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1 Samuel 15:22, 23 - Obedience is better than Sacrifice.

1 Samuel 15:22, 23 (NLT) But Samuel replied, 
What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt 
offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his 
voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. 
Listening to him is much better than offering the fat 
of rams.  Rebellion is as bad as the sin of 
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping 
idols. So because you have rejected the word of the 
LORD, he has rejected you from being king. 

COMMENTARY PEARL

Active Obedience
   In the Old Testament, we find the story 
of Saul, a king whom God rejected because of 
his constant wickedness. God instructed him to 
go into battle and destroy his enemies 
completely, along with their livestock. But after 
defeating his enemies on the battlefield, Saul saw 
some sheep and cattle and decided to keep them 
for himself. 
   Afterward, when the prophet Samuel went 
to meet him, Saul greeted the prophet and said, 
Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the 
commandment of the Lord (1 Samuel 15:13 NKJV). 
   Samuel replied, What then is this 
bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of 
the oxen which I hear? (verse 14 NKJV). 
   In effect, Saul told him, Thanks for 
bringing that to my attention. I saved those for the 
Lord. Im going to sacrifice them to God. 
   Samuel said, 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 (1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV). 
   Samuel was saying that foremost, God 
wanted Sauls obedience. Our worship, praise, 
giving, and service are fine, but obedience comes 
first. 
   Lets say, for example, that a husband 
is unfaithful to his wife, and she finds out. 
So he goes out and buys her a nice gift. Then 
hes unfaithful again, so he buys her a new car. 
But his wife says, Youre missing the 
point. I dont want all this stuff. I want your 
faithfulness more than anything else. These things 
cant take the place of what really matters. 
   A relationship with God, a friendship 
with God, requires active obedience. Its more 
than not doing bad things. Its also doing good 
things, the things that are pleasing to Him. [Greg 
Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

COMMENTARY

This is the first of numerous places in the 
Bible where the theme "to obey is better than 
sacrifice" is stated (Psalms 40:6-8; Psalms 51:16, 17; 
Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:11-17; Jeremiah 7:21-23; 
Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 12:7; Mark 12:33; 
Hebrews 10:8, 9). Was Samuel saying that sacrifice 
is unimportant? No, he was urging Saul to look 
at his reasons for making the sacrifice rather 
than at the sacrifice itself. A sacrifice was a 
ritual transaction between man and God that 
physically demonstrated a relationship between them. 
But if the person's heart was not truly 
repentant or if he did not truly love God, the 
sacrifice was a hollow ritual. Religious ceremonies or 
rituals are empty unless they are performed with an 
attitude of love and obedience. "Being religious" 
(going to church, serving on a committee, giving to 
charity) is not enough if we do not act out of 
devotion and obedience to God. [Life Application SB] 

   Rebellion and arrogance are serious sins. 
They involve far more than being independent and 
strong-minded. Scripture equates them with divination 
(witchcraft) and idolatry, sins worthy of death (Exodus 
22:18; Leviticus 20:6; Deut. 13:12-15; Deut. 18:10; 
Micah 5:10-14). 
   Saul became both rebellious and arrogant, 
so it is little wonder that God finally 
rejected him and took away his kingdom. Rebellion 
against God is perhaps the most serious sin of all 
because as long as a person rebels, he or she closes 
the door to forgiveness and restoration with 
God. [Life Application SB] 

   The sacrificial offerings were in 
themselves of no value in the sight of God. They were 
designed to express on the part of the offerer 
penitence for sin and faith in Christ and to pledge 
future obedience to the law of God. But without 
penitence, faith, and an obedient heart, the offerings 
were worthless. When, in direct violation of 
God's command, Saul proposed to present a 
sacrifice of that which God had devoted to 
destruction, open contempt was shown for the divine 
authority. The service would have been an insult to 
Heaven. Yet with the sin of Saul and its result 
before us, how many are pursuing a similar course. 
While they refuse to believe and obey some 
requirement of the Lord, they persevere in offering up 
to God their formal services of religion. There 
is no response of the Spirit of God to such 
service. No matter how zealous men may be in their 
observance of religious ceremonies, the Lord cannot 
accept them if they persist in willful violation of 
one of His commands.  
   "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, 
and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." 
Rebellion originated with Satan, and all rebellion 
against God is directly due to satanic influence. 
Those who set themselves against the government of 
God have entered into an alliance with the 
archapostate, and he will exercise his power and cunning 
to captivate the senses and mislead the 
understanding. He will cause everything to appear in a 
false light. Like our first parents, those who are 
under his bewitching spell see only the great 
benefits to be received by transgression. PP634-5   

ONE LINER

Christ is our hope and our refuge. His 
righteousness is imputed only to the obedient. 6BC1072-3  
 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 

1 Samuel 15:22, 23 - Obedience is better 
than Sacrifice. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210311-0923.html 

1 Samuel 15:22,23 - Obedience vs Sacrifice

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2004/20040402-1012.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/