Untitled Sermon (2)

Saul didn’t have a good track record for wisdom. Samuel called him out on his foolishness when Saul presumptuously offered up a burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel to arrive. Later, Saul made a rash vow that almost cost his son Jonathan his life. Then God gave Saul a direct command through Samuel (1 Samuel 15:1-3). More than 400 years before, the Amalekites attacked Israel when God’s people were vulnerable (Ex. 17:14-16, Deut 25:17-19). Time did not erase the Amalekites’ cruelty, and God did not forget their attack. Saul was told to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belonged to them. Instead of obeying God, Saul kept wicked King Agag alive as a prisoner, and he kept the best of the sheep and cattle from the enemy’s camp (15:7-9).

Perhaps Saul wanted to parade Agag before the Israelites as a trophy—a conquered foe. Or maybe he simply pitied Agag. The word translated “spared” in 1 Samuel 15:9 means “to commiserate or have pity.” Perhaps he saw in Agag a worthy counterpart. Regardless, Saul disobeyed God. He reasoned that God would be pleased by his saving the sheep and cattle. He suggested he was keeping the best of the bad, so to speak, as a “sacrifice” to God.

Why Did Samuel Tell Saul 'Obedience Is Better than Sacrifice'?

When the prophet Samuel confronted Saul, he denied his disobedience. “I have carried out the Lord’s instructions,” he said (1 Sam. 15:13). It was a preposterous claim, as Samuel noted the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of cattle. Then Saul justified himself by blaming others. Samuel’s reply likely cut Saul to the heart: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).

Samuel explained further: “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry” (1 Sam. 15:23). Disobeying God is rebellion against Him, an act Samuel equated to paganism and witchcraft. In Saul’s case, it was also connected to his proud heart. Saul decided he knew better than God. All rebellion is idolatry, a form of self-worship. Samuel said, “Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” God took away Saul’s throne and cut his dynasty short (1 Samuel 13:14; 15:28).

But rebellion wasn’t Saul’s only wrongdoing. For Saul, fear of man—and desiring their praise—offset God’s priority of obedience. We see that in his confession in verse 24: “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” Saul was afraid of losing people’s adulation. Even when he said, “I have sinned,” he also said, “please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel” (1 Sam. 15:30).

Why Did Samuel Make a Point to Confront Saul’s Sin?

When God spoke to Samuel, saying He regretted making Saul king, Samuel was both angry and heartbroken over Saul’s sin. But Samuel was God’s prophet, and He understood why God was grieved and disappointed in the king. Samuel had to tell the truth; he had to confront Saul. And then he did what Saul refused to do—he put cruel Agag to death.

Whether Saul was later simply sorry for his sin, or if he genuinely repented, there was little evidence he wanted to walk in tune with God. Saul’s disobedience cost him Samuel’s counsel—“Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death” (1 Sam. 15:35). They no longer had anything in common. Saul was self-righteous, while godly Samuel was zealous only for the glory of God. Author R. Steele said of Samuel, “He would not compromise his principles for the sake of keeping the favor of a king,” and Samuel’s absence “would be a constant reproof” to Saul of his rebellion and disobedience.

Jesus condemned this attitude in the Pharisees (Matt.6). He said their religious activities were practiced only to look good in front of others. It’s not that various “offerings” are bad, but when good works or spiritual disciplines are done while disobeying God’s direct commands, or when we make a show of works to get others’ approval, our sacrifices are a sham.