Why is obedience better than sacrifice?

Answer

In 1 Samuel 15, Saul decided to spare the Amalekite king Agag and kept the spoils from the battle instead of annihilating everything as God had instructed. When Samuel confronted him, Saul claimed, “I did follow the Lord’s command. . . . I carried out the mission the Lord gave me. I wiped out the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, to offer as sacrifices to the Lord your God in Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:20-21).

Samuel responded in 1 Samuel 15:22, “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices / as much as in obeying the Lord? / To obey is better than sacrifice.” Why is obedience more valuable than sacrifice?

There are two explanations provided. The first explanation is given in Samuel’s statement: “For 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” «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 Samuel 15:23). Saul’s disobedience was an act of rebellion, sin, and idolatry.

The second explanation is found in Saul’s admission. He confessed, “I have sinned. I disobeyed the Lord’s command and your instructions. I feared the people and yielded to them” «And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. », (1 Samuel 15:24). Saul acknowledged that his offering was a violation (sin).

And was against God’s command. It was the result of seeking the approval of people.

Putting it all together, we see several reasons why obedience to God is better than making sacrifices or offerings to Him: 1) disobedience is an act of rebellion, 2) disobedience is sinful, 3) disobedience is a form of idolatry, 4) disobedience disrespects God’s Word, and 5) disobedience is based on looking good to other people rather than to God.

Still today, in our human attempts to look good in serving God, there is the temptation to perform certain religious duties rather than to truly obey God. Even good activities, such as giving money to charity, attending church services, or praying in public, are not as important to God as obeying His commands.

Jesus criticized the teachers of His time for similar practices. Matthew 6 notes three religious activities—fasting, public prayer, and giving to those in need—that people often use to look good in front of other people rather than to honor God. As in 1 Samuel 15, the problem is not the offerings but the disobedience of God’s commands and the desire for approval of people rather than the approval of God.