While obedience is evidence of salvation—because Love for God requires us to obey Him—that doesn’t mean believers won’t struggle with obedience.
“Obedience is better than sacrifice.” Most people in the family of faith learn the importance and blessing of obeying God, but those who choose to disobey lose out on God’s blessings or face devastating consequences. Some people in the Bible thought they could ignore or manipulate God’s commands. One sad example is King Saul, a proud man the prophet Samuel addressed with these sober words: “to obey is better than sacrifice.” Why did Samuel say those words, and what can we learn from Saul that might change our own attitudes about obedience?
What Does ‘Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice’ Mean in 1 Samuel 15:22?
Saul didn’t have a good track record for wisdom. Samuel called him out on his foolishness when Saul presumptuously offered up a burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel to arrive. Later, Saul made a rash vow that almost cost his son Jonathan his life. Then God gave Saul a direct command through Samuel (1 Samuel 15:1-3). More than 400 years before, the Amalekites attacked Israel when God’s people were vulnerable (Ex. 17:14-16, Deut 25:17-19). Time did not erase the Amalekites’ cruelty, and God did not forget their attack. Saul was told to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belonged to them. Instead of obeying God, Saul kept wicked King Agag alive as a prisoner, and he kept the best of the sheep and cattle from the enemy’s camp (15:7-9).
Perhaps Saul wanted to parade Agag before the Israelites as a trophy—a conquered foe. Or maybe he simply pitied Agag. The word translated “spared” in 1 Samuel 15:9 means “to commiserate or have pity.” Perhaps he saw in Agag a worthy counterpart. Regardless, Saul disobeyed God. He reasoned that God would be pleased by his saving the sheep and cattle. He suggested he was keeping the best of the bad, so to speak, as a “sacrifice” to God.
Why Did Samuel Tell Saul ‘Obedience Is Better than Sacrifice’?
When the prophet Samuel confronted Saul, he denied his disobedience. “I have carried out the Lord’s instructions,” he said (1 Sam. 15:13). It was a preposterous claim, as Samuel noted the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of cattle. Then Saul justified himself by blaming others. Samuel’s reply likely cut Saul to the heart: “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” (1 Sam. 15:22).
Samuel explained further: “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry” (1 Sam. 15:23). Disobeying God is rebellion against Him, an act Samuel equated to paganism and witchcraft. In Saul’s case, it was also connected to his proud heart. Saul decided he knew better than God. All rebellion is idolatry, a form of self-worship. Samuel said, “Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” God took away Saul’s throne and cut his dynasty short (1 Samuel 13:14; 15:28).
But rebellion wasn’t Saul’s only wrongdoing. For Saul, fear of man—and desiring their praise—offset God’s priority of obedience. We see that in his confession in verse 24: “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.” Saul was afraid of losing people’s adulation. Even when he said, “I have sinned,” he also said, “please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel” (1 Sam. 15:30).
Jesus condemned this attitude in the Pharisees (Matt.6). He said their religious activities were practiced only to look good in front of others. It’s not that various “offerings” are bad, but when good works or spiritual disciplines are done while disobeying God’s direct commands, or when we make a show of works to get others’ approval, our sacrifices are a sham.
Why Did Samuel Make a Point to Confront Saul’s Sin?
When God spoke to Samuel, saying He regretted making Saul king, Samuel was both angry and heartbroken over Saul’s sin. But Samuel was God’s prophet, and He understood why God was grieved and disappointed in the king. Samuel had to tell the truth; he had to confront Saul. And then he did what Saul refused to do—he put cruel Agag to death.
Whether Saul was later simply sorry for his sin, or if he genuinely repented, there was little evidence he wanted to walk in tune with God. Saul’s disobedience cost him Samuel’s counsel—“Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death” (1 Sam. 15:35). They no longer had anything in common. Saul was self-righteous, while godly Samuel was zealous only for the glory of God. Author R. Steele said of Samuel, “He would not compromise his principles for the sake of keeping the favor of a king,” and Samuel’s absence “would be a constant reproof” to Saul of his rebellion and disobedience.
Some believe Saul was not a believer. It’s impossible to know; only God sees the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). Saul’s sinful record might make us question whether he knew God. Besides his disobedience and presumption in offering a sacrifice that only Israel’s priests were allowed to offer, Saul was visited by evil spirits, tried to murder David and Jonathan, ordered the slaughter of innocent priests and their families, and consulted a witch. In the end, he committed suicide.
What Does Samuel Mean When He Says Obedience Is Better than Sacrifice?
While obedience is evidence of salvation—because love for God requires us to obey Him—that doesn’t mean believers won’t struggle with obedience.
