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Patriarchs and Prophets
opposition to the command of God only served to weaken Saul’s hands,
placing him beyond the help that God was so willing to grant him.
In his expedition against Amalek, Saul thought he had done all
that was essential of that which the Lord had commanded him; but
the Lord was not pleased with partial obedience, nor willing to pass
over what had been neglected through so plausible a motive. God has
given men no liberty to depart from His requirements. The Lord had
declared to Israel, “Ye shall not do ... every man whatsoever is right in
his own eyes;” but ye shall “observe and hear all these words which I
command thee.”
Deuteronomy 12:8, 28
. In deciding upon any course
of action we are not to ask whether we can see that harm will result
from it, but whether it is in keeping with the will of God. “There is a
way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways
of death.”
Proverbs 14:12
.
“To obey is better than sacrifice.” The sacrificial offerings were
in themselves of no value in the sight of God. They were designed
to express on the part of the offerer penitence for sin and faith in
Christ and to pledge future obedience to the law of God. But without
penitence, faith, and an obedient heart, the offerings were worthless.
When, in direct violation of God’s command, Saul proposed to present
a sacrifice of that which God had devoted to destruction, open contempt
was shown for the divine authority. The service would have been an
insult to Heaven. Yet with the sin of Saul and its result before us, how
many are pursuing a similar course. While they refuse to believe and
obey some requirement of the Lord, they persevere in offering up to
God their formal services of religion. There is no response of the Spirit
of God to such service. No matter how zealous men may be in their
observance of religious ceremonies, the Lord cannot accept them if
they persist in willful violation of one of His commands.
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“Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniq-
uity and idolatry.” Rebellion originated with Satan, and all rebellion
against God is directly due to satanic influence. Those who set them-
selves against the government of God have entered into an alliance
with the archapostate, and he will exercise his power and cunning to
captivate the senses and mislead the understanding. He will cause
everything to appear in a false light. Like our first parents, those who
are under his bewitching spell see only the great benefits to be received
by transgression.