In 1 Samuel 15, God tells King Saul to destroy King Agag of the Amalekites and destroy every man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel and donkey. King Saul spares Agag and the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs and all that was good. The text says King Saul was not “willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed” (verse 9).
Notice that it was King Saul who decided what was “despised” and what was “worthless” and what should be preserved. Thus, even in killing what he did, it was based on King Saul’s judgment and wishes, not God’s. King Saul did not half-obey God. He disobeyed God entirely.
When Samuel came on the scene, Saul suggested that these good animals were preserved for worship. But that wasn’t what God wanted done. Samuel’s response is classic: “Has the Lord as much 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. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry” (verses 22-23).
Consider these comments. Paul House writes in his Old Testament Theology: “Always success is measured by adherence to Mosaic monotheism” (236). To be more precise, success is measured in terms of one’s obedience to the God of heaven.
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If an act of worship is not an act of obedience, that worship is worthless and pointless. In fact, in the eyes of God – in the words of Samuel – it is rebellion. Just because we call something “worship” does not mean God is pleased with it.
–Paul Holland
