I Samuel 15: The Fall Of Saul

Which do you think God prefers?  Generous sacrificial giving or faithful obedience to His commands?

Samuel provides an answer to that question in verse 22: "Surely to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."  The context of this statement is a hard lesson that Saul learned when he did not fully follow the command of God.

Samuel had sent Saul on a military mission from the Lord in verse 3: Utterly destroy the Amalekites. Spare nothing.  So Saul rallies his troops, sets out to war against the Amalekites and defeats them.  But rather than destroying everything, he choose to keep alive their king, Agag, as a prisoner, and also preserve the best of their flocks and herds.  In response, God reveals to Samuel that He is sorry He ever made Saul king over Israel.

When Samuel arrives at the Israelite camp, Saul tries to put a positive spin on things.  (The king has evolved into a politician, because he gives the best possible interpretation to his motives, like he did earlier in chapter 13.)  Saul preemptively says, "May you be blessed by the Lord; I have carried out the command of the Lord" (vs. 13).  Oh really? Samuel replies.  "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of cattle that I hear?" (vs. 14)

Even though Saul continues to insist that he carried out God's command (vs. 20), Samuel has had enough.  After telling Saul that he should have obeyed rather than worry about sacrifice, Samuel tells him that he has been rejected from being king over Israel.  Finally realizing the seriousness of the situation, Saul admits his sin (vs. 24). Yet he still thinks he can fix the situation and get God to change his mind (vs. 25).  But God's mind is fixed, Samuel says.  Saul has rejected God, and God has rejected Saul.  Even a physical sign is acted out to this effect where Saul catches hold of the hem of Samuel's cloak and it tears away.  That, Samuel says, is a metaphor for the kingdom being torn away from Saul and his family (vs. 28).

When it comes to applying the teachings of this chapter to our own spiritual lives, I think the message is that we should strive for faithful obedience the first time to God's commands, and not figure on placating Him later with a generous gift or offering or sacrificial act.  That is not to say that God cannot forgive, for we know that He does just that through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  But we would be farther ahead to do as Jesus says: "If you love me, you will keep my commands" (John 14:15).  

Don't make the mistake of Saul.  To obey is better than sacrifice!