TREASURES OF THE BIBLE, Week March 14-20, 2022, “Obeying Is Better Than Offering A Sacrifice,” Prepared Speech.

TREASURES OF THE BIBLE, March 14-20, 2022, “Obeying Is Better Than Offering Sacrifice,” Prepared Speech.

“Obeying is better than offering a sacrifice” (10 min.)

It is said that since excuses were invented nobody looks bad, or at least that is the intention. Unfortunately today most people who make a mistake and do not recognize what they have done, try to blame something else but themselves.

And it is that since we were very young we do it, perhaps at some point you have seen that a little brother older than 4 or 5 years will blame someone who is just beginning to walk for some mischief and that something broke in the living room of his house and they blame the little one because he does not have or does not know how to defend himself.

Since childhood we look for excuses and that is what we are going to review this time in Treasures of the Bible with the theme: "Obeying is better than offering a sacrifice." These words were mentioned by Samuel. He told King Saul because he had disobeyed. The instructions Jehovah had given were very clear. How they should treat the Amalekites. 

LET'S READ: 1 Samuel 15:3.

So go fight the Amalekites. Kill them and everything they have. Do not spare their lives. He kills men and women, children and babies, bulls and sheep, camels and donkeys.

Jehovah's instruction was very clear. They had to kill all the Amalekites, from the smallest to the oldest, and also all their animals. There should be nothing left. hard to understand? Of course not… Why did Jehovah ask for this to be done?

According to the Bible story. The Amalekites were the first of the nations to rise up in opposition to the Israelites when they left Egypt for Palestine, and for that reason their end would be their perishment. As clear opponents of God's people, they had to be avenged and destroyed for that attitude.

Without a doubt, many of us, at some point in our lives, have received clear and specific instructions on what we have to do, whether at school, work or in the congregation. It is possible that one wanted to make personal decisions believing that they are the best solution or the best way to do what has been asked of us.

However, if we are told to do it one way, it is because it is the best proven method. Let us never use an excuse for not doing what is asked of us in the way that is requested. That happened with Saul once Jehovah gave the clear decisions that had to be carried out. He acted his way and Samuel found out because Jehovah communicated to him. Let's see what Samuel's reaction was when he conversed with Saul, and of course, let's see the attitude of the king in looking for a possible good justification. 

LET'S READ: 1 Samuel 15:13,15.

13 When Samuel finally met him, Saul said to him: “May the Lord bless you. I have obeyed the words of Jehovah.” 14 But Samuel asked him, “Then how is it that I hear sheep and cattle?” 15 To which Saul replied: “They were from the Amalekites. It is that men left alive the best sheep and cows to sacrifice them to Jehovah your God. But everything else we have destroyed.”

If we see in our activity guide we have here a drawing where King Saul is seen, giving an order to one of the soldiers not to kill that person who is being held prisoner there. Who is that person? What is it trying to reflect here in this drawing? 

This character who is as a prisoner is King Agag, of the Amalekites, how is it possible that they had not killed him, I had said that they had to finish, everything seems to you that Saul wanted to have prominence before the others or before the king and It is that the people the soldiers did what the king said for that reason, when Samuel found out that King Agag had not been killed.

Well, it was something really despicable because Jehovah had given an order and it was not obeyed, of course, the situation was supposedly in favor of Jehovah, since the animals had been made available for their sacrifices.

LET'S READ: 1 Samuel 15:22,23.

22 In answer, Samuel said to him: “Which pleases Jehovah more: burnt offerings and sacrifices, or obeying what Jehovah says? It is clear: obeying is better than offering a sacrifice, and paying attention is better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Because rebellion is as serious as the sin of divination, and acting boldly is the same as using magic powers and worshiping idols. You rejected the words of Jehovah, so he rejects you as king.”

It cost Saul his kingship for disobeying Jehovah. He lost Jehovah's approval thinking that what he was doing was better. And of course, the situation had to be corrected. Samuel himself had to kill Agag so that everything would be as Jehovah had requested. Each of us must really consider that although we can take initiative to do things that appear to be better for Jehovah, we must be obedient.  

If we are told something to do, it may be in our daily life or within the congregation. Let us obey deeply. Jehovah is very interested in those who obey. Jehovah makes great use of obedient people among his people, for God's obedient servants in our day are very valuable shortly during the great tribulation.

We will need to follow to the letter specific instructions that Jehovah will give through his organization, and in paradise we will also have to obey new instructions that we will receive. Obeying is better than offering a very clear sacrifice. Let us never look for excuses not to comply with Jehovah's will. So that Jehovah always accepts our worship.