OBEDIENCE VERSUS SACRIFICE

Living and Walking in Obedience

Yesterday, we reflected on temptation and the many forms it can take. Although temptation changes its appearance from generation to generation, it is still the same enemy who first deceived Adam and Eve. We concluded that Jesus' command to "watch and pray" remains just as relevant today.

Today we turn to the other side of that conversation—obedience.

Our reading comes from 1 Samuel 15, where God gave King Saul a very clear command through the prophet Samuel.

God commanded Saul to attack the Amalekites.

It was a sobering command. To understand it, we need to go back many years.

When Israel had come out of Egypt, the Amalekites attacked God's people in their weakness, preying on those who had fallen behind as they journeyed through the wilderness. Because of what they had done, God declared that the day would come when He would judge Amalek.

That day had now arrived.

Through Samuel, the Lord instructed Saul to attack the Amalekites and devote everything to destruction. No one and nothing was to be spared—men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.

The instruction could not have been clearer. There were no exceptions.

Destroy all.

But Saul obeyed only partly.

He spared King Agag.

He also spared the best sheep, cattle, calves and lambs. Scripture says that Saul and his army were unwilling to destroy what was valuable, although they completely destroyed everything weak and worthless.

When Samuel confronted him, Saul insisted that he had obeyed God.

"I have obeyed the voice of the Lord."

The animals, he explained, had been kept so they could be sacrificed to God.

Saul tried to make his disobedience sound spiritual.

"I brought the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord your God."

But Samuel saw through it immediately and asked one of the most searching questions in Scripture:

"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 than the fat of rams."(1 Samuel 15:22, ESV)

Saul wanted to offer God a sacrifice.

God simply wanted his obedience.

Saul had broken a perfectly clear command. There was nothing to interpret. Nothing to negotiate. Nothing to improve. God had spoken plainly.

As we reflected yesterday, the consequences of disobedience are often "sticky" and severe. What Saul thought was a small compromise became one of the most costly decisions of his life.

Samuel was clear about the repercussions of his actions:

"Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."(1 Samuel 15:23, ESV)

God considered Saul's rebellion as serious as the sins of witchcraft and idolatry. At its heart, disobedience rejects God's authority—and that always carries consequences.

In contrast, throughout Scripture we see how seriously God takes wholehearted obedience.

One beautiful example is found in Jeremiah 35.

There we meet the Rechabites. For generations they had faithfully obeyed the instructions given by their forefather Jonadab. God instructed Jeremiah to invite them into the temple and offer them wine. They respectfully refused because their forefather had commanded them never to drink wine. They had remained faithful to those instructions for over 250 years. Scripture says they had fully obeyed their forefather's commands.

God used their unwavering obedience as a lesson for Israel, saying:

"Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?"(Jeremiah 35:13, ESV)

If they could faithfully obey the command of a human ancestor for generations, why would God's own people continually refuse to obey Him?

Because of their faithfulness, God made them a remarkable promise:

"Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me."(Jeremiah 35:19, ESV)

The Rechabites remind us that obedience is not measured by convenience but by faithfulness. They also remind us that we have a responsibility to the next generation—our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and all those God has entrusted to our influence—to teach them obedience to the Word of God.

More than 250 years after Jonadab gave his instructions, his descendants were still walking in them. What a testimony! May the next generation be able to say the same of us—that we faithfully taught them God's Word and, more importantly, lived it before them.

Throughout the Bible, God repeatedly attaches wonderful promises to obedience. As we have reflected throughout this series, we obey because we love God, not merely for His promises.

Nevertheless, His promises remind us that He delights in those who walk in His ways.

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." (Isaiah 1:19)

If you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples." (Exodus 19:5)

Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people... that it may be well with you." (Jeremiah 7:23)

If anyone loves me, he will keep my word... and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23)

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Luke 11:28)

What does obedience look like for us today?

God's commandments have not changed. He still calls us to:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.

(Deuteronomy 6:4–5)

Fear (revere) the Lord and serve Him only.

(Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:12, 20)

Walk in all His ways and keep His commandments.

(Deuteronomy 10:12; 11:1, 22)

Teach God's Word diligently to your children, so that the next generation will know Him and walk in His ways.

(Deuteronomy 6:6–9; 11:18–21)

Remember the Lord and never forget His goodness.

(Deuteronomy 8:11–18)

Worship God alone.

(Deuteronomy 5:7–9; 7:25–26)

Trust the Lord and do not fear your enemies.

(Deuteronomy 20:1–4)

Judge fairly, pursue justice, and show no partiality.

(Deuteronomy 16:18–20)

Care for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow.

(Deuteronomy 10:18–19; 24:17–22)

Be generous to the poor and honest in all your dealings.

(Deuteronomy 15:7–11; 25:13–16)

Keep your promises to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 23:21–23)

Reject the practices that dishonour God.

Deuteronomy 18:9–14)

Be holy, for you are God's treasured people.

(Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2)

God's instructions are never suggestions. When His Word is clear, our responsibility is not to negotiate with it or improve upon it, but simply to obey it.

Like Saul, we can always find reasons for partial obedience.

Like the Rechabites, we can choose wholehearted obedience instead.

Reflection

Today we have met two very different examples.

Saul teaches us the danger of partial obedience.

The Rechabites show us the beauty of wholehearted obedience that endures from one generation to the next.

As you go about your day, ask yourself:

• Which example am I following?

  
  

• What lesson will my children, family, or those watching my life learn from my obedience?

  
  

• Is there something God has spoken clearly that I simply need to obey?

  
  

May the entrance of God's Word bring light to our hearts and minds today. May it give us the strength and wisdom to obey God even when the choice is attractive and offers an advantage.

In Jesus' name, Amen.