1 Samuel 15:21-23 (New International Version)
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 voice of 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."
This verse jumped out at me this morning as I was making my way through the Old Testament...............
I guess because I long to give God my life, my praise, my everything.......
But then I read verses like the ones above and think, "It's not just about giving Him my life. It's about obeying His commands."
See, God had specifically told Saul to destroy everything in this city. Saul had decided to keep "the best of what was devoted to God." And when Saul was questioned about this decision, he insisted that they had only done this in order to present these "prizes" as sacrifices to God.
I don't know if Saul really meant that or if he just made it up under the pressure. I don't know if Saul really understood what it meant to OBEY God fully. He seemed very comfortable with listening to God's orders and then changing them around a bit.
Whatever the case, God told Saul one thing and he chose to do another.
And Samuel let Saul know that God longed to be obeyed much more than He longed to be the receiver of burnt offerings and sacrifices.
If you notice, the time that I started writing this particular blog was Monday morning. The day was filled with cleaning, running errands, a tennis match, and other normal "mom stuff."
So, I decided to finish my blog post later in the day.
Well, I guess God really wanted to drive home the truth that He longs for obedience much more than sacrifices before I finished writing on these verses, because after school I had one of those "not-going-to-listen-to-you-defiant" moments with Olivia that just made my blood boil.
It wasn't even that big of a deal.......(the situation)
It was just her spirit that got to me......
That "I'm not listening to you, I'm walking away from you, I don't care what you say kind-of attitudes."
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I even said to Olivia at one point in the car,
"I know why God put in the Bible "Do everything without grumbling or complaining!" He must just hate it when we do -- after all the things He has done for us."
There she sat, drinking a Fruitista from Taco Bell (her favorite little treat!) and looking like she had the worse life on the planet.
And then of course I felt this holy nudge saying,
"Oh Tammy, how many times do I give you good and wonderful treats and then you turn around and walk away from Me as if I don't matter."
Shew!!!
That's where I went yesterday.........
From EWWWWW to SHEWWWWW!!!
I want to be an obedient child of the King. I want to be thankful, grateful, full of praise, turning my back from sin, keeping my tongue from idle words, searching His Word daily, praying fervently, forgiving those who have hurt me, loving others without judging them..........
I do not want to just be a child who gives you glory. I want to be a child who hears Your voice and listens and obeys. I do not want to be a rebellious child.
I saw one yesterday. And it was not pretty!
Thank you, Lord, for bringing this verse to life for me in a way that allowed me to feel Your heart when I disobey You......Forgive me for those times of disobedience.
I guess because I long to give God my life, my praise, my everything.......
But then I read verses like the ones above and think, "It's not just about giving Him my life. It's about obeying His commands."
See, God had specifically told Saul to destroy everything in this city. Saul had decided to keep "the best of what was devoted to God." And when Saul was questioned about this decision, he insisted that they had only done this in order to present these "prizes" as sacrifices to God.
I don't know if Saul really meant that or if he just made it up under the pressure. I don't know if Saul really understood what it meant to OBEY God fully. He seemed very comfortable with listening to God's orders and then changing them around a bit.
Whatever the case, God told Saul one thing and he chose to do another.
And Samuel let Saul know that God longed to be obeyed much more than He longed to be the receiver of burnt offerings and sacrifices.
If you notice, the time that I started writing this particular blog was Monday morning. The day was filled with cleaning, running errands, a tennis match, and other normal "mom stuff."
So, I decided to finish my blog post later in the day.
Well, I guess God really wanted to drive home the truth that He longs for obedience much more than sacrifices before I finished writing on these verses, because after school I had one of those "not-going-to-listen-to-you-defiant" moments with Olivia that just made my blood boil.
It wasn't even that big of a deal.......(the situation)
It was just her spirit that got to me......
That "I'm not listening to you, I'm walking away from you, I don't care what you say kind-of attitudes."
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I even said to Olivia at one point in the car,
"I know why God put in the Bible "Do everything without grumbling or complaining!" He must just hate it when we do -- after all the things He has done for us."
There she sat, drinking a Fruitista from Taco Bell (her favorite little treat!) and looking like she had the worse life on the planet.
And then of course I felt this holy nudge saying,
"Oh Tammy, how many times do I give you good and wonderful treats and then you turn around and walk away from Me as if I don't matter."
Shew!!!
That's where I went yesterday.........
From EWWWWW to SHEWWWWW!!!
I want to be an obedient child of the King. I want to be thankful, grateful, full of praise, turning my back from sin, keeping my tongue from idle words, searching His Word daily, praying fervently, forgiving those who have hurt me, loving others without judging them..........
I do not want to just be a child who gives you glory. I want to be a child who hears Your voice and listens and obeys. I do not want to be a rebellious child.
I saw one yesterday. And it was not pretty!
Thank you, Lord, for bringing this verse to life for me in a way that allowed me to feel Your heart when I disobey You......Forgive me for those times of disobedience.
5 Comments:
GREAT THOUGHTS! I am having a REALLY hard time being obedient right now...SHEWWWW!
Know how you feel, especially the child with an attitude. Girls are the worst. Hang in there, they say it gets better when they get in their late 20's.
Tammy, the Lord spoke the same thing to me about obedience on Monday. Unfortunately, I think I heard it better than I did it!
Do you know how many times my own words to my kids boomerang right back at me? Very often I feel like things I say to my kids that God is saying to me as well!
WOW!! The part where you state 'how many time shave I given you good and wonderful treats and you just turn and walk away, like I mean nothing' really spoke to me...I want to be obedient not rebellious.
Thank you for speaking Truth
CLS
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