What other scriptures highlight obedience as key to God's favor? Setting the Scene: Acts 13:22 “After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’ ” God’s commendation of David centers on wholehearted obedience. Scripture repeatedly links such obedience to experiencing God’s favor. Old-Testament Echoes of Obedience and Favor • Genesis 22:18 — “And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” • Exodus 19:5 — “Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations.” • Deuteronomy 28:1-2 — Obedience opens the floodgates of blessing; disobedience shuts them (vv. 15-68). • Joshua 1:7-8 — Prosperity and success flow from careful observance of God’s commands. • 1 Samuel 15:22 — “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Saul’s downfall contrasts with David’s obedience. • 2 Chronicles 16:9 — The Lord strongly supports those whose hearts are fully His. • Psalm 1:1-3 — Delighting in and obeying God’s law yields fruitfulness and stability. • Psalm 18:20-24 — David links deliverance to keeping God’s ways. • Isaiah 1:19 — “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.” New-Testament Reinforcements • John 14:21 — “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me… I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” • John 15:10 — Abiding in Christ’s love is tied to keeping His commands, just as He kept the Father’s. • Romans 1:5 — “The obedience of faith” is central to gospel living. • Ephesians 6:1-3 — Obedient children receive the promise of well-being and longevity. • James 1:22, 25 — Blessing comes not to the hearer but to the doer who perseveres. • 1 John 2:3-5 — Assurance of knowing God springs from obedience to His word. • Revelation 22:14 — “Blessed are those who wash their robes,” a picture of obeying His commands, granting access to the tree of life. Threads That Tie the Passages Together • Obedience demonstrates love for God. • God’s favor—whether protection, provision, or intimate fellowship—rests on the obedient. • Blessing is described both materially (land, prosperity) and spiritually (joy, revelation of Christ). • Partial obedience is disobedience; wholeheartedness marks those after God’s own heart. Practical Takeaways for Today 1. Keep Scripture at the center—meditating “day and night” (Psalm 1; Joshua 1). 2. Respond quickly and fully, like Abraham and David, rather than delaying or negotiating. 3. Measure love by obedience (John 14:21); feelings follow faithfulness. 4. Expect God’s favor not as payment but as the natural outflow of walking in His ways. |
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