Dangerous Misperceptions.

We often disobey the Lord’s voice merely because it’s drowned out by the overpowering sound of our own voice. Let’s take a look at how this comes about in 1 Samuel; Saul disobeys the Lord, all the while having good intentions. 

 ¹² Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.”

 ¹³ When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”

 ¹⁴ But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”

 ¹⁵ Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”

 ¹⁷ Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. ¹⁸ And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ ¹⁹ Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?”

 ²⁰ “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. ²¹ The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

 ²² But Samuel replied:

   “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
   as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
   and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
   and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
   he has rejected you as king.”

 ²⁴ Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men 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.”

It’s important to note that the Lord gave Saul specific instructions; He didn’t just give him guidelines, or an optional outline to go by, He gave him a command to follow and not sway from. But Saul decided to add a little of his own personal taste to God’s command instead of abiding by it wholeheartedly. In fact, his excuse seemed as though it glorified the Lord: “he took the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord...” Seemed pretty acceptable, wouldn’t you agree? How could the Lord be disappointed in Saul, when he had made such a sacrifice on account of Him? Here’s your answer: “the Lord doesn’t delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices…to obey is better than sacrifice.” I believe that this is highly applicable to us today; we feel as though a good thing is the right thing, therefore we’re in the clear – even if it’s not exactly what the Lord desires of us. But the truth is, disobedience is disobedience - even if you stamp the name of Jesus on it.

Let’s take a look at why Saul failed to follow through with the Lord’s instructions. In verse 24, Saul states: “I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” More often than not, fear breeds disobedience. We know what the Lord desires of us, but will He really come through? As this thought lingers in mind, we allow a fleeting emotion to be the basis of our decision making. If that weren’t enough, the core of this fear usually lies in the hands of humans – who of which have no capability of affecting us in light of God’s power. In Psalm 118, it says “the Lord is with me; I will not be afraid…it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” See, Saul was completely equipped for the task in which the Lord had set before Him, he just didn’t realize it. Instead of fulfilling God’s command in full confidence that the Lord would bring His plans to pass – and would protect him in the process – he only partially went through with the command, which, in the eyes of God, is as good as not going through with the command at all.

“In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear.” Psalm 40:6

The Lord has given you an open ear so that you may have the ability to hear and therefore obey, even if it makes you uncomfortable. Will you listen?