Christians what does this scripture mean to you?

Question

1 Sam 15:22
2 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.


So many times I think many Christians are striving for a "close relationship" with God. That definitely is where we should be but we forget that without a heart of submission and obedience to His will we cannot be as close to Him as we want and should be. It's easy to do God's will when it makes sense to us. But it's much harder when we don't see it His way.

Anyone have another view on this scripture?

Answer 1

Nope, you nailed it!

Answer 2

When Samuel wrote this, the nation of Israel was no longer in God's favor because as a whole they were disobedient to His laws. Despite their insolence, the Israelites still claimed to serve God and demonstrated this by offering prayers and incense and burnt sacrifices. God was telling them, through Samuel, that the sacrifices and offerings were no longer delightful to Him because they were only perfunctory: they were not truly serving Him in their heart.

Hypocritical people can claim to love God and then turn around and murder their neighbor or family member. So yes, God wants our heartfelt obedience and reverential love more than any showy, false display of faith.

The pharisees and sadducees of Jesus' day made a huge deal out of their faith and holiness, yet they could not see that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah. They were too busy making the Mosaic Law into a traditional burden for the people than embracing it's true purpose: to lead the nation to Christ.

Actions speak louder than words. Professing love for God is fine, but it is the cooperating actions that prove you truly love and serve Him.

Answer 3

Notice, it doesn't elaborate on the specifics of "obedience". The prophet Amos did a riff on this, something about, "I spurn your sacrifices," and "If you would offer me sacrifice, let justice flow like water."

To me it means, you can spend all day in church, doing the rituals, praying up a storm, grooving in the presence, but sooner or later you have to get out and do something. Real obedience to God requires real action: feeding, clothing, healing, visiting, reassuring, fighting for social justice. Worship is the power source, not the goal. Getting into the big bad world and doing something hard, that's REAL sacrifice. Don't just put on your WWJD wristband, use it!

Answer 4

You more or less answered your own question. Seems there are many that think that as long as I go to church 3 times a week and say amen with everyone else there doing Gods will. While the remainder of the week there living a life totally opposite of what they portray when there at church.

Answer 5

enable's say which you're an caterpillar, ok. You later, via a drastic replace, grow to be a butterfly, precise? Butterflies do no longer pass returned to being a caterpillar. God works the comparable way. once you're a sinner, you're only like the caterpillar, and once you supply your existence to Christ, you grow to be the pleasing butterfly. The butterfly seems no longer something like the caterpillar. You as a Christian shouldn't seem something like the worldwide. "Whosoever is born of God doth no longer dedicate SIN; for his seed remaineth in him: and he won't be able to sin, with the aid of fact he's born of God." once you grow to be a Christian, you're a clean creation. each and every of the previous is long previous, so sin is long previous. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth no longer: whosoever sinneth hath no longer seen Him, neither customary Him." God is appropriate. We, clearly, are actually not. So we repent to be organic of our sins. God is familiar with that we are actually not suitable, and that we are going to slip up some. He does understand. Jesus knows what that's prefer to be tempted. i'm no longer helping this, yet my dad became right into a preacher, and he nevertheless had his smoking habit. After a mutually as, it became into long previous, with prayer. i don't have faith that God needs her to smoke, that's ruining her temple. yet God nevertheless loves his sheep, regardless of their imperfections. God Bless, Michelle SFECU

Answer 6

Obedience to the Lord will bring us the best in our lives. But often, speaking for myself here, I tend to leave God in the passenger's seat - one of my great failings!!!

Answer 7

It means the same to me as this scripture...
Rom 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

ALSO:

(Luk 18:10) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
(Luk 18:11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
(Luk 18:12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
(Luk 18:13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
(Luk 18:14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

and:

Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

last one, for the sake of brevity:

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Answer 8

Amen

Answer 9

I think you are right.

"To obey is better than sacrifice
God wants more than Sundays and Wednesday nights..."

That's paraphrased from a Keith Green song.

Answer 10

Works for Mav

Answer 11

To me...it means Samuel was correct in his telling this to Saul.