The wise man Solomon wrote: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all" (Eccl. 12:13). Man's basic duty toward God is to respect Him and obey His commandments. However, man has often failed to meet both requirements.
King Saul was a man who failed to understand what it means to obey God. In First Samuel chapter fifteen, Saul was commanded, "Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey" (v. 3). This command was simple enough to understand, but Saul did not follow these instructions. Saul and his soldiers spared the king of the Amalekites as well as the best of their livestock (vs. 8-9). Saul was confronted by the prophet Samuel. His response to the prophet indicated that he still had some lessons to learn about obedience.
Partial Obedience Is Really Disobedience. It is amazing to me that even though Saul did not follow the Lord's instructions, he still claimed to have obeyed God (vs. 13, 20). He went on the mission, just as God had commanded him, but when he arrived he did what was right in his own eyes. He substituted his wisdom and will for God's clear instructions. Saul viewed this action as obedience, but God saw it as rebellion.
The same is true for us today. Many people view their limited involvement in "religion" as acceptable service unto God. It is common for people to pick and choose which commands they want to obey. For instance, Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). Yet many people stop half-way through that sentence and claim that they have obeyed the Lord and obtained the salvation of their soul through "faith only."
Our Disobedience Can Not Be Blamed Upon Others. When Saul was confronted with his sin of sparing the best of the animals, he tried to blame it on his soldiers (vs. 15, 21). Men often try to blame their sins upon others. Adam blamed his sin on Eve, and she blamed it upon the serpent (Gen. 3:12-13). Many people today seek to blame someone else for their failures, crimes, and sins. Such a tactic will not work with God. We had better learn to be accountable for our own actions and obey the Lord.
Worship Is No Substitute For Obedience. Saul said that the animals were spared so that they could be offered as a sacrifice to God (vs. 15, 21). Samuel responded to Saul's reasoning by saying, "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 heed than the fat of rams" (v. 22). Burnt offerings and sacrifices had their place, but they were no substitute for obeying the instructions of the Lord. This Sunday, many people will walk into houses of worship with hearts that are filled with rebellion, self-will, and a refusal to obey the commandments of God in their daily lives. Such people are only fooling themselves. They may think that God is pleased with their worship, but the reality is that He will reject their worship because it is offered from a heart and life that is filled with rebellion and disobedience.
Both faith and obedience to God are essential for our soul's salvation. Jesus will return "...in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:8). Please contact us if we can help you in your obedience to the gospel.