“And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” – 1 Sam. 15:22-23
We all live under authority. While you might be free to do as you please you do not have the right to do so. As the supreme authority over the universe no one has the right to disobey God. We are all obligated to submit to His authority. As Solomon said, “ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” ( Ecc. 12:13). Not doing so is sinful and destructive. Notice how our text pictures rebellion – it is “as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry”. And, notice that he doesn’t categorize sin so as to exclude some. This is a blanket indictment against all sin – every act of disobedience.
Jesus said, ” And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” ( Luke 6:46). The point is that we can’t honestly say that Jesus is our Lord if we disobey what he says. His question should be taken as a warning. In Matt. 7: 21-23 the warning is more blunt, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” We have no reason to believe, nor to expect others to believe, that we are saved if we live in rebellion. If we are saved we ought to obey God in every detail of life and we will have a desire to please Him. Obedience isn’t optional. Obedience is the outcome of saving faith ( Jam. 2:17, 26). It is proof of our profession. – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
