This morning sermon comes from the book of First Samuel, the 15th chapter,

verses 17 through 23. I invite you to turn there and follow as I read aloud.

First Samuel 15, 17 through 23.

And Samuel said,

though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel?

The Lord anointed you king over Israel.

And the Lord sent you on a mission and said,

Go, utterly destroy the sinners the Amalek Heights,

and fight against them until they are consumed.

Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop on the spoil

and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord? And Saul said to Samuel, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which

the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag, the King of Amalek, and I have utterly destroyed the

Amelichites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted

to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgow. And Samuel said,

Has 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.

For rebellion is as the sin of divination and stubbornness is as

iniquity and idolatry because you have rejected the word of the Lord. He has

also rejected you from being King.

Two weeks ago you may remember we said that if you hope in the Lord you honor the Lord because drinking at a mountain spring and delighting in what you drink is the best compliment you can pay to a mountain spring.

And therefore God takes pleasure in those who hope in his steadfast love.

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