"Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..." - Joey Ferrell
In today’s society, we often hear things that are not customary to scripture. There is violence that is condoned, gender confusion, sexual deviation, dishonesty and this list could go on and on regarding the immorality of our world. But what about God’s people? Those whom have done what God has commanded to do…but, they take it upon themselves to make a decision or simply take the seat of God in judgment to say that “it is okay, God wants me happy?”
Well, God DOES want you happy…but He wants you happy in His ways, in life, and in eternity. More importantly than being happy in this life, He wants you RIGHT so that you may inherit the kingdom in eternity. Over and over, it never fails, this phrase comes up in discussion of subjects such as marriage, divorce and remarriage; negligence to the church assembly; and even drunkenness and “recreational” drug use. But, is there a standard that we must hold to?
Absolutely!
I want to take you to the thoughts that are outlined in 1 Samuel 15. You may recall that the people demanded a king instead of the way that God had chosen to rule His people. Even after warnings of what was to come, the people still wanted…and received a king. Saul was anointed by Samuel by the direction of God to be the first king. Oh boy….Saul didn’t really know what was in store…or did he?
Over time, there would come many decisions for Saul to make. One of these didn’t turn out so well. In 1 Samuel 15, God told Saul to utterly destroy the Amelekites for the pain and suffering they had caused to the children of Israel. Saul did not hesitate. He loaded up the armies, great in number, and he went to do just that…but…look what happened:
“But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.” (1 Samuel 15:9)
Saul made a very distinct and direct devastating choice. He chose to disobey God! God had told him to destroy all things…and to kill King Agag. Saul, Saul…oh the pain in that decision. God was not happy. Samuel goes on to tell Saul of God’s displeasure with him and it was severe. The consequences would be great.
Follow the dialogue of what happens when Saul disobeys God:
““I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night. So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul went to Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal.” Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”” (1 Samuel 15:11–15)
Saul had “thought” it would be okay to do this thing. He “thought” he would please God and man at the same time. He “thought” that it would not matter…as long as they were all happy with their spoils and a substitute sacrifice to God.
The pain of the words of Samuel continue:
“Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet! And I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak on.” So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?” And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.” (1 Samuel 15:16–20)
This wasn’t completely true though. And Samuel knew it, Saul knew it, but most importantly, God knew it. Saul did exactly what we might find happening in our society today in the next thing he says:
“But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”” (1 Samuel 15:21)
He blamed someone else! He blamed their motives! He did NOT accept responsibility as their King, nore his actions as King.
Samuel gave Saul the absolute best answer and advice:
“So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
We could certainly heed that statement as powerfully today as when it was said thousands of years ago. God sets the standards. God desires His people to be obedient. While He does require sacrifice in our own lives today - much different than the sacrifice of old - He wants us to obey what He says in all accounts.
Saul’s chastisement was rough. Look at what Samuel said:
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”” (1 Samuel 15:23)
Can you imagine how Saul must have felt? Well, we don’t have to use much imagination as the text goes on to reveal many things about Saul, his feelings about this situation, and how things ended for him. In the remainder of the chapter, Saul realizes his sin and the consequence that would be forthcoming. Samuel spells out how God was displeased with him and turns away from Saul in rejection…because God rejected him. Later on in the chapter, and in Chapter 16, we see that Saul was removed from the throne as King and replaced by a man after God’s own heart as he is called.
What is our application today?
God wants obedience over happiness - but, with obedience should come happiness in pleasing God
God rejects those who sin against Him
God desires his people to separate from sinful things
God expects disfellowship when those who are disobedient in sin continue in sin
God expects repentance
God’s people should mourn when there is “sin in the camp” no matter how close of family, friend, and so on that sin lives within.
God loves you and wants you happy…with Him…in eternity.
Have you pained God with a desire for happiness? If so, friend, it is time to turn back to God and lament much like Saul did and worship God. Make that lifestyle or decision change to the betterment of your life to make God happy. In turn, your life can be blessed greatly in this life as it will be in eternity. Galatians 6 tells us that we are to bear one another’s burdens. If you are burdened with sin, there are those that are waiting to help! The decision to please God is ours.