Is that Noise behind the Worship?
1 Samuel 15:1-3
1 ¶ Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
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, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, the first group to confront them militarily in the desert were the Amalekites.
They were an enemy who fought against the people of God, and God had a special curse that He placed upon them.
Exo. 17:14
14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. (KJV)
14 Y Jehová dijo a Moisés: Escribe esto para memoria en un libro, y di a Josué que del todo tengo de raer la memoria de Amalec de debajo del cielo. (RVG04)
The altar Jehovah-nisi (the Lord my banner) was built.
Exo. 17:15
15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: (KJV)
15 Y Moisés edificó un altar, y llamó su nombre Jehová-nisi; (RVG04)
Lines were drawn and land was claimed, but the war would be a continuous one.
Exo. 17:16
16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. (KJV)
16 y dijo: Por cuanto Jehová lo ha jurado: Jehová tendrá guerra contra Amalec de generación en generación. (RVG04)
I. A Special Mandate
God wanted Amalek utterly destroyed.
This group once slowed the process of the children of God getting to the promised land. Now they show up again and their scheme is no less evil.
Romans 6:1
1 ¶ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (KJV)
1 ¿Qué, pues, diremos? ¿Perseveraremos en el pecado para que la gracia abunde? (RVG04)
Hebrews 12:1
1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (KJV)
1 Por tanto, nosotros también, teniendo en derredor nuestro tan grande nube de testigos, despojémonos de todo peso, y del pecado que nos asedia, y corramos con paciencia la carrera que tenemos por delante, (RVG04)
God does not want us to take the woldly and refurbish, re-invent, and rename it. That which is evil needs to be destroyed.
II. Stay the Course
Saul seems to start out okay. He prepares the army. He sends them out across the land to carry out the task.
III. Second Verse--Changing the Tune
1 Samuel 15:9
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. (KJV)
9 Y Saúl y el pueblo perdonaron a Agag, y a lo mejor de las ovejas, y al ganado mayor, a los gruesos y a los carneros, y a todo lo bueno, y no lo quisieron destruir; pero todo lo que era vil y flaco destruyeron. (RVG04)
King Saul believed that his keen sense of judgment and logic were better than the Word of the Lord.
2 Sins Committed in this Disobedience
1. Covetousness
2. Vanity
"Half obedience is still whole rebellion" --Spurgeon
It is interesting how we can classify something as "good" that God has already said that He wants destroyed. It was thought to be good to Saul, but not so with God.
Don't let (your) GOOD, become the enemy of the (Gods') BEST!
It may be good to stay home and be hospitable to visitors, but is it better than being found in the House of the Lord at service time?
A large offering for church is good, but not when it is gained from bribery or gambling.
IV. The Great Worship Cover Up
1 Samuel 15:13
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. (KJV)
13 Vino, pues, Samuel a Saúl, y Saúl le dijo: Bendito seas tu de Jehová; yo he cumplido la palabra de Jehová. (RVG04)
Saul was determined to have a great service. He and the people were cranking up the music, shouting and dancing before the Lord, raising their hands, and clapping at just the right moments.
Surely he thought that God would be so happy with their extravagant worship that the other "small matter" wouldn't be a big deal.
Our churches are full of this malarky in this day and hour. A few crocodile tears and sniffles, a lot of hupola, and a refreshing song. Maybe even a non-personal inspiring sermon.
V. That Tell-Tale Noise
1 Sam. 15:14
14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? (KJV)
14 Samuel entonces dijo: ¿Pues qué balido de ganados y bramido de bueyes es éste que yo oigo con mis oídos? (RVG04)
God has a keen ear. It perceives what is really going on. You can shout until you are blue in the face, but He still is going to question you about that disobedience.
You can try to cover it up for a little while, but it is not buried.
VI. Shifting the Blame--Shame, Shame
1 Sam. 15:20,21
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. (KJV)
20 Y Saúl respondió a Samuel: Antes he oído la voz de Jehová, y fui a la jornada que Jehová me envió, y he traído a Agag rey de Amalec, y he destruido a los amalecitas; (RVG04)
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. (KJV)
21 pero el pueblo tomó del despojo ovejas y vacas, las primicias del anatema, para sacrificarlas a Jehová tu Dios en Gilgal. (RVG04)
God knows exactly what is going on. Peer pressure, fear, politics, nor manipulation will give you a pass with God.
Romans 14:12
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (KJV)
12 De manera que cada uno de nosotros dará cuenta a Dios de sí. (RVG04)
Half obedience is still whole rebellion!
VI. Destroy or Be Destroyed
1 Sam. 15:26
26 And 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. (KJV)
26 Y Samuel respondió a Saúl: No volveré contigo; porque desechaste la palabra de Jehová, y Jehová te ha desechado para que no seas rey sobre Israel. (RVG04)
Sauls' days have now been numbered. God has rejected him from being king over Israel.
Samuel finished the job that Saul would not do. 1 Samuel 15:33
Agag the Amalekite never got to kill Saul. But one of his descendents dealt the blow that led to Sauls' death. All because Saul did not deal with the matter as God intended.
You let that habit, that vice, that weakness, continue without stamping it out, and sooner or later, it will turn on you and devour you.
Kill that lust, that bitterness, that foul mouth, that uncontrolled temper, that gossiping tongue, that worldly heart, that wrong relationship. Quit trying to drown it out with pretentious worship.
God has given you a clear task. Don't procrastinate or do it half-way.
