Topic: Total Obedience to God
Main Text: 1 Samuel 15: 1-31
Key verse: 1 Samuel 15:22 “So Samuel said, ‘Has 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 heed than the fat of rams.” (NKJV).
Introduction:
God chose Saul as the first king of Israel. At first, he seemed humble and reluctant to take on such an exalted role. He won many battles against Israel’s enemy. As he grew into the role, his real character began to emerge; he was intemperate, prone to poor judgment, and craved popularity with people more than the approval of God (1 Sa 13:13-15). God instructed Saul through Samuel to “punish Amalek for what he did to Israel…. utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them”. Saul began well, exercising wisdom regarding the Kenites (1 Sa 15:6), but, once again, disobeyed God by sparing Agag, the Amalek king, together with the choice sheep, oxen, lambs, and all that was good. This was outright disobedience and rebellion against God’s clear instructions, which he understood. He sought to cast his actions in a different light, but it had dire consequences for him because God demands obedience to His commands.
Q1. (1a) Read Deut 27:9-10, Josh 24:14, Ps 81:13-14, and John 14:15. What does God require of His people? (1b) Read 1Sa 12:13-15; 13:9-14. Why was Saul especially without excuse in relation to the incident with the Amalekites? (1c) Discuss the consequences of disobedience for God’s people in the Bible. See, for example, Deut 28:15,20 and Deut 30:15-18, Matt 7:21-23.
Paragraph 2:
God’s clear instruction in the Bible is one of total obedience (John 14:15). Partial obedience is complete disobedience. Saul developed a pattern of disobedience and foolishness (1 Sam 14:24-30) and grown increasingly estranged from God (1Sam 14:37). Confronted with his sin, Saul first argued that he had fully obeyed, then, when that failed, blamed “the people” (his soldiers) for sparing the sheep while claiming it was done with good intentions which God would surely understand and approve. He neglected to mention that he had set up a monument to himself in his pride (1 Sam 15:12). Saul’s response to being confronted by Samuel was in marked contrast to David’s response years later when Nathan confronted him with his own grievous sin. As believers, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who enables us to obey Christ’s commandments. We have no excuse for sin (all sin is disobedience), yet we do sin, i.e., we do not practice total obedience. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sin if we repent, as David did, and do not seek excuses to continue in sin, as Saul chose to do.
Q2.(2a) How should we confront and correct disobedience? See 2 Sa 12:7-10; Jer. 3:12-14 (2b) Read Josh. 1:8, Isa. 1:19, Luke 6:38, Ps. 119:1-8. Comment on the relationship between obedience to God and success. (2c) Why else should we obey God’s Word? See Ps 19:7-11.
Paragraph 3:
Setting up a monument to himself symbolized the central focus of Saul’s kingship. Even in his confession to Samuel, he seemed more concerned with not looking bad in front of his elders than seeking forgiveness from the God he had offended. Saul could not return to God as his “first love” because he loved himself and his own reputation more. Outward conformity with ritual was more important to him than inward righteousness. He was blind to the danger that confronted him, i.e., that his rebellion and stubbornness were tantamount to idolatry and witchcraft, the penalty for which was death. The best sacrifice we can bring to God is a repentant heart (Ps 51:16-17) and bodies surrendered to his service for obedience (Ro 12:1)
Q3.(3a) Read John 14:21,Romans 12:1-2, and 2 Peter 1:5-9. Discuss how we might see more of the fruit of obedience in our lives.
Prayer: Father, I ask you to help me live in total obedience to your Word. By this, I show that I believe in you and trust you. Help me to humble my heart so that I look up to you as the Holy Spirit gives me guidance and direction in Jesus’ Name. Amen.