The Trouble With King Saul: Part 1

The Trouble with King Saul: Part 1

Bible Blast: Read 1 Samuel 14:47–15:23

What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22

In the Old Testament you’ll find lots of war stories that teach us about God’s creativity and strategy in overcoming evil. Today’s Bible Blast tells the story of King Saul, who thought his own ideas were better than God’s commands. Samuel, the prophet, gave Saul a message from God that he needed to attack the Amalekite people. He told Saul to completely destroy all the Amalekites and everything they had—crops, livestock, everything. But when Saul and his army attacked the Amalekites, they destroyed everybody except for King Agag, and they only got rid of the livestock and crops that were of poor quality. They wanted the rest for themselves.

When Samuel confronted Saul regarding his disobedience, Saul didn’t seem to understand how he had failed to do exactly what God had directed. He said, “I did obey God. I did kill everybody, except for the king, and I only kept the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord your God.”

I could just see Samuel shaking his head as he stated the words in our focus verse today. His heart was broken because this human king of Israel didn’t understand the importance of obeying his Creator, the King of all kings. Isn’t it funny how Saul said, “But I did obey God” when he clearly didn’t?

I remember making similar almost-true statements to my parents. If Mom told me to clean my room, maybe I would make my bed and shove everything on the floor into a big pile in the corner. When Mom would say, “I thought I told you to clean your room,” I would say, “But I did clean my room, mostly. I’ll put that big pile away later.” That’s not obedience. It’s rebellion.

When God—or your mom—asks you to do something, do it exactly as you are instructed. That’s obedience.

Girl Gab: Daughter, are you obedient? Answer that question, and tell your mom what’s in your heart when—and if—you disobey. Mom, affirm your daughter in the areas where she is obedient.