Wednesday 27 November 2013

Coming Up Sonday December 1:

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

The Reality of Life

 Read Ecclesiastes 12:13. 1 Samuel 15:1-23

The prophet of God, Samuel, told newly crowned King Saul that he was to attack and destroy the Amalekites. God’s command was clear - destroy everything belonging to the Amalekites. Saul mustered 210,000 men and set an ambush. He defeated them in battle but rather than destroy everything, he kept the best sheep, goats and cattle. He even spared their king, King Agag.

When confronted by Samuel about his disobedience he tried to justify his actions by saying that the animals were kept as sacrifices to God.

In verses 22-23 Samuel’s haunting reply is given.

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.

²³For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He has rejected you as king.”

The truth is clear. God loves and demands obedience from us. He doesn't want us to interpret the commands our way or to modify them to suit ourselves. God loves and demands total allegiance and obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice! Even worse, disobedience is compared to the sin of divination and idolatry - sins which were punishable to death in Saul’s day!

We can thus understand why Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 that it is not those who prophesy and do great miracles, or even those who drive out demons, that will enter God’s Kingdom but only those who obey God’s will. We understand why Paul says in Romans 1:5 that his mandate was to call Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

Obedience is the key to the Christian life. You can not and will not grow and mature and deepen in your love for God while walking in willful disobedience. Genuine spirituality, maturing in Christ and a life of sacrifice/worship all boil down to this single concept of obedience. That is why Solomon can conclude his search with the words, ‘Fear God and keep His commands for this is the whole duty of man.’

Prayer:

ª Ask the Lord to create a spirit of obedience in your congregation. Pray that God would break the chains of those who are bound to habitual sin or addiction. Pray that the Lord would bring freedom to serve and love Him.