Homiletic Review 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold… I. OUR OBEDIENCE MUST BE PROMPT. We begin a holy life with the question, "What wilt thou have me to do?" The moment God answers we should run to do His bidding. "Run" is the word (Psalm 119:32) II. IT MUST BE EXACT. When Saul said, "I have obeyed the voice of the Lord," he meant it as certain loose and careless people count obedience It is not enough, however, for us to do fairly well When God says "Pay!" He means to the uttermost, farthing; when He says "Go to Nineveh," he means Nineveh and nowhere else "Whatsoever He saith onto you, do it." III. IT SHOULD BE UNQUESTIONING. If ever a man was excusable for "wanting to know," it was Saul when commanded to exterminate Amalek. Was the requirement just? Was it humane? Was it politic? But that was God's affair God must be permitted to justify Himself. There was no uncertainty as to the Voice IV. OUR OBEDIENCE SHOULD BE CHEERFUL. We make too much of duty and obligation, and too little of the joy and privilege of service Let us come up from the association of mercenaries and galley slaves to the high level of filial devotion. We are sons and daughters of God, brethren of Christ. He was once "sent" upon a painful, toilsome errand; His obedience was prompt, exact, unquestioning, and joyous." "In the volume of the book it is written, 'I rejoice to do Thy will.'" Let the mind that was in Christ; Jesus be also in us. (Homiletic Review.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. |
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