Samuel said, “Does the Lord take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Know this! To obey is better than sacrifice, and to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. 1Samuel 15:22 EHV
Obey: Strong’s Lexicon Hebrew 8085 - to hear, to listen to, to hear with attention or interest, give heed, consent, agree, to yield
Sacrifice: Strong’s Lexicon Hebrew 2077 - sacrifice
Attention : Strong’s Lexicon Hebrew 7181 - to hear, listen, pay attention, give attention
Listen. Pay attention. Yield to the voice of the Lord.
“Will you do it for me?”
A question of obedience.
I had agreed to be a part of an early morning meeting to pray for our nation. Honestly, mornings prove difficult for me. This particular morning had proven to be quite difficult. Not to mention, the house was quiet, the dawn still dark, and my body exhausted. The warmth of the quilted comforter enveloped me with great contentment. As I debated within my thoughts, to rise and shine, or stay and slumber, a gentle whisper drifted through my weary mind. “Will you do it for me?” The debate was no longer about my comfort, it now became a decision of the heart.
“Yes, Lord, I will do it for you.”
In my grogginess, I made my way downstairs. Weak, but resolved. I sat quietly, and listened to the prayers of the saints broadcasted through the marvels of technology.
Some had grown faint-hearted, discouraged, due to unanswered prayer. The zeal to pray was being overshadowed by discouragement. The Lord prompted me, “Tell them, daughter. Tell them what I whispered to you this morning.” At first, I hesitated, for I was not looking to blow my own horn, nevertheless, a horn was to be blown. A horn of remembrance, perseverance, and obedience.
“Know this!”
In 1 Samuel 15:22, the prophet Samuel addresses King Saul’s act of disobedience. Samuel exclaims that God delights in obedience to the voice of the Lord. “Know this!”
“To obey is better than sacrifice.” He continues in the next verse to emphasize disobedience as rebellion intertwined with arrogance. The decision of King Saul’s heart was to reject the word of the Lord. A decision of great consequence. Saul rejected the word of the Lord, resulting in the Lord rejecting him as king. (1 Samuel 15:23)
Now, my decision to get out of bed might seem to pale in comparison to the story of Saul. In ways, absolutely, it was just a decision to get out of bed; UNTIL, the voice of the Lord made it a decision of the heart. The Lord brought to my remembrance my commitment to pray. Perhaps, He was looking for perseverance in my, “Yes.” Maybe, in that moment, the Lord hoped to see if my obedience would overcome my fatigue?
Saul did not obey. He rejected the directive of the Lord given through Samuel. He kept the best sheep and cattle to be a sacrifice to the Lord, and spared the King of the Amalekites. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive. (1Samuel 15:8a)
But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” 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.” (1Samuel 15:14-15)
Saul’s offering was marinated in disobedience.
His heart, seasoned with the fear of man.
Samuel rebuked Saul’s decision: “The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” Saul’s rebuttal is recorded in verses 20-21: “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “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.” Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 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.” Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.” Samuel refused, and said: “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!” (1 Samuel 15: 17- 26)
Saul made a choice within his heart to disobey due to the fear of man; such fear, overshadowed the fear of the Lord within him. Instead of obeying the voice of God, Saul chose to follow the voice of man. Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. (1Samuel 15:24 AMP)
The Lord delights in obedience.
Plain and simple; though, not so simple at times.
May we be found to be obedient, faithful in the little things, so that the bleating of disobedience would not be heard within our offering. May we prove faithful in everything, even in the little things; for example, something as simple as getting out of bed.
Prayer
Father,
Forgive me for not heeding the word of the Lord. I repent for every act of disobedience. I acknowledge, there have been times I have given into the fear of man, following their path, and not the direction You have given me. I seek Your forgiveness.
Please do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Cleanse me, Lord, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
I give You my full attention. Please speak to me, Oh God, I am listening.
I choose to be faithful with the small things, that I may be found trustworthy by You.
Help me to see beyond the question that lies before me into the very heart of God.
May my offering be acceptable in Your sight - no matter how small.
Plain and simple, though difficult at times, I long to be obedient to the voice of the Lord.
Give me the strength to obey, and to discern Your voice from the voice of man.
You have my attention.
Amen
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