The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
Samuel, the great prophet, had served Israel for many years by the time we arrive to the twelfth chapter of the book of 1 Samuel. But the people cried out for a king to rule over them, and the Lord granted them their desires. Saul was thirty years old when he became king and reigned over Israel for forty-two years (I Sam 13:1). But not long into his reign, Samuel came to him with a mission from God. God would use Saul to punish the Amalekites for the attack on the Israelites as Moses led them out of Egypt. Joshua won the battle, but the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure Joshua hears it because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven” (Exodus 17:14). Fast forward in history, and because God does not forget. He always has a plan; He would use Saul to bring what He had declared to Moses to fruition.
Samuel delivered God’s message to Saul, and God’s instructions were very clear. “Now go attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys” (1 Sam 15:2-3). But when Saul attacked, he was unwilling to destroy completely. He did not kill King Agag and kept all the best livestock. Needless to say, the Lord was not pleased and revealed to Samuel that He was sorry He had ever made Saul king. When Samuel confronts Saul, his response is twisted, self-righteous, and probably not unfamiliar to us. He defends himself, declaring, “But I did obey the Lord.” He then takes his justification even further, admitting he brought back the king and the best of the livestock, buts it was all for the Lord, certainly not for his personal gain. He was sure God and Samuel would find this pleasing and not have a problem with a king and a few fat calves. But his version of obedience was far different from God’s undiluted instructions that told him to destroy everything with no exceptions. Amidst trying to defend his actions, he tells Samuel that he spared the livestock for sacrifice to the “Lord your God” not once but twice (1 Sam 15:15, 21). Notice Saul did not refer to the Lord as “his” God. He is distancing himself from God because that is what disobedience does. It clouds our judgment, puts us on the defensive, and creates a wedge between us and God.
Samuel answers Saul’s defense with a question. “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” (1 Sam 15:22). Whether Saul had nefarious intents for his disobedience, or he truly believed the sacrifices and spoilages of war laid on the alter would appease God and bring him reward we cannot judge. But what we can take away from this story is that God makes it very clear that what He wants from us is our hearts. And a heart for God leads to an offering of obedience and love—something a sacrifice will never render. The story of Saul continues next week, and that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The picture, a representation of a sacrificial lamb, was taken while in Israel in Nazareth village.