1 Samuel 15:4-35, To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice

As God had commanded through the prophet Samuel, Saul musters an army and attacks the Amalekites. However, he spares King Agag and the best of the livestock, disobeying God’s command to completely destroy all the people and everything that belongs to them. Confronted by Samuel after the battle, Saul makes excuses for his incomplete obedience, claiming that he saved the animals to sacrifice to the Lord. “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’” (1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV). Samuel then tells Saul that God has rejected him as king. “And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:33 NKJV).
Against the historical background of the Amalekites and their past cruelty to the Israelites, Pastor Kevin explains why God commanded their complete annihilation and described the ultimate consequences of Saul’s disobedience. The Amalekite is a type of the flesh, our sinful human nature, which rebels against God. “And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24-25 NKJV).
Maranatha!
Associated notes, links, and the uncensored audio file are at calvarypo.org under Sermon Archives, 1 Samuel, https://calvarypo.org/sermons/to-obey-is-better-than-sacrifice-1-samuel-154-35