Sacrifice as a religious act can be merely an outward performance of a religious duty. When God is obeyed then that usually comes from the heart as an act of devotion to the one who is being obeyed. Sacrifice, even to a high degree can be done for the wrong motives, even in order to earn favor with God, as if He doesn't already love us enough and hasn't paid enough on calvary.
God also wants people to love and follow Him personally, not just as an outward show, or as devotion to earn points with Him. He just wants us to believe in Him and to love Him and to obey Him. Sometimes this may include sacrifices of various kinds. But sacrifice may not include obedience.
In the original context, quoted below, Saul had been given a command which he had not completely fulfilled. Then he had done a sacrifice to appear righteous, even using some of the animals he shouldn't have had to do the sacrifice. Thus his sacrifice was thus a disobedient sacrifice and so was displeasing to God.
1 Samuel 15:17-26 (King James Version)17And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?18And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
20And 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.
21But 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.
22And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.
23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
24And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
26And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
Samuel spoke on behalf of God, and also regarded Saul's sacrifice on this occasion as a form of rebellion against God.
People frequently imagine that God requires sacrifice, when He just wants us, and us to love Him and serve Him. That may involve in some cases a lot more than one sacrifice. It may involve giving up our lives, rather than some small religious act. Further to all this, and perhaps this is why rebellion is involved, sacrifice is often something that we decide upon. In this case God is not Lord. He wants all of us, and He wants us to do what He wants, not what we want.
Sacrifice may thus be us choosing our own way instead of God's way. God's way is through His son Jesus Christ. He has already paid the price to earn peace and favor with God. And so many sacrifices and religious acts (the modern day equivalent of what Saul did) are grossly offensive to God since they are effectively stating that Jesus has not done enough on Calvary in His 'once for all' act -the ultimate sacrifice of a loving God for rebellious mankind.
Simple obedience is far better. It shows we trust in what He has done and are resting in that. It also shows we acknowledge Him as Lord.
Personally for me and based on my believes obedience is better than sacrifice because obedience is how you show your love, it could be towards your parents, extended family, teachers and even to you country.Sacrifice is also good depending on your motives.
Both obedience and sacrifice are important aspects of following certain principles or beliefs. Obedience involves following instructions or rules, while sacrifice often involves giving up something valuable for a greater cause. Both can be important in different contexts and it may depend on the situation as to which is considered better.
The phrase "to obey is better than sacrifice" is from the Bible, specifically in 1 Samuel 15:22. This verse conveys the idea that obedience to God's commandments is more important than offering sacrifices or making ritual offerings.
One scripture that highlights obedience as a form of worship is 1 Samuel 15:22, which states "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." This verse emphasizes the importance of following God's commands as a primary form of worship.
It requires sacrifice and single - minded obedience.
The Feast of the Sacrifice, also known as Eid al-Adha, is connected to Abraham's sacrifice in the Islamic tradition. According to the story, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, but at the last moment, God provided a ram to sacrifice instead. This event symbolizes faith, obedience, and submission to God's will. The significance of this connection in religious traditions is to remind believers of the importance of faith, sacrifice, and trust in God's plan. It serves as a reminder of the values of selflessness, devotion, and obedience in the context of religious beliefs.
When Saul claimed he had saved the best animal for sacrifice, Samuel responded by telling Saul that obedience to God's commands is more important than offering sacrifices. Samuel emphasized that God values obedience and humility over sacrifices and rituals. This interaction highlights the importance of following God's will and commands with a sincere heart.
the different ways that slaveholders encouraged obedience from their slaves was to offer them more food and better living conditions.
the different ways that slaveholders encouraged obedience from their slaves was to offer them more food and better living conditions.
The saying "To obey is better than sacrifice" originates from the Bible, specifically 1 Samuel 15:22. It is a statement made by the prophet Samuel to King Saul, emphasizing that obeying God's commands is more important than offering sacrifices.
to remember when Abraham was going to sacrifice his own son to prove obedience to god.
Love, Honor, Obedience, Sacrifice and Righteousness