To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice

Note from today’s Bible reading: 1 Samuel 12-16

King Saul was given a mission: “Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey” (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul would defeat the Amalekites, but he spared the king and the best of the animals.

When Samuel confronted the king, he said, “Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” (1 Samuel 15:19). Yet Saul insisted, “I did obey the voice of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:20), even though he captured the king and the animals were brought to offer sacrifices.

Samuel responded, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). Even if the sacrifices were offered with the best of intentions, it was not what the Lord instructed; therefore, He would not be pleased with them.

So remember that to obey is better than sacrifice. It is better to do what God has said than what we think might be a good way to worship Him. Saul was guilty of “rebellion” because he “rejected the word of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:23), and we can be guilty of the same today if we do whatever seems best to us.