“Obedience is Better than Sacrifice” Bible Story, Meaning, Lessons
What Does Obedience is Better than Sacrifice Mean?
Obedience is better than sacrifice is a very popular saying among people. They often use it in everyday conversations among themselves. However, though one can get the literal meaning of the statement from how it appears or sounds, it is important to have an idea of how it came about.
Truth is, some people use this expression whenever it fits in the context of their discussion without a pre-knowledge that it originated from the Bible. On the contrary, some know that this maxim is from the Bible, but they have no idea where it is located in the holy book.
If you belong to either category of people, it is good that you found this article. Here, we will expose you to how this popular saying came about in the Bible, as well as the meaning and the lessons to learn from it.
The Bible Story Behind “Obedience is Better than Sacrifice”
Did you know that there is a story behind the popular saying, obedience is better than sacrifice? The clause is in 1Samuel 15, where it details the disobedience of King Saul and the resulting statement by Prophet Samuel.
Actually, this expression follows a rhetorical question-“hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?”-asked by Samuel when Saul goes on to act contrary to the commandment of God through His prophet.
According to the Bible in the Old Testament, God told King Saul to go to war and destroy the Amalekites without sparing anything. However, Saul and his men did the opposite. They did not only spare the King of the Amalekites, Agag, but also “the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”
Interestingly, when they returned with the spoil, Saul and his men went to Gilgal and sacrificed some of the sheep and oxen they brought with them to God. In their minds, they had done the right thing and pleased God. But God was so angry and embittered that he regretted making Saul a King over Israel.
This singular act of disobedience also made Samuel boil with anger. When he accosted King Saul, he first denied before confessing that they kept some spoils and offered some as burnt offerings. Hence, the question, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? And the following statement to obey is better than sacrifice, which has now become popular among people.
You might also like to read: Lessons from the Story of Nicodemus in the Bible
Obedience is Better than Sacrifice Meaning
The statement, Obedience is better than sacrifice talks about the fact that we should always act based on God’s instructions and not follow our own hearts. It also means that our opinion does not really matter when God asks us to do something.
Though it is true that we have a freewill to either obey or disobey God, and sometimes, God’s instructions may raise certain questions in our hearts, what is expected of us is complete obedience. This is because no amount of sacrifice can redeem us from the consequences of Rebellion.
In King Saul’s case, Samuel told him about God’s displeasure and cursed him. So if you ask, is obedience better than sacrifice? The answer is Yes. While obedience attracts blessings, disobedience attracts curses.
Additionally, obedience is important to God because it reaffirms his sovereignty. Besides this, according to the Bible, “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” So, it is best to obey God at all costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Obedience is Better than Sacrifice Meaning?
It means obeying God’s word and instructions to the letter. It is about prioritising God’s will more than our own opinions.
Obedience is Better than Sacrifice Bible Verse
Obedience is better than sacrifice bible verse is 1Samuel 15:22. This scripture summarises the fact that submission to God’s will is more rewarding than disobedience.
Why is Obedience so Important to God
Obeying God’s will at every instance of our lives is important because it signifies the supremacy of God over man.
What are the Blessings of Obedience?
The blessings of obedience include but are not limited to peace of mind, prosperity, breakthrough and daily victory.
Conclusion
In this article, we tried to justify that obedience is better than sacrifice using Bible illustrations. We also tried to answer some frequently asked questions about this popular expression.
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