1 Samuel 15
Samuel gave Saul an important task to carry out. The Lord had decided it was now time to punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 17:8-16). Saul failed to obey the Lord’s clear instructions to utterly annihilate all the Amalekites and destroy all their possessions. He kept the choice cattle and sheep for himself. Despite what he told Samuel later about offering them to the Lord, he wanted them for himself. That religious argument did not stand up for the Lord hates disobedience as much as he hates witchcraft. Both demonstrate a lack of faith in Him and place a trust in the self or in the power of false gods. Someone else gets the glory and honor due Him alone.
The Lord wants our hearts to be right. They may not be right even if we do outwardly righteous acts. We can sin by doing deeds that appear good or altruistic, noble or charitable, religious or caring if they are motivated by a desire to look good in the eyes of people, to feel that we are better than others, to receive praise, to cover over sins and shortcomings, to bribe God into loving and/or forgiving us or to assuage one’s guilt. Such acts are usually a lot easier to do than to ask for forgiveness and admit that we were wrong, to live a moral life, or to serve others in love expecting nothing in return.
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