The Joy of Obedience

I did not speak to your fathers concerning sacrifices. But this command I gave them, 'Obey my voice and I will be your God.’ (Jeremiah 7:22-23)

I Chr. 16:27-29; I Sam. 15:22; Rom. 6:17-18; II Tim. 3:5

What Is God Saying?

The system of sacrifices alluded to in this passage is recorded in Leviticus 1-7. Jeremiah is not denying that sacrifices were given by God through Moses as he spoke from the Tent of Meeting in the wilderness. For the times and the circumstances, there were important reasons for giving and observing these rituals: reasons of health to avoid sickness, reasons of form and order to avoid confusion, and reasons of encouragement and guidance through an unrelentingly hostile wilderness.

It was a religion that was good for Israel that they might be preserved as a people through their early days, but as time went by the people began to substitute sacrifices for obedience, form for practice, and ritual for right living. It became their paramount goal to go through the right religious forms externally rather than to do God's will from the heart. Samuel penetrated Saul's defences and excuses when he said, ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offering and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than to sacrifice’ (I Sam. 15:22).

How Does This Apply To Us?

This same line of reasoning can be applied today to forms of religion vis-a-vis daily life in obedience to the will of God. If the forms of our faith make us more obedient to the requirements of our faith, it is good. If they take the place of obedience, they are wrong. How we behave on Monday is of more importance than what we say we believe on Sunday. Going to Church on Sunday (with all its virtues and blessings) should guide us to work on Monday and keep us in all our relationships every day, in every way and with all we meet. Worship is a basic need for all of us (I Chr. 16:27-29; Ps. 29:2, 96:8). Its purpose is not to be a substitute for that which pleases God and brings blessing to others and deeper joy to our hearts. These are ours by simple, prompt, willing and total obedience to God's will. That blesses God, others, and us.

Pray With Me

Lord, it is wonderful to worship You. It is a source of strength to be in the accustomed place at regular intervals to hear Your Word and to be renewed by Your Spirit. It is a source of joy to be with others who are singing Your praise and offering sacrifices of thanksgiving, but there is something more worthwhile, more important. Obedience is both the acid test of devotion and the key to obtaining Your highest blessing

‘To obey is better than sacrifice.’ It is better for me. In obeying I will go where Your will directs. In obeying, I will speak with the authority of Your Spirit. In obeying, I will become a purposeful instrument in Your hand.

‘To obey is better than sacrifice.’ It is better for others when I put obedience before sacrifice. No one, Lord, is helped when I go through the motions or repeat well-worn words of a creed. When I am an obedient tool in Your hand, I can move among the dispossessed and the disconsolate with the practical ministries of God's grace.

‘To obey is better than sacrifice.’ It is better for You. Your name is honored when those who profess to be, prove to be in subjection to Your will. Then Your love is not distorted into burdensome, cheerless duty. Your grace is not blocked on its way to others by someone playing a religious part that is hollow and unconvincing. Teach me the grace of obedience. Lead me in a life of obedience, then I will discover the joy of obedience.

‘Obey My voice.’ The simplest command. Let it be observed.

‘I will be your God.’ The greatest blessing. Let it be enjoyed.

Through Him who became obedient unto death that I might be redeemed unto life. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

We must come to prayer seeking to know God's will. We must not leave the time of prayer without determination to do God's will. Prayer should be the launch pad for obedience or it is a waste of time. We kneel in prayer to give glory to God and to give meaning to life.