I Samuel 15: 22
And Samuel said, "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."
Samuel is talking to King Saul, Israel's first king. God had told him to destroy all the people and all their possessions, including all the animals; but Saul had listened to his soldiers who wanted to keep some of the animals to sacrifice to the Lord. So Saul had disobeyed the Lord by only doing part of what he was told to do.
This has a lesson for us, also. When we know what God wants us to do, but we do something else that seems like we're doing a favor for God; that is disobedience. God doesn't need favors from us, and He is the One Who sees the big picture. When He speaks, He says what He means and means what He says.
God may have seen disease in these animals, as a result of the depraved and twisted kinds of worship these people gave to their idols. I don't know why else God would have commanded the complete destruction of one town, then told them they could have the cattle of another town. That's what would make sense to me, but that's my opinion. God knows why he says what He does, He doesn't answer to me, or any other person. He is God, we are not. We are simply to trust Him. Even if it doesn't make "sense" to us.
Saul didn't have the trust in the Lord that God commanded, he listened to his men instead of valuing what God had clearly told him to do. So God rejected him as king over His people.
This is very serious. Am I listening to what my Father is saying to me in His Word, or am I putting my own spin on it to be more palatable to my understanding?
I want to have a clear understanding of what it is God wants of me as His child, so that I can obey Him confidently and cheerfully. I don't want to leave anything out of what is mine to do, and I don't want to add to it, either.
O my Father, please help me to never fudge on what I know You want of me. Help me always to actually do what I know You want me to do, and be aware of anytime I may tend to add anything to Your will for me.
Thank You so much, Father, for always meeting all my needs, and even some of my wants. Thank You that Your generosity comes from all Your riches in glory, and You delight in lavishing Your love upon me in so many ways. Teach me to be a channel, to pass on these blessings to others in need, to be a blessing to them, to draw them to You, the Source of everything.
And I will praise Your Name forever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
