In what ways might we justify disobedience like Saul in 1 Samuel 15:20? The Setting: Saul’s Half-Obedience “ ‘I did obey the voice of the LORD,’ Saul insisted… ” (1 Samuel 15:20). God had told Saul to devote Amalek to complete destruction (vv. 3, 18). Saul selectively obeyed—sparing King Agag and the best livestock—and then claimed full obedience. Saul’s Justifications in the Passage • Redefining obedience: “I have performed the command of the LORD” (v. 20) • Blame-shifting: “The people took some of the spoil” (v. 21) • Spiritual cover: “to sacrifice to the LORD your God” (v. 21) • Partial compliance presented as total compliance: He destroyed “all that was despised and worthless” (v. 9) while keeping what appealed to him • Public image management: setting up a monument for himself (v. 12) Modern Echoes of Saul’s Excuses • “I obeyed—just not the part that didn’t make sense.” • “Everyone around me does it this way; I’m just following the crowd.” • “I kept the best so I could give God more later—He’ll understand.” • “I know the verse says ‘all,’ but surely God only meant the worst parts.” • “This compromise lets me reach more people; results matter.” • “God hasn’t punished me yet, so He must be okay with it.” Why These Rationalizations Feel Plausible • We confuse good intentions with obedience (Proverbs 14:12). • We crave human approval (John 12:43). • We treat sacrifice, service, or ministry success as a bargaining chip with God (Proverbs 21:3). • We want to manage outcomes instead of trusting God with them (Isaiah 55:8-9). • We minimize sin by comparing ourselves to others (Luke 18:11-12). Root Issues Exposed • Selective reverence—honoring God’s name while reserving final say for self (Matthew 15:8-9). • Fear of man—valuing the crowd’s opinion above God’s command (1 Samuel 15:24). • Pragmatism—judging obedience by visible results rather than God’s word (1 Corinthians 3:13). • Pride—refusing correction, doubling down when confronted (1 Samuel 15:30). Guardrails to Keep Us from Saul-Like Disobedience • Treat every word of God as non-negotiable (Psalm 119:4). • Seek immediate, complete obedience—no partial, no delay (James 1:22-25). • Invite accountability that can confront partial compliance (Galatians 6:1-2). • Cultivate a heart that values obedience above offerings or outcomes (1 Samuel 15:22). • Let Scripture, not circumstances, define success (Joshua 1:8). • Regularly confess and repent when conviction comes—no excuses, no blame-shifting (1 John 1:9). Living It Out Today We honor the literal, authoritative word of God when we obey fully, promptly, and joyfully. Like Saul, we can cloak rebellion in religious language, but God “delights in obedience rather than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22). Let’s resolve, by His enabling grace, to refuse the subtle justifications and walk in whole-hearted obedience: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15). |
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