31/08/2022
Theme: Obedience
Topic: Dangerous Route of Disobedience
Text: 1 Samuel 15: 1- end.
Central Truth: There is no right way for doing wrong.
Introduction: If any man had a reason to become a success, it iwas Saul, the first king of Israel. In the beginning, everything was in his favour. He had a divine call from God, and he had the power of God's Spirit to enable him do what God wanted. He had a wonderful praying friend, Samuel the prophet, and he had a group of men who supported him. Yet God had to discipline Saul because of his disobedience and lack of trust. Saul went down in history as a great failure at a M when the nation of Israel needed a great success. He lost God's blessing, his crown and his life.
This tragedy calls for explanation. In fact, Saul was to blame for his own failure. He abandoned God's way and began to live on substitutes. Three major nuggets that expose Saul's life of substitute is the focus of this message.
I. SAYING RATHER THAN DOING
Saul substituted saying for doing -- 15:13
Saul's report revealed that he had not performed the commandment of the Lord! What was God's commandment? Utterly destroy the Amalekites ( 15:3)
God tells us to obey His commands -- all of them -- not merely the ones we like, understand or make us comfortable.
> Incomplete obedience is arrogant disobedience.
Read the following Scriptures and see why God gave this instruction -- Ex.17:8 - 14; Deut. 25: 17-19. With these historical records in mind and the direct and clear instruction given by Samuel, Saul should have known that Amakek was to be completely destroyed.
Saul lied. He claimed to be obedient when he was really disobedient. God knew that Saul was lying as did Samuel; before long , even the people knew about Saul's lie. The bleating of the sheep and the lowing ofthe oxen were clear evidence that he had not obeyed God. Saul was substituting saying for doing.
II. EXCUSES RATHER THAN CONFESSION
The second substitution took place that same day. Saul substituted excuses for confession (15:15). Saul tried to excuse his disobedience by claiming that the animals were only kept to be sacrificed to God. King Saul was very good at excuses. Beware of excuses! An excuse is defined by Billy Sunday as "the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie."
In chapter 13 Saul's excuse was that Samuel did not arrive early as promised, so he went ahead and offered the sacrifice. In chapter 14 Saul blamed Jonathan for the defeat of Israel because he had eaten a small portion of honey when the army was under a vow. Here in chapter 15 Saul blamed the people when he failed to obey God's command to destroy the Amalekites.
Watch out for people who always have an excuse. An excuse is a refusal to be honest and to accept responsibility for our actions.
> Our heavenly Father places a high value on obedience preferring it even to outward expression of worship. In fact, our obedience is the ultimate expression of our worship and service.
> The folly of excuses for sin is seen by all except the sinner himself.
Saul should have confessed his sin honestly (Prov.28:13). One sin often leads to another when we try to hide our it.
> Whoever lives a life of substitutes will one day be substituted (15:28).
III. SACRIFICE RATHER THAN OBEDIENCE
Finally, Saul substituted sacrifice for obedience (15:15). We know that God does not want sacrifice -- He wants obedience. Samuel announced this fact in verse 22, "But Samuel replied: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."
Many verses Scripture confirm this -- Ps 50:12-14; 51:16-17; Is.1:11; Hos.6:6; Mic. 6:6-7. Throughout Scripture God makes it very clear that He wants obedience rather than sacrifice.
> Sacrifice can never replace obedience.
> Property obtained by unholy means is not acceptable to God when laid on His altar for professedly religious purposes (v.22).
Conclusion
Saul substituted saying for doing. He substituted excuses for confession. He substituted sacrifice for obedience. No wonder he failed! Saul recognised fear as a real problem in his life, but did nothing about it. What is your own problem? You have to deal with it through a sincere confession before God.
We should never forget that every day affords us new opportunities of obeying God's commands. If we are deliberately disobedient in any office of trust, we may some day expect a grave judgment.
Shalom.
