Obedience > Sacrifice, 1 Sam 15:22-23

[Nochaeld]

"But Samuel declared to King Saul: 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king,” 1 Sam 15:22-23

 

[Articles]

We rejoice that you have brought this powerful passage before us and we want to seek its truth together in Jesus name, for it cuts to the heart of what God desires from us.

In 1 Samuel 15:22-23 Samuel confronts King Saul after Saul had directly disobeyed the Lord. God had commanded Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all they had, yet Saul spared King Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, claiming he intended to sacrifice them to the Lord. Samuel said, Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh's voice Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Yahweh's word, he has also rejected you from being king.

This teaches us that God is not impressed by outward religious acts, generous giving, or even sacrifice, if our hearts are disobedient. Saul tried to cover his disobedience with a spiritual excuse, but God saw through it. Rebellion against His clear word is not a small thing, it is likened to divination and idolatry, because it puts our own will and judgment in the place of God. Arrogance and stubbornness reveal that we are serving ourselves rather than the Lord.

We also see this truth echoed throughout Scripture. The Lord says in Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. And in Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Jesus Himself said in John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments, and in John 14:21 One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. True love for God always expresses itself in attentive, humble obedience, not just in words or rituals. James 1:22 reminds us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.

We must also lovingly rebuke the tendency we all have to bargain with God, to think that we can live in known disobedience and make up for it with good deeds, worship, or sacrifice. That is deception. Obedience is not a way to earn salvation, for we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, but obedience is the fruit and evidence that we truly love and belong to Him. Apart from Him we cannot obey in our own strength, we need His Spirit to transform our hearts.

We notice your request speaks of the LORD but does not mention Jesus, and we want to gently share that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and can learn true obedience. Jesus said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And in Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. The ultimate sacrifice has already been made once for all by Jesus on the cross, and when we believe in Him, repent of our sin, and trust Him as Lord and Savior, we are forgiven and given a new heart that desires to obey. It is His sacrifice that makes our obedience possible and pleasing to God.

We pray together for you and for ourselves in this.

Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, and we thank You for Your Word which is truth. Forgive us for the times we have been like Saul, offering You words and outward service while holding back full obedience. Search our hearts and show us any area of rebellion, stubbornness, or pride that we have excused or hidden. Give us ears to hear Your voice and hearts that are attentive and humble. Teach us to love You by keeping Your commandments, not out of fear or legalism but out of love and gratitude for the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we may walk justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with You each day. Help us to choose obedience even when it is costly, knowing that to obey is better than sacrifice. Draw us closer to Jesus, and let our lives be a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to You. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus, amen.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for bringing this passage to us. It is a searching word, and we hear your desire to take it seriously.

What has helped us is remembering obedience is not about trying harder to impress God, but about staying close enough to hear Him and then doing the next thing He shows us. Sacrifice can look impressive on the outside, but obedience is quieter, daily, often small choices to align our actions with what we know He has asked.

If this verse is stirring something specific for you, it can help to pause and ask the Lord simply, what is one area where you are inviting me to listen and respond today. Sometimes writing that one thing down and sharing it with a trusted pastor or mature friend for gentle accountability brings clarity and keeps us from carrying it alone. And continuing in the ordinary disciplines of prayer, listening and staying in His Word keeps our hearts soft to His leading.

We are grateful for your hunger to honor Him.

Father, we lift our friend to You. Thank You for Your patience and kindness as we learn to walk with You. Give wisdom to hear Your voice clearly, courage to take the next step of obedience, and peace in knowing You are near as we learn. Shape our hearts to love what You love. In Jesus name, amen.

 

[usha rani]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

To obey is better than sacrifice, and the text you have brought from Samuel still searches the heart as keenly as when it was first spoken to Saul.

Saul thought to make amends for disobedience by a religious performance, to offer the fat of rams while he had rejected the word of the Lord. The prophet shows us that God delights not in outward show when the heart is in rebellion, for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as idolatry. No sacrifice can cover a will that refuses to bow. The Lord would have obedience, not ceremony, a heart that hears His voice and does what He commands.

Abraham was prepared for instant obedience to any command from God. He was bidden to leave his country and he left it. He did not parley or delay, but went out not knowing whither he went, because God had spoken. So must it be with us. If God be God today He is to be obeyed today. If Christ be worth having at all He is worth having now. There is no room for a hundred doubts and delays when the Bible, which is the voice of God, has plainly spoken. If there is anything in religion at all it demands a present surrender to its claims and a present obedience to its laws.

This obedience is deeply spiritual. It is not the mere keeping of a form, but the bowing of soul and spirit to the dominion of Christ. The great practical end of the gospel is to bring the human heart into obedience to Christ and to make the stubborn will acknowledge allegiance to His sway. To pay outward attention to the word while the heart remains unsubdued is to receive no benefit from it. True obedience seeks out the commandments of the Lord that it may keep them, and it indicates the truest sincerity, for only the sincere man will search to know more of his Master's will that he may do it.

Therefore submit yourselves unto God. This is unconditional surrender, the laying down of every proud pretension and conceited claim, the yielding of every thought and desire to His rule. The world counts such obedience to be mean spirited and calls rebellion freedom, saying I will be my own master. But that is not freedom, it is bondage. God will surely overthrow His adversaries, and every knee shall bow. How much better to bow now in love than to be compelled to bow hereafter in judgment. To the people of God I say, yield yourselves to Him in humility. To those yet unreconciled, I say, yield while mercy may be found.

Remember also that the goodness of God leads to repentance. He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good and spares many a life that might justly have been cut off, saying as it were, Spare him, for I intend to save his soul. If He has spared you and borne with you, it is that you should turn to Him. True repentance gives God glory. It looks out of self to Christ and to Christ only, believing that He was given of God to put away sin by His death, and that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Can you gaze upon His nailed hands and pierced side and say it is hard to trust Him. Trust Him now, for it takes no time for God to blot out iniquity. We pass in an instant from death to life, from darkness into marvelous light.

If you have seen disobedience in yourself, do not seek to cover it with a sacrifice of your own choosing. Confess it. Forsake it. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who is set forth to be a propitiation for sin, and then prove your faith by prompt and cheerful obedience to whatever He says unto you, do it. Obedience thus rendered will be rewarded, for as you go on the errand of your Lord, Jesus Himself will meet you in the way.

May the Lord give you grace to dare to stand alone for Him though the lions den should threaten, to obey without questioning and without delay, and to find in that obedience not loss but everlasting gain. May He lead you to hearty repentance and to simple faith in Christ, and then to a life that keeps and seeks His commandments with joy.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com