Obedience is The Foundation of Order in a Chaotic World

When we read God’s Word, specifically the account of Samuel and Saul, we encounter a pivotal moment where Saul, entrusted with a specific command from God, failed. Despite being instructed to utterly destroy the Amalekites and their livestock, Saul disobeyed the command of God by sparing their king and the choicest of the livestock (1 Samuel 15:3, 9)¹. Yet, when confronted by Samuel, Saul’s response was a false representation: “I have carried out the command of the LORD” (v. 13)². This statement, whether born of ignorance or deceit, reveals Saul’s attempt to escape accountability for his actions (15:20)³. Moreover, Saul shifts blame onto others, echoing a pattern of excuse-making that had presented earlier in his reign (vv. 11-12)⁴. He further endeavors to rationalize his disobedience by suggesting that the spared animals were intended for sacrifice to the God of Samuel—a feeble attempt to justify his transgression. Saul’s flagrant disregard for God’s command not only troubled his conscience but also severed his connection with God, as he could no longer rightfully claim allegiance to Him. Instead of humbling himself, confessing his wrongdoing, and seeking repentance, Saul persistently clung to self-justification, ultimately deepening his disobedience and estrangement from the divine.

“Behold,” Samuel communicated to Saul, “to obey is better than sacrifice” (v. 22)⁵. This fundamental truth from the Old Testament resonates deeply (Psalm 51:16; Isaiah 1:10-17)⁶. Samuel emphasized that what God truly seeks is heartfelt obedience, prioritizing genuine devotion over mere adherence to ritualistic sacrifices, as reiterated throughout various scriptures (Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-27; Micah 6:6-8)⁷.

When we observe Saul’s actions, it becomes apparent that true worship isn’t merely a matter of ritual or outward display but is intimately tied to one’s conduct. It’s a lesson Saul tragically failed to grasp. Instead of honoring God with his obedience, he revealed himself as an idolater, his own ego becoming his deity. His disobedience (12:13-15)⁸, amounted to a rejection by God, aligning him with sins as grave as witchcraft and idolatry, offenses punishable by death according to biblical standards (v. 23)⁹. The consequences were severe; Saul’s disregard for God’s commands led to his removal from the throne, an irrevocable sentence extending to his descendants. This account underscores a timeless truth: those who persist in defiance against God ultimately face His rejection.

How do we show obedience to God, in this chaotic world?

Amidst the chaotic downfall of Saul, there shines a beacon of hope, illuminating God’s gracious provision of leadership. We encounter this figure in the subsequent chapter (1 Samuel 16), a “neighbor” surpassing Saul in every measure. Yet, our apex of contentment rests not in earthly leaders, but in the unwavering guidance of the Leader descended from David. Unlike even the noblest of rulers, Jesus Christ flawlessly and sinlessly champions His people, guiding them through the chaos of this world (Acts 5:31; Hebrews 2:10; 12:2)¹⁰.

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1. ³Now 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. ⁹But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. (1 Samuel 15:3, 9 NASB95)
2. Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD! I have carried out the command of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 15:13 NASB95)
3. Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the LORD, and went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. (1 Samuel 15:20 NASB95)
4. ¹¹“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night. ¹²Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal.” (1 Samuel 15:11-12 NASB95)
5. Samuel said, “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 NASB95)
6. For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; you are not pleased with burnt offering. (Psalms 51:16 NASB95)
   Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah. “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle; and I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, who requires of you this trampling of My courts? Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:10-17 NASB95)
7. For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6 NASB95)
   “I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? You also carried along Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves. Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts. (Amos 5:21-27 NASB95)
   With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8 NASB95)
8. ¹³Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for, and behold, the LORD has set a king over you. ¹⁴If you will fear the LORD and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God. ¹⁵If you will not listen to the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the command of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers. (1 Samuel 12:13-15 NASB95)
9. “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:23 NASB95)
10. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31 NASB95)
    For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10 NASB95)
    fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NASB95)

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