The Test Of Obedience

1 Samuel 15:1-23 THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE

The Amalekites were a wandering tribe descended from Esau’s grandson Amalek

They roamed throughout the territory which was later settled by the people of Israel. Throughout the Old Testament the Amalekites were bitter enemies of the Israelies.

I. THE DIVINE COMMISSION!

2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have,

(a) The Source of The Command - 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts

Here Is Power, Presence, Performance.

(b) The Speed of The Command - 3 "now go"

1 Sam 21:8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.

(c) The Simplicity of The Command - 3 slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

Isa 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Eccl 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

II. THE DIRECT COMMAND!

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have,

It was a simple command…..

A. To utterly destroy the People - Now go and smite Amalek

B. To utterly destroy their Possessions - and utterly destroy all that they have,

C. To utterly destroy their Posterity - but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

Est 3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him

III. THE DISOBEDIENT CONDUCT!

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

A. The Selfishness Of His Disobedience - But Saul

Pride Here, Presumption Here, Procrastination Here, Provocation Here,

"Partial Obedience Is Disobedience."

B. The Seriousness Of His Disobedience

(a) It Fails the Will Of God (b) It Frustrates the Work Of God

C. The Subtleness Of His Disobedience

1. He Tries To Deny It 13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

His Impressive Appearance - 13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD

His Deceptive Performance - I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

His Explosive Experience - 14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

2. He Tries To Diminish It 15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

3. He tries to Deflect it 20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

D. The Sinfulness Of His Disobedience 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

(a) Witchcraft - Bowing to the Devil. eg. Peter- Get thee behind me satan

Ananias & Sapphira

(b) Iniquity - Turning to the World. 2 Thess 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

(c) Idolatry - Pandering to the Flesh

IV. THE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCE! 23 Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

A. Rejected As Sovereign - he hath also rejected thee from being king.

B. Rejected For Service - he hath also rejected thee

Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same