Day 134 One-Year KJV Bible Reading – 1 Samuel 15:1–16:23; John 8:1-20; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 15:8-10
To Obey is Better than Sacrifice
And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. – 1 Samuel 15:22-23
So many things to ponder in today’s scripture passage. This story of Saul making excuses to Samuel of why he didn’t follow every instruction of the Lord is a great lesson for us. So many times, we don’t follow through doing everything the Lord has commanded. If the Lord gives the word for someone and we change even one word of His Word to make it an easier Word, we have done just like Saul. To these kinds of sins, the Lord reminds us today that
- Obedience is better than sacrifice
- To hearken is better than the fat of rams
- Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft
- Stubbornness is sin
- Idolatry is sin
- If I reject the Word of the Lord, He will reject me!!!
Saul did much of what the Lord instructed him to do, and he said he kept the best sheep alive to offer them as a sacrifice unto the Lord. That sounds like a good thing, BUT it was not what God had told him to do with the sheep.
Obey – to follow commans or guidance of; to conform to or comply with
Hearken – listen; to give respectful attention; to bring to mind something; to give heed to
Rebellion – opposition to one in authority or dominance; open defiance of or resistance
Stubborn – unreasonably unyielding; unmoving; obstinate; persistant manner; difficult to handle or manage; fixed or set in purpose or opinion
Idolatry – excessive or blind adoration, reverence, or devotion
Help me, Lord, to follow every instruction that You give to me today! Convict me when I don’t. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen!!!
God Sees the Heart
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7
How many times do we judge someone by their outward appearance and take no notice of their heart?
Never Alone
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. – John 8:12-19
This scripture reminds me that if we have the Holy Ghost living in us, we indeed are never alone. It looked to the Pharisees like Jesus was speaking of Himself with no one there to be as a witness…since the scriptures say that by the testimony of two is truth. By outward appearance, Jesus had no witness. No one with Him, and He stood alone. BUT Jesus had the Father with Him. He spoke what the Father told Him to say and did as the Father instructed Him step by step. He was not alone, and He did have another witness. Had they known Jesus, they would have known this Witness!!!
Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Holy Ghost. I am never alone!!!
Thou Art a Priest
The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. – Psalm 110:4
My Prayer is His Delight
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. – Proverbs 15:8
If I am living for the Lord, the time I spend talking with Him and listening to Him is a delight to Him. If that is His delight, shouldn’t it be my priority?
Delight – a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; satisfaction
