1 Sam. 15 - to obey is better than sacrifice

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By Jimmy Lau

1Sa 15:13  And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 

 Faith is obeying all of the commandments of God. The root of disobedience lies in self-will. Self-will is doing what one thinks is right rather than following what God has commanded. Christ condemned self-will worship: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).
 
The problem with men is in obeying all the commandments of God. Saul said he had performed the commandment of God just because he had performed some of it. But he did not obey an explicit commandment of God who told him to destroy everything. Partial obedience is not good enough. God said Saul had not performed His commandments (v.11).
 
What did Samuel say about Saul’s disobedience? He said: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (v.23).

 Saul thought a sacrifice would redeem his “slight” disobedience. But God said: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). Trusting in “sacrifice” is like “buying” our way to win the favour of God while at the same time remaining independent from Him. Whereas, obedience is allowing God be God and submitting ourselves to His will: “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
a Christian, writer and homemaker

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