Obedience and Sacrifice

Obedience is the act of doing that
which one is or has been instructed to do.

Sacrifice is the act of giving up something of value
for the sake of something else. Sacrifice is sometimes also
considered a form of worship.

The prophet Samuel said to King Saul,
      "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
      as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
      To obey is better than sacrifice,
      and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
      For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
      and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
      Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
      he has rejected you as king."

In this context, here is a man who was anointed to be a
King of Israel and even because of an act of obedience/disobedience
was willing to kill his own son. But because of his own disobedience
to the Lord's instructions, he loses his kingship.

The prophet Samuel himself received his anointing
through an act of Eli's, Samuel's predecessor, honor of his own sons
more than he honored the Lord.

And let us not forget the great emancipator, Moses, was unable to
enter the promised land because of his disobedience in "simply"
striking the rock to bring forth water as opposed to speaking
to the rock as instructed.

Now sacrifice is important, but its significance is tied to the
obedience of the giver. This is evermore emphasized in the words of
Proverbs 15:8 "The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him." Proverbs 21:3
"To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD
than sacrifice." and Proverbs 21:27 "The sacrifice of the wicked
is detestable - how much more so when brought with evil intent!"

Finally, why not consider the words of
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ himself when he says,
"If you love me, you will obey what I command."

Just as the songwriter wrote,
      "Trust and Obey,
      For there's no other way,
      To be happy in Jesus,
      You just Trust and Obey."

(Numbers 20:7-13; 1 Samuel 2:27-29; 14:44; 15:22-23;
Proverbs 15:8; 21:3,27; John 14:15;
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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