“Obedience is better than sacrifice.” Most people in the family of faith learn the importance and blessing of obeying God, but those who choose to disobey lose out on God’s blessings or face devastating consequences. Some people in the Bible thought they could ignore or manipulate God’s commands. One sad example is King Saul, a proud man the prophet Samuel addressed with these sober words: “to obey is better than sacrifice.” Why did Samuel say those words, and what can we learn from Saul that might change our own attitudes about obedience?
What Does ‘Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice’ Mean in 1 Samuel 15:22?
Saul didn’t have a good track record for wisdom. Samuel called him out on his foolishness when Saul presumptuously offered up a burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel to arrive. Later, Saul made a rash vow that almost cost his son Jonathan his life. Then God gave Saul a direct command through Samuel (1 Samuel 15:1-3). More than 400 years before, the Amalekites attacked Israel when God’s people were vulnerable (Ex. 17:14-16, Deut 25:17-19). Time did not erase the Amalekites’ cruelty, and God did not forget their attack. Saul was told to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belonged to them. Instead of obeying God, Saul kept wicked King Agag alive as a prisoner, and he kept the best of the sheep and cattle from the enemy’s camp (15:7-9).
Perhaps Saul wanted to parade Agag before the Israelites as a trophy—a conquered foe. Or maybe he simply pitied Agag. The word translated “spared” in 1 Samuel 15:9 means “to commiserate or have pity.” Perhaps he saw in Agag a worthy counterpart. Regardless, Saul disobeyed God. He reasoned that God would be pleased by his saving the sheep and cattle. He suggested he was keeping the best of the bad, so to speak, as a “sacrifice” to God.
Why Did Samuel Tell Saul ‘Obedience Is Better than Sacrifice’?
When the prophet Samuel confronted Saul, he denied his disobedience. “I have carried out the Lord’s instructions,” he said (1 Sam. 15:13). It was a preposterous claim, as Samuel noted the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of cattle. Then Saul justified himself by blaming others. Samuel’s reply likely cut Saul to the heart: “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” (1 Sam. 15:22).
Samuel explained further: “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry” (1 Sam. 15:23). Disobeying God is rebellion against Him, an act Samuel equated to paganism and witchcraft. In Saul’s case, it was also connected to his proud heart. Saul decided he knew better than God. All rebellion is idolatry, a form of self-worship. Samuel said, “Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” God took away Saul’s throne and cut his dynasty short (1 Samuel 13:14; 15:28).
But rebellion wasn’t Saul’s only wrongdoing. For Saul, fear of man—and desiring their praise—offset God’s priority of obedience. We see that in his confession in verse 24: “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.” Saul was afraid of losing people’s adulation. Even when he said, “I have sinned,” he also said, “please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel” (1 Sam. 15:30).
Jesus condemned this attitude in the Pharisees (Matt.6). He said their religious activities were practiced only to look good in front of others. It’s not that various “offerings” are bad, but when good works or spiritual disciplines are done while disobeying God’s direct commands, or when we make a show of works to get others’ approval, our sacrifices are a sham.
Why Did Samuel Make a Point to Confront Saul’s Sin?
When God spoke to Samuel, saying He regretted making Saul king, Samuel was both angry and heartbroken over Saul’s sin. But Samuel was God’s prophet, and He understood why God was grieved and disappointed in the king. Samuel had to tell the truth; he had to confront Saul. And then he did what Saul refused to do—he put cruel Agag to death.
Whether Saul was later simply sorry for his sin, or if he genuinely repented, there was little evidence he wanted to walk in tune with God. Saul’s disobedience cost him Samuel’s counsel—“Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death” (1 Sam. 15:35). They no longer had anything in common. Saul was self-righteous, while godly Samuel was zealous only for the glory of God. Author R. Steele said of Samuel, “He would not compromise his principles for the sake of keeping the favor of a king,” and Samuel’s absence “would be a constant reproof” to Saul of his rebellion and disobedience.
Some believe Saul was not a believer. It’s impossible to know; only God sees the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). Saul’s sinful record might make us question whether he knew God. Besides his disobedience and presumption in offering a sacrifice that only Israel’s priests were allowed to offer, Saul was visited by evil spirits, tried to murder David and Jonathan, ordered the slaughter of innocent priests and their families, and consulted a witch. In the end, he committed suicide.
On the other hand, the Bible does say the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Saul. He prophesied and he was “changed” into a different person (1 Sam. 10). It’s not clear whether that was a changed heart that fit him for eternity, however. God may have simply prepared Saul to submit to Samuel and overcome his reluctance to become king. Though there’s no doubt God chose Saul to lead His people, the foolish king continued to walk in his flesh until his death.
In What Ways Can Believers Be Disobedient?
