1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”

In the Old Testament Samuel declares to Saul, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). In the Old Testament, the Hebrew words “Shama`” and “Hupakoe” are frequently translated into “to obey”, and “to listen in a position of submission” The word carries an underlying tone of reverence and obedience, of subordination as a soldier ranking under an officer. In the New Testament we also have the word “Peitho” which means obey, to yield to, and to trust in, to believe in.

Too often we behave as if we can perform our way into God’s good graces. So, we make a big show of giving up food by fasting. Or we might even sacrifice financially to give money to God. But what if that’s not what He was asking for? What if God had said, “I want two minutes of our time”? To obey, says Samuel, to do what God is asking of you, is better, in God’s eyes, than your big showy sacrifice.

I can almost hear God whispering: “If you would just listen to My voice and obey, you’ll find yourself in alignment with My will. Obedience is everything that I desire for you. So, when you obey, I’ll protect you. I’ll care for you.” . . . There’s this special provision that accompanies obedience. When we obey, we experience what God has for us. That’s not true when we go our own way. 

Repentance in God is not a change of mind, as it is in us, but a change of method. The change was in Saul; He is turned back from following me. Hereby he made God his enemy. Samuel spent a whole night in pleading for Saul. The rejection of sinners is the grief of believers: God delights not in their death, nor should we. Bible Hub

As we strive to become people of obedience, our desire to obey grows. We seek to hear God’s voice to follow His guidance. Together, let’s resolve that upon hearing God’s instructions, we will act in obedience. God, do you want me in this church? God, do you want me in this relationship? God, do you want me in this job? And when we do this, our yes and our no align with God’s yes and no. That’s obedience. When you say ‘yes’ to God, He guides you to the next threshold. With each ‘yes’ you give, He leads you through it and onto the next. Following God is essentially about consenting to His guidance. However, simplicity doesn’t guarantee perfection. Much like a toddler taking their first steps, you will falter and fall. Obedience requires practice.

God delights in obedience because He is always working for our good. He wants us to walk in His ways because His ways are best. And knowing that, in Jesus, God has completed the sacrifice possible for our salvation, shouldn’t that be all the more reason to live a life of joyful obedience and thanks? It is hard to convince the children of disobedience. But humble, sincere, and conscientious obedience to the will of God, is more pleasing and acceptable to him than all burnt-offering and sacrifices.

God is more glorified and self-more denied, by obedience than by sacrifice. It is much easier to bring a bullock or lamb to be burned upon the altar, than to bring every high thought into obedience to God, and to make our will subject to his will. Those are unfit and unworthy to rule over men, who are not willing that God should rule over them. Bible Hub