"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken
than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22
The greatest of God’s demands upon man is not for him to
bear the cross, to serve, to make offerings, or to deny himself. The greatest demand
is for him to obey.
The sacrifices offered here by Saul were those called in
Leviticus sweet-savor offerings. These had nothing to do with sin, for the sin
offerings were never described as a sweet-savor offering to the Lord. These
were offered to God for his acceptance and satisfaction.
Why, then, did Samuel insist that it would have been
better to have obeyed rather than to offer them'? Because, as the story makes
clear, even in a sacrifice there can be an element of self-will, and that can
never honor or please God. Obedience alone is absolutely honoring to him, for
obedience makes God’s will its only center.
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