I Samuel 15:9b But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

 

    For years I have required practice time to be logged and turned in from first-year band students. I ask kids to spend 60 minutes during the Thursday-to-Tuesday time I won’t see them. Sadly, few students do this! Occasionally, a student will turn in a lesser amount, say 20 minutes, accompanied by a long story. Since I have no power to enforce compliance, I tell them, “Well, some is better than none!”

    Saul had been given a directive by God. His orders were clear. But he had not obeyed. He decided to rewrite the rules to fit his partial compliance. Then, when Samuel shows up and challenges him on his disobedience, Saul explains his reasoning. He had actually disobeyed so that he might better serve God! Samuel, and God, were unimpressed and Samuel told him, “obedience is better than sacrifice!”

    Saul was told to destroy everything. (This passage must be read in full to begin to understand the context.) But he only destroyed what was of no use to him. He was very skillful at making it sound like he had done a good thing. Seen apart from his instructions, his actions seem good. But God does not look at our partial obedience and say, “Some is better than none!” Where God is concerned, partial obedience is just a long way to describe disobedience. 

    Saul obeyed with the stuff that he didn’t want or find of value. In that, he is like a lot of us today. We may feel like we should give something to God, but we choose that which is despised or worthless to us. Something that won’t cost too much. With the loved or worthy we are not so generous. For example, how many people put off following God altogether thinking they will do that when they are older. (Because they won’t care about those years so much.) Or, on a more micro level, how many people can’t quite make it to church on Sunday morning because they ‘were too tired’. (They placed a higher value on their Saturday evening plans and the sleep those inspired and were unwilling to part with either for God!) Or how many are forgiving to most people? (Not that one guy! He’s terrible!)

    Is God’s call to total obedience unwarranted or impossible? Well, Jesus obeyed to the point of death on the cross. God gave in the most extravagant way possible! He endured the punishment for our sins!

    It’s possible to compare my level of obedience to Saul and come away feeling pretty good, even if I am not in complete obedience. What if I compare my level of obedience to Jesus? Now I need His mercy! 

Blessings,

Pastor Russ