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Obedience is Better Part 3
Obedience is Better, Part 3
1 Samuel 15:24-35 (NIV) - [24] Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. [25] Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.” [26] But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!” [27] As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. [28] Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you. [29] He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.” [30] Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.” [31] So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD. [32] Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him confidently, thinking, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” [33] But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel put Agag to death before the LORD at Gilgal. [34] Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. [35] Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
1. Partial obedience to God’s specific instructions.
2. Subjective interpretation of God’s objective commands
3. Overestimation of our own importance
4. Unwillingness to take personal responsibility
5. Blaming others for our mistakes
6. Fear of what others may think, say, or do
7. Outright rebellion against God
Deuteronomy 18:10-13 (NIV) – [10] Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, [11] or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. [12] Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. [13] You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
Jeremiah 32:30, 35 (NIV) – [30] “The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but provoke me with what their hands have made, declares the LORD… [35] They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech, though I never commanded, nor did it enter my mind, that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.
2 Chronicles 33:1-2, 6 (NIV) – [1] Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. [2] He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites… [6] He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
8. Qualified and conditional repentance.
“Saul was constantly redefining the Lord’s commands, doing what seemed best to him rather than what God said was best. He made a show of repentance and pleaded with Samuel not to abandon him.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary)
9. Resistance to the discipline of the Lord.
Hebrews 12:5-6 (NIV) – [5] “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: [6] ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’”
10. Failure to finish the task
Matthew 21:28-32 (NIV) – [28] “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ [29] “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. [30] “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. [31] “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. [32] For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
11. Grieve the heart of God
“When God said he was sorry that he had made Saul king, was he saying he had made a mistake? God’s comment was an expression of sorrow, not an admission of error. An omniscient God cannot make a mistake; therefore, God did not change his mind. He did, however, change his attitude toward Saul when Saul changed. Saul’s heart no longer belonged to God but to his own interests.” (Life Application Bible)
Ephesians 4:29-31 (NIV) – [29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
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By Bakersfield First Assembly
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Obedience is Better, Part 3
1 Samuel 15:24-35 (NIV) - [24] Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. [25] Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.” [26] But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!” [27] As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. [28] Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you. [29] He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.” [30] Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.” [31] So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD. [32] Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him confidently, thinking, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” [33] But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel put Agag to death before the LORD at Gilgal. [34] Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. [35] Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
1. Partial obedience to God’s specific instructions.
2. Subjective interpretation of God’s objective commands
3. Overestimation of our own importance
4. Unwillingness to take personal responsibility
5. Blaming others for our mistakes
6. Fear of what others may think, say, or do
7. Outright rebellion against God
Deuteronomy 18:10-13 (NIV) – [10] Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, [11] or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. [12] Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. [13] You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
Jeremiah 32:30, 35 (NIV) – [30] “The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but provoke me with what their hands have made, declares the LORD… [35] They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech, though I never commanded, nor did it enter my mind, that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.
2 Chronicles 33:1-2, 6 (NIV) – [1] Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. [2] He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites… [6] He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
8. Qualified and conditional repentance.
“Saul was constantly redefining the Lord’s commands, doing what seemed best to him rather than what God said was best. He made a show of repentance and pleaded with Samuel not to abandon him.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary)
9. Resistance to the discipline of the Lord.
Hebrews 12:5-6 (NIV) – [5] “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: [6] ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’”
10. Failure to finish the task
Matthew 21:28-32 (NIV) – [28] “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ [29] “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. [30] “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. [31] “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. [32] For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
11. Grieve the heart of God
“When God said he was sorry that he had made Saul king, was he saying he had made a mistake? God’s comment was an expression of sorrow, not an admission of error. An omniscient God cannot make a mistake; therefore, God did not change his mind. He did, however, change his attitude toward Saul when Saul changed. Saul’s heart no longer belonged to God but to his own interests.” (Life Application Bible)
Ephesians 4:29-31 (NIV) – [29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.