Charles Spurgeon wrote in 1866, “It is no new thing for Christians to know their duty, to have their conscience enlightened about it, and yet to neglect it.”
What are those duties we might neglect? Certainly, we need to obey whatever God has told us in His Word that we ought to obey. “Is there one passage of Scripture which you dare not look in the face, because you are living in neglect of it?” Spurgeon asked. “Then let Samuel’s voice come to you, and set you seeking for more grace; for ‘to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.’”
Seeds of rebellion against God’s Word and will are in every heart, and we must root them out (Rom. 3, Rom. 8). God gives us many explicit commands. Our sacrifice of time, talents, and treasure will not substitute for obedience. Oswald Chambers said, “The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you work up occasions to sacrifice yourself.”
When there is no direct command, there are often truth principles like Philippians 4:4-9 and Ephesians 4:22-32 that the Holy Spirit presses on our hearts to obey. The Spirit is our teacher, and He will never lead us contrary to scripture. Spurgeon said, “It is a blessed thing to be teachable as a little child, and to be willing to be taught of God; but it is a much more blessed thing still, when one has been taught, to go at once and carry out the lesson which the Master has whispered in the ear.” To “carry out the lesson” is another way to say “obey.”
What Does ‘Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice’ Look like for the Believer?
A catchy song, “O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E,” is often taught to Christian children. Some of the lyrics are: “Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe, Doing exactly what the Lord commands, doing it happily. Action is the key—do it immediately, the joy you will receive! Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.” Three simple concepts are taught in that song.
1. Practice IMMEDIATE obedience — Move quickly to obey the Word and the Spirit. The theologian Charles Hodge wrote, “Young children learn quickly what disobedience is—the failure to carry out a parent’s instructions. A concept that is harder to grasp, but nonetheless important, is the notion of delayed obedience. It’s simply a matter of priorities: the parent’s versus the child’s,” Hodge said. Delayed obedience is carrying out a task later instead of when it’s expected to be done. God’s priority for us is immediate obedience.
Elisabeth Elliot said, “Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? … Do what God tells you to do now, and depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next.”
2. Practice COMPLETE Obedience — Obedience must be not only immediate, but it must also be complete. Revive Our Hearts founder Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth said, “God told King Saul to do something very specific. … Saul’s choices show us something that is important. Partial obedience is disobedience.”
Saul tried to spiritualize his partial obedience, but Samuel said the king had “rejected the word of the Lord” (1 Sam. 15:23). He refused to do exactly what the Lord commanded him to do. From God’s perspective, even small points of disobedience are consequential.
3. Practice JOYFUL Obedience — In He Must Be a Follower of Christ, professor Voddie Baucham wrote, “As followers of Christ, our greatest delight will always be found in our obedience to His Word.” Bible commentator Matthew Henry said, “When the law of God is written in our hearts, our duty will be our delight.”
Jesus links obedience to joy in John 15:10-11. As we joyfully obey, we can anticipate blessings from the Lord. God told His people, “… Be careful … Walk in obedience … so that you may live and prosper….”
Del Fehsenfeld Jr., founder of Life Action Ministries, said, “Partial obedience, delayed obedience, and surface obedience to impress others are not acceptable to God. He is looking for men and women who will respond with instant, complete, wholehearted, and joyous obedience each time He speaks.”
What Does Obedience Look Like for the Unbeliever?
There is at least one command given to unbelievers in this dispensation—“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” … “This is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son, Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31; 1 John 3:23). “To trust in Jesus… is God’s first and great commandment of salvation,” Spurgeon said.
How might Samuel’s statement apply to the unbeliever? Most people, instead of trusting Jesus for salvation, try to bring a sacrifice. “They suppose,” Spurgeon said, “that their own way of salvation is much better than any that the Almighty can have devised, and therefore they offer their fat of rams. This takes different forms, but it is always the same principle.” We are not saved by our works, no matter how sacrificial they are (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Mankind’s attempts to impress God with financial gifts, church attendance, humanitarian service, etc.—to try to earn salvation—are actually acts of disobedience. Spurgeon wrote, “All that you can do in the way of outward religion is nothing but the sacrifice of the fat of rams. … Men are always setting up these ways of salvation of their own, and they will run anywhere sooner than come to Christ and do as God tells them.” God plainly commands sinners to repent and trust in Christ alone. Not to obey by trusting in Him is to perish.
While obedience is evidence of salvation—because love for God requires us to obey Him—that doesn’t mean believers won’t struggle with obedience. It’s easy to get discouraged because we all fail to obey God perfectly. But we can take heart in the work of Christ on our behalf. Jesus fulfilled the obedience we all owe to God; and as we increasingly are conformed to Christ’s image in our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions, our desire to obey our Father will likely increase.