Week #34

In the Old Testament sacrifice was seen as the ultimate form of worship. Each year the children of Israel would sacrifice an animal to cover their sins. They would sacrifice as an act of thanksgiving. They would sacrifice as a sign of trust. They would sacrifice at festivals and celebrations.Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice.
Sacrifice became such a part of Jewish worship that it lost its meaning in the people’s hearts. God told King Saul to go out and completely destroy the Amalekites.Saul did except for their king and the best of the livestock.

1 Samuel 15:20-23 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. 21 Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” 22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

The children of Israel began to be disobedient to God, but felt that they were still okay because they sacrificed. God wants your obedience more than anything else. When we are obedient to God all the other areas of our les fall into place. Worship is more intimate. Decisions are easier. Life is better because we have made a conscience choice to obey our Lord. God wants obedience in all areas of our lives. We need to obey all authority figures in our lives. God honors us and we honor God when we are obedient.

I Samuel 15:27-29 “As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe. 28 And Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you. 29 And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”

Samuel prophesied about a coming King that would not lie, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is worthy of worship through our obedience to Him.