Samuel - Revealing the Importance of Obedience

Mark Grasso

From the beginning of His service for God, Samuel recognised and understood the importance of obedience. While he was yet young, he said: ‘Speak; for thy servant heareth’ (1 Sam. 3:10). It is implicit in those words, and confirmed by his subsequent carrying out of the difficult task of passing on God’s message to Eli, that Samuel was not making a foolish and over-confident boast like Israel had in the past (Ex. 19:8). Rather, as the Bible records, obedience generally marked the entirety of his life. All that the Lord said (with one or two exceptions, bearing in mind that he was a man of like passions to us (Jas. 5:17)) Samuel did.

Sadly, the same was not true of the first king he appointed. On two occasions, Samuel had to rebuke Saul for acts of disobedience which were connected with worship (1 Sam. 13:8–14; 15:5–23). On the first, he appeared to take the view that a difficult situation and the importance of sacrifice justified breaching God’s commands concerning the one who was to offer it (Samuel) and when it was to be offered (when Samuel arrived). Later, circumstances seemed to provide opportunity to worship God and, in Saul’s mind, warrant offering to Him that which He had not sought, namely the sacrifice of animals belonging to the enemy.[1]

Any and all disobedience is serious in God’s sight. However, in practice, are we sometimes ready to excuse certain acts of wilfulness? In the first situation referred to above, it might be said that Saul was in unusual and testing circumstances (an impending battle, with the people fearful and fleeing). The natural mind might also describe the state of affairs as never-to-be-repeated, and excuse Saul’s carrying out the sacrifice as a one-off. Sad to say, one sometimes hears believers in comparable settings repeat, in effect, the world’s expression: ‘the heart was in the right place’. Similar lines of reasonings may come to mind in connection with the second incident as well.

Samuel, however, appreciated that God’s commands are literally such — commands. Even when it comes to worship — or perhaps especially where worship is concerned — there cannot be any excuse for any deviation from what the Lord has established. In 1 Samuel 13 and 15, the end was achieved (sacrifices were offered), but even the world recognises that the end does not justify the means.

Samuel’s words in chapter 15:22 are well known: ‘obedience is better than sacrifice’. They are just as true today as when he spoke them. ‘But what about …’, ‘What are we to do …’, ‘These are difficult times …’, ‘This is only for a short period until everything returns to normal …’, ‘We are doing the best we can in the circumstances …’ — such expressions reflect human reasoning, which has no place when it comes to the Lord’s things, particularly what is most precious to Him — our worship. As Samuel said, obedience comes first, even if this means that sacrifice must be postponed or may even be impossible. Further, it is clear that the sacrifices which Saul offered did not please God. When it comes to worship (or obedience generally), we do not get any credit for getting it partially right when God’s revealed word is also contravened.

Sometimes a faithful servant of the Lord needs to speak plainly, as Samuel did in verse 23: ‘rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [or self-will] is as iniquity and idolatry’. Let us be thankful for the servants who may, as led of the Lord, use a similar tone with us today, whether individually or collectively, for our correction and blessing.

To the extent we may be faithful where others are not, this should never become a basis for boasting. Rather, this should lead to sorrow as we recognise that the Lord’s people, including ourselves, have missed out on so much as a result of the failure of the Christian testimony, of which we are a part. Samuel’s mourning over Saul appears to have been of this character (1 Sam. 15:35) — a sad recognition of all that had been lost because God could no longer uphold his kingdom.

Faithfulness to the Lord may also require separation from those who are unfaithful — even a cutting off of all social ties, as was the case between Samuel and Saul (1 Sam. 15:35). Again, this should never become a basis for pride in ourselves.

Finally, let us also be encouraged by the knowledge that obedience, while important for the sole reason that it pleases God, will also bring reward, in this world or the next one. Samuel told Saul that God would have established his kingdom over Israel forever, had he been obedient (13:13). We have a promise of a greater reward for being a good and faithful servant: sharing in the administration of the world to come, when the Lord has established His kingdom (Matt. 25:21).

[1] From Samuel’s words to Saul, it is clear that the motives and conduct which Saul attributes to the people in verse 21 were his own. Even if Saul’s words were true, they would, in any event, have offered no excuse for his failure, as king, to ensure that the people obeyed God in this matter. In addition, the will of the people is not the determining factor controlling a believer’s worship (or any other aspects of his or her walk). God must be obeyed rather than men (Acts 5:29).

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From: Truth & Testimony, 2020