Have you ever read the parable of the two sons, as told by Jesus in Matt. 21:28-32? Take a moment and do that now, if you would. It tells of a father who had two sons, both of which he asked to go work in his vineyard. The first son refused, but then had a change of heart and did what was asked of him. The second son assured his father that he would indeed go and do what he asked, but then changed his mind and failed to follow through.

That’s when Jesus asked: “Which of the two did the will of his father?” (31). You might jot down Matt. 7:21 next to that passage; I bet you have that one memorized by now?

So picking up where we left off yesterday in 1 Samuel 15...

For whatever his reasons, King Saul did not fully comply with God’s wishes, which we concluded in yesterday’s message. He spared the king of Amelek, from what we read there, along with some choice livestock.(9). Can I just tell you now that God was not pleased?!  (We’ve been studying this past week the difference between ‘pleasing’ God, and ‘appeasing’ Him. I hope you are caught up here.)

God reaches out to His prophet, Samuel, and communicates His displeasure with Saul to him, admitting that He regrets making Saul king, given he had ‘turned back from following Him’ (10-11). That is interesting wording there, to suggest that one is no longer ‘following God when we don’t do what He says.’ (John 10:27)

As the story plays out, a grieved Samuel makes his way to confront the king, who we are told had gone to Carmel to ‘set up a monument for himself’...and I’m just gonna leave that one there by itself. Samuel finally meets up with Saul, and when Saul sees Samuel approaching, he goes to meet him, singing the praises of God... assuring the prophet that he did what the Lord had commanded him to do (12-13).

Then comes one of the most profound, ‘hit-you-between-the-eyes’ questions you will hear asked in the Bible: “Then what is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” (14)

Friends...no matter how hard we try, you cannot cover up nor conceal the ‘fruit of our hearts’ (Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; Matt. 15:18-20). Do you see why it is imperative that we take up our cross, surrender our lives to Jesus and follow the leading of His Spirit in order for our hearts to be purified and perfected in His love...as we are conformed to His image and likeness? (Rom. 8:29; 1 John 2:6; 3:3; 2 Cor. 7:1)

Now this is where the story gets rather interesting and if you get in a hurry, you’ll miss some valuable lessons to be gleaned. Instead of falling on his face and agreeing with the word of the Lord...Saul immediately wants to shift blame on the people for sparing the livestock (15). To which Samuel, in a matter of speaking...tells Saul to 'shut up'...before revealing to him what the Lord had to say about the matter. The initial orders given to King Saul are retold once again (18)...followed up with the question: “Why did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you do contrary to what was told you?”(19)

Does Saul then...fall to his knees, broken and repentant? Nope...in fact it gets worse. You can read what his response is in vs. 20-21. He actually denies God’s accusation and is still trying to convince whoever will listen...that he did indeed...’obey the voice of the Lord...But...”. And his excuse for why they kept the choice livestock? So they could offer up a really good praise offering to God.

I know this next statement will not land well for some folks, but I am going to say it anyway: modern day ‘worship’ services can quickly become idolatrous, where we are actually more enamored in the way in which we worship, as opposed to honoring the One who we say...we are worshiping. We cannot ‘sing our way to heaven’, no matter how seemingly ‘anointed’ it may sound to us. Now listen to what Samuel’s reply is to Saul and his plans for an impressive sacrifice offering:

“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen...to obey is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (15:22- NLT)

So time for the ‘Pass or Fail’ question on this ‘pop quiz’: What is more pleasing to God, our acts of ‘worship and service’ or our obedience to Him?

Ready for a good NT reference to put things in perspective? Go read Romans 10:1-3. Frankly, God grows weary with our continued efforts to modify and alter His gospel message of repentance while we offer up more ‘simplified ways’ in which we can ‘get people to heaven’. Don’t forget where Paul gave us plenty of heads up notice that this was coming down the pipe, and how we too could be ‘easily deceived as Eve was by the serpent’...and end up following ‘another Jesus, receiving another gospel and even another spirit’ (2 Cor. 11:3-4).

And Samuel was not done with Saul either. He goes on to imply that if we are not going to obey God, then we may as well be practicing witchcraft, adding that when we reject God’s word, that He will in turn reject us (1 Sam. 15:23). Oh, but you were told God is ‘not like that anymore’? Care to explain Hebrews 10:26-31 or 6:4-6?

Then....(finally)...Saul said to Samuel: “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words...because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” (24)

Now our story takes a more somber and darker turn, as Saul’s petition for a ‘pardon’ is rejected. I know...I know; that’s a tough one. We are taught much about God’s unfailing mercies and unfathomable grace, and yet did not Jesus even teach of a day that would come, when God would not open that ‘door’ to desperate cries? Matt. 7:22-23 and 25:10-12; Luke 13:23-27, and Proverbs 1:22-33 might be worth a read over. And if you feel a growing sense of a healthy ‘fear of God’ while doing so, please note, this would not be a ‘bad’ thing to experience, since the ‘fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ (Prov. 1:7), and it is for a ‘lack of knowledge that God’s people are destroyed’ (Hosea 4:6).

You don’t want to miss tomorrow’s lesson.