Upon the request of Israel, God gave them a king, Saul. Saul however on several occasions was not obedient to God. When God gave instructions he would do part and go ahead with what he Saul thought was right.
One of such occasions was when God instructed Saul and the Israelites to attack the Amelekites and spare nothing to live. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” (1 Samuel 15:3)
Saul as usual decided to revise the instruction. He and the army of Israel attacked the town, but they spared Agag the king of the Amalekites and the best of the animals, sheep and cattle, fat calves and lambs. These Saul said he kept to sacrifice to God. This act of disobedience led to God rejecting Saul as King and regretting He had ever made Saul King. Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. (1 Samuel 15:35)
We like Saul lead lives of disobedience to God. We take his instructions, revise it, update it to suit our desires. And when our disobedience is brought to light we in the words of Saul defend ourselves: “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” (1 Samuel 15:20-21)
It has never been easy to obey God. We have to make a conscious effort and decide to obey God. For if we say we love Him, we have to obey Him. To Obey God is to keep his commandments, Seek His face in all we do, to live a life that is pleasing in His sight.
Obedience to God brings blessings.
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine (Exodus 19:5)
On the other hand disobedience to God brings destruction.
"But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: (Deuteronomy 28:15)
"If 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 12:15)
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
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For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. I chose this day to obey you, to keep your commandments, to seek your face in all I do. Give me the strength to live a life that please you.
And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Amen!
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