“Don’t Take the Bait…”

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams…” I Samuel 15:22

God gave Saul a strict commandment… “Go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass…” This king and city must have been so wicked, that God couldn’t stand the sight of these idol worshippers. King Saul smote them, but he kept the king, Agag, alive as a trophy; and, Saul and the people kept the best of the sheep, the oxen… all the good stuff, but killed anything that had no value.

The Prophet Samuel comes into town, he is a scary Prophet. While talking to Saul, Samuel hears the noise of sheep and oxen and he is furious! Saul goes on to defend himself, saying “the people spared the best of the sheep, etc. and we destroyed everything else…” Then, Saul, trying to defend himself, lies… He says, “Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, but the people took all the animals to sacrifice unto the Lord…”

The Prophet Samuel does not give in… He tells Saul, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?” I Sam. 15:22

Saul “took the bait” Satan offered him… He disobeyed the Lord. As Samuel pronounces judgment on Saul and turns to leave, Saul catches hold of the skirt of his mantle and it ripped right down the middle!… Samuel pronounces judgment, “The Lord hath rent the Kingdom of Israel this day from thee, and given it to a neighbor, (David)”… Today, some job, or some man, or some woman, or some decision may “look good” in the natural and Satan will try to see if you will “take the bait.” When you feel a check in your spirit, “don’t take the bait.” “Don’t do it!”

Obedience is better than sacrifice… Blessings, Sherry