
Jonathan vs. Saul
Obey vs. sacrifice— (rship) love vs. superficial
Worship ritual without obedience to God is insult to God (rebellion & arrogance)