I Samuel 15:22-31
Saul is one of the truly tragic characters of the Old
Testament. Drafted for a position he really didn't want, caught between the
will of the people and the will of God, and constantly looking over his
shoulder for a meddling prophet, Saul seems challenged at every turn. Of
course, lest we feel too bad for him, we are reminded that his greatest sin
before the Lord is disobedience. Given specific orders for the destruction of
the Amalekites, Saul chooses a different outcome, then tries to cover his
disobedience through sacrifice. Samuel, that meddlesome prophet, responds
to Saul's sin as he says, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings
and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Surely, to obey is
better than sacrifice..."
You may have a hard time comparing your shortcomings to those of an ancient
king who failed to destroy an enemy people completely, yet, there are
similarities. Like Saul, we are disobedient to the word of God. Then, like
Saul, we try to cover over our sin through sacrifice...good works that we think
might earn us once more the good graces of God. Samuel reminds Saul that
obedience is better than sacrifice. Confronted by his sin several years down
the road, King David responds, "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken
spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not
despise."
There were unique circumstances facing Saul, but disobedience
was his ultimate downfall. The same can be said for each of us. A broken,
contrite heart is the difference...that is the sacrifice acceptable to
God.
Prayer: Gracious God, our lives are marked by disobedience. In
brokenness, may we find forgiveness and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord, we
pray, amen.
Jim Abernathy
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