All the Signs Are There

Read 1 Samuel 13:1–15:35

16. Then Samuel said to Saul, . . .
19. “Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”
20. “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.” 1 Samuel 15:16, 19-23

Joe can tell that Susan and Steve are Christians. They go to church, wear crosses and other religious jewelry, give to charity, and even serve on a committee at church. All the outward signs are there—they are Christians, all right.

Saul thought that outward appearances made all the difference. In fact, in this account he’s got the outward signs covered. He’s religious—you can tell just by looking (or so he thinks). As you read, note the difference between external religious signs and true, internal spirituality.

Other lessons in this section include taking (and giving) credit where it is due; doing God’s work when you don’t have the tools; and knowing how not to lead (hint: watch Saul).

This is the first of numerous places in the Bible that states the theme “Obedience is far better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22-23; see also Psalm 40:6-8; 51:16-17; Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:11-17; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 12:7; Mark 12:33; Hebrews 10:8-9). Samuel wasn’t saying that sacrifice was not important; he was urging Saul to look at his reasons for making the sacrifice. A sacrifice involved giving to God a special gift, usually a lamb or a dove. It was a ritual exchange between a person and God that demonstrated the relationship between them. If the sacrificing person’s heart was not truly repentant, or if he or she did not in fact love God, the sacrifice had no meaning.

Religious ceremonies mean nothing unless we perform them with a desire to love and obey God. He isn’t impressed with the external signs of religion—going to church, displaying a bumper sticker, wearing a cross or witness T-shirt, serving on a committee, giving to charity, and so forth. What God wants are actions flowing out of devotion and obedience to him.

Do a spiritual inventory. You may look good on the outside, like Saul, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts with God. Determine to be his kind of person.