What can we learn about true obedience from Saul's actions in 1 Samuel 15:20? Setting the Scene God had commanded Saul, through Samuel, to “strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that belongs to him” (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul carried out part of the mission, yet spared King Agag and the best livestock. When Samuel confronted him, Saul defended himself. Saul’s Claim of Obedience—1 Samuel 15:20 “Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I did obey the LORD. I went on the mission on which the LORD sent me; I brought back Agag king of Amalek, and I devoted the Amalekites to destruction.’” Lessons on True Obedience • Partial compliance is disobedience – Saul destroyed what seemed expendable but spared what he valued. – James 2:10 reminds that breaking even one part of God’s command makes us guilty of the whole. – True obedience embraces God’s entire word, not the convenient parts. • Good intentions cannot replace exact obedience – Saul argued that the spared animals were for sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:21). – Yet God desires obedience over sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). – John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Love shows itself by doing what God says, not by offering substitutes He did not request. • Self-justification blinds us to sin – Saul insisted, “I did obey.” – Proverbs 21:2: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.” – Honest self-examination under Scripture prevents the self-deception that plagued Saul. • Obedience must be immediate and complete – Delayed or selective obedience erodes trustworthiness before God. – Psalm 119:60: “I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.” – When God speaks, the only faithful response is prompt, full compliance. • Leadership accountability is higher – Saul’s compromise affected the nation; leadership failures have ripple effects. – Luke 12:48: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.” – Those entrusted with influence must model wholehearted obedience. Putting It into Practice • Measure your actions against the entirety of God’s Word, not personal preference. • Reject the temptation to offer God alternatives; give Him what He asks. • Allow Scripture and the Holy Spirit to expose rationalizations. • Cultivate a habit of swift, complete obedience in small matters to prepare for larger ones. • Remember that obedience is an expression of love and trust in the Lord who commands only what is good. |
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