The Value of Obedience

Will Livingston

Sermon: 1 Samuel 15:1-25

Monday, April 11, 2022

A. Foundational Elements

1. “The Value of Obedience”

2. 1 Samuel 15:1-25

3. Disobedience leads to rejection.

4. ETS: Samuel was rejected as king by God because of his disobedience.

5. ESS: We should fully obey the Lord’s instruction in our lives.

6. OSS: [Devotional or Conservative] I want the hearers to fully obey the Lord in their lives and ministries.

7. PQ: How do we avoid rejection by the LORD?

8. UW: Steps

B. Formal Elements

Introduction:

1. [AGS] A family was expecting guests over, and in preparation to receive them, the mom and dad were tidying up the house. While tidying the house, the dad noticed that the son’s room was rather messy. He called to his son, “Son, come, please!” The son came, and the dad instructed him, “I need you to clean your room and to put away all of the toys that are out of place. Please do not leave any toys out and visible. We have company coming, and I want the house to look nice and presentable.” The boy responded, “Yes sir.” He began working to clean his room. He put away most of the toys and other stuff that was out, but this one toy- his favorite toy that was the coolest- he left out in the center of his room hoping to get to show it off. He thought the company coming would also think it was neat, and he did not want to miss the opportunity to be declared the “cool kid” because of this toy.

2. [TS] The son’s actions were like those of king Saul in the text today. The Lord, through the prophet Samuel, instructed Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites and their livestock. However, Saul acted in disobedience leading to God rejecting him as king.

3. [RS] As believers and ministry leaders, God has instructed us through the Bible regarding what He desires us to do in our ministries. Our aim in life should be to fully obey the Lord’s instruction in our lives and ministries. As we study this text today, I want it to serve as a warning regarding the cost of disobedience. Disobedience to the Lord leads to rejection by the Lord. Therefore, we need to be proactive in our lives and ministries to ensure that we are obedient to the Lord.

4. [Transition] Let us examine together a few steps that ensure our obedience to the Lord.

Body:

I. We need to heed the full instruction of the LORD. (vv. 1-9)

1. The instruction of the LORD was clear: “Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.” (v. 3)

2. Saul only heeded part of the LORD’s instruction. Vv. 7-9 detail that Saul and his troops spared King Agag and the best of the livestock.

3. There are two evident issues in these verses:

i. Saul only partially heeded the Lord’s instruction thus only partially obeying the Lord. Partial obedience is equal to no obedience at all.

ii. Saul had selfish motives seeking to gain personal gain. He determined what he thought was the best livestock and chose to save them.

4. APPLICATION: We are not God. We do not know what is best. Therefore, when God instructs, we need to heed the full instruction. An example of God’s instructions for us is in the command to make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:18-20). He desires that all people are reached with the Gospel. Thus, it is disobedient to choose certain people to minister to. We need to heed the full instruction of God in our lives.

II. We need to recognize the weight of disobeying the LORD. (vv. 10-11, 23, 26-29)

1. Saul’s disobedience led to the LORD regretting making him king. (10-11)

2. Saul’s disobedience led to anger and distress for Samuel. (10-11)

3. Saul’s disobedience led to the LORD rejecting him as king. (23, 26-29)

i. Ceremonial acts or rituals are not great enough to excuse disobedience. “No ceremonial can make up for a rebellious attitude to God and his commandments, because obstinate resistance to God exalts self-will to the place of authority, which belongs only to God. That is why it is as bad as divination (by evil spirits), and tantamount to idolatry, for another god, self, has usurped his place.”[1]

ii. The kingship of Israel was torn away from Saul and given to David because of Saul’s disobedience, disqualifying himself to serve as king.

4. APPLICATION: We must never think that preparing the best sermons, having the best programs, or serving at the best church excuse us from living in obedience to the LORD. There is no amount of service or sacrifice that, in the Lord’s eyes, excuses obedience.

III. We need to humbly acknowledge our own disobedience. (vv. 12-21 and 24)

1. Rather than acknowledging his disobedience, Saul justified it. Only after he was directly confronted with the consequence of his disobedience did he acknowledge his sin.

2. Three times (vv. 13, 15, and 20-21) Saul claimed obedience to the LORD and justified his actions. It is worth noting that Saul’s response in v. 15 Saul declares the Lord Samuel’s God but not his own. “…in order to offer a sacrifice to the LORD your God…” (Emphasis added)

3. Not only did Saul justify his disobedience, but he also blamed the troops failing to acknowledge his own authority as king over the troops. (vv. 15, 21)

4. APPLICATION: We need to acknowledge any unrepentant disobedience in our lives lest it turn into habitual disobedience and become a stronghold in our life. Regarding the instruction mentioned earlier (Mt. 28), perhaps it isn’t the sin of commission we need to acknowledge but the sin of omission instead. Failing to acknowledge our disobedience leads justifying our actions and blaming others.

IV. We need to appreciate the righteous confrontation of our peers. (vv. 12-23)

1. After the LORD spoke to Samuel regarding Saul’s disobedience, Samuel cried out to God on his behalf through the night before confronting Saul.

2. Samuel tried multiple times to get Saul to understand his sin. Ultimately, it took a direct, rather harsh, confrontation with the consequence of his disobedience to get his attention. However, Samuel was obedient to the LORD in each of his confrontations.

3. APPLICATION: We need to appreciate Godly peers in our life whom God has placed in a strategic position to help us recognize our sin. Those who are willing to confront us with the truth when we have neglected it.

V. We need to ask for forgiveness so that we can worship the LORD. (v. 25)

1. Only after Saul was confronted with the consequence of his disobedience did he confess his sin and ask for forgiveness. Though the later verses reveal selfish motives and an insincere heart, verse 25 records Saul asking for forgiveness so that he can worship the Lord.

2. APPLICATION: We need to ask for forgiveness when we disobey the LORD and fail to heed His instruction.

Conclusion:

1. Each of us has received clear instruction from the LORD just as Saul did. We need to be proactive in our lives to ensure that we are obeying the fullness of His instruction and not disobeying Him. The cost of disobedience in Saul’s life was the rejection by God of his kingship over Israel. The cost is high. The weight is heavy. We cannot afford to disobey the Lord.

2. Will you ask the Lord today to clearly instruct you through the Word with the help of the Holy Spirit? Will you commit to being proactive in taking steps of obedience so that you do not fail to obey as Saul did?

3. You can be proactive in obeying the Lord by heeding the full instruction of the LORD (not omitting any part of His Word to us), by recognizing the weight of disobedience, by acknowledging your own disobedience, by appreciating those in your life who hold you accountable, and by asking for forgiveness when you have failed the LORD through disobedience.

[1] Joyce G. Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 8, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 124.