Scripture:
1 Samuel 15:17-23 ESV
[17] And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. [18] And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ [19] Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” [20] And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. [21] But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” [22] And 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 listen to the fat of rams. [23] For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
Observation:
Saul was king over Isreal, and although he saw himself as little… he had been chosen to be the head over GOD’S chosen people. This is no small task. On the heels of his first real mission where he decided to do things his way. Samuel, the prophet of the LORD, comes on the seam. Just a few verses before the chosen verses for things morning, we hear Samuel give the instructions to kill everything. Take no spoil devote it all to destruction. However, upon his return, he finds that Saul had other ideas. Keeping the cattle for himself and taking the plunder. With the reason of sacrificing them to the LORD. Samuel has to correct Saul. Getting to the point rather quickly, Samuel explained that the LORD would want obedience rather than sacrifice. Atonement for sin is great, but what about deliverance from it? The decision from Saul set into motion things that are causing issues for Israel still to this day.
Application:
My way is not better. Although it may look better right now, we need to remember that GOD stands outside of time and HE sees what we don’t. I have to tell you, GOD is not trying to keep something from you. HE sees what you don’t. HE sees years down the line when all you can see is right in front of you. Yes, it may look better to you to do things your way, but you don’t see the repercussions from that. The LORD has a reason for saying what HE does that you may never understand. HIS ways are not our ways. HIS thoughts are not our thoughts. Now that being said, I know that GOD uses our bad decisions for good, and even though we make a mess of things, HE will turn it around for good Romans. 8:28 tells us that. However, if we would just obey, we would save ourselves a lot of headaches, heartaches, and pain. Our way looks good right now and may even seem right, but in the end, it leads to death. Obeying the LORD does not take away what we want it preserves it so that we won’t destroy it later. It doesn’t always seem fun right now, but in the long run, it saves you from yourself. Paul says we see through a glass dimly, but when perfection comes, we will see the whole picture. All that Saul saw was the plunder. That’s what was right in front of him. He didn’t see the war that is going on today in Israel… how could he… he has been dead for years. It’s not for us to second guess, GOD. it’s for us to obey. That’s what will save future generations lots of pain and sorrow.
Prayer:
Father, we know that your way is best. Although what we see right in front of us may look right, let us look into what you say about it before we make our decision. We don’t want to rush or do what we think is right. We want what you want for us. Help us to just obey. Show us in your word. What you want from us and then give us the drive and desire to obey you so that we can experience the fullness of your blessings. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.