Inspirational Moments
1 Samuel 15:22 Then Samuel said, “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience?Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and presumption is 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, for I have disobeyed what the Lord commanded and what you said as well. For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes. Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship the Lord.” Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel!” When Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the edge of his robe and it tore. Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to one of your colleagues who is better than you! The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.” Saul again replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the Lord your God.” So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
The interaction between Saul and Samuel provides us with some key insights into how we can tend to put our own agendas ahead of God. Saul had neglected to follow the command which the Lord had given to him, and when Samuel confronted him about it, he tried to justify his actions , as we so often do, by making some spiritual comments about what we have done, or an act of worship..We fail to follow the word of God, then try to turn our disobedience into a righteous service unto God.We fill our lives thinking we are doing "good things," but they are not God's things. God wants us to be obedient to His commands, he does not care about our sacrifices.
In the Old Testament, God was completely disgusted with Israel. He was disgusted because Israel tried to substitute worship for obedience. Listen carefully to what God said in Jeremiah 7:22,23. "For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.
