the Chosen People

Saul: The Rejected King

Saul disobeys God, losing his kingdom and revealing the cost of partial obedience.

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1 Samuel 15:22
What happens when we obey… halfway? God gave Saul a direct command: destroy everything. But Saul chose selective obedience—sparing King Agag and the best livestock. It looked like worship, but it was really disobedience. Samuel’s rebuke hits hard: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). Saul’s downfall began not with rebellion, but with compromise. In our lives, partial obedience can feel like enough—going to church but holding onto bitterness, giving generously but ignoring God’s nudges elsewhere. Obedience is more than doing some of what God says—it’s about trust. Trusting even when His instructions are hard. Today, let’s ask: where am I obeying halfway? And will I trust God enough to surrender completely?
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