Title
Reason Versus Obedience
Scripture
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)
Devotional
What an excellent lesson on obedience can be learned from this fifteenth chapter of the book of 1 Samuel. It was a costly lesson for king Saul. When it comes to the things of God nothing compares with obedience. No matter how right something may appear if it is contrary to the explicit word of God it is wrong. The reasoning of man is not match for the will of God. God told Saul to eradicate the enemy. Saul dealt with the enemy instead. I like what Oswald Chambers said about this passage, "Sins must be destroyed, not corrected."[6] Likewise sin can never be justified before a holy and just God. God's word to Saul was clear, but the spoils of life clouded Saul's willingness to obey. He reasoned and justified himself by blaming the people; and it cost him the kingdom. What would reasoned and justified disobedience cost you?