THE TEST OF YOUR OBEDIENCE - Part 2

TUESDAY, 26TH JULY, 2022.

Topic: THE TEST OF YOUR OBEDIENCE – Part 2

MEMORIZE: “Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'”  Jeremiah 6:16.

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Samuel 15:22-23.

“Then 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. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."” 

EXPOSITION:

Obedience is what God demands from His children, if we will be accepted in our walk with Him. Remember, king Saul was rejected because of his repeated act of disobedience to God. At first, Samuel (the high priest of Israel and his father in the Lord) told him to wait for him for seven days, but because he saw the philistines drawing nearer to him and the sacrifice has not been made unto the Lord because of Samuel’s absence… on the seventh day, his men (soldiers) because of fear of the enemies were departing from him to secure their lives. Therefore, Saul pushed himself into priestly duty and made a burnt sacrifice. Shortly as he was done with the sacrifice, Samuel appeared, still on the seventh day. The judgment of God for his action was… “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever."But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."” 1 Samuel 13:13-14. (Read 1  Samuel chapter 13 in your Bible).

At another instance, the merciful God gave him second chance to amend his way before God, so that his throne can be established but again he wasted it in disobedience. God sent him to go and utterly destroy Amalekites, not spare anyone including the suckling babies. But he spared many things including their king, Agag, possibly to show his strength and his worth. But God would never celebrate disobedience. At this time, God was tired of him, having seen him to be a man who will never learn from his fallen. The verdict of God on him was… “Then 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. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."” 1 Samuel 15:22-23.

In this Scripture, Saul’s disobedience was called sin of rebellion which was likening to witchcraft and also stubbornness which is also liken to iniquity and idolatry. These are capital offence in Israel worth of death by stoning. Disobedience makes us not better than witches and idol worshippers. How can we now enjoy His goodness when we position ourselves for His judgment? True repentance is the answer and stop disobeying Him. All acts of disobedience to God is an intentional act as we have it in our today’s memory verse - Jeremiah 6:16. 

PRAYER POINT: 

i. LORD, I receive grace to be obedient to you in Jesus name.

ii. I receive victory over the deception of the enemy capable of luring me into disobeying you in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Song of Solomon 5 - 8.

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