1 Sam. 15:1-16, Obedience vs. willfulness (1)

There is a clear connection between “attentiveness” and “obedience.”  James reminds us that attentiveness is not sufficient by itself: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (Jas. 1:22).  Proverbs (1:8) brings the two together in the family: My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother.  Jesus (Take heed what you hear, Mark 4:24) and the prophets (e.g. But they did not hear nor heed Me, Zec. 1:4) combine the two.  Failure to hear is not an excuse but is itself a sin.  So let us turn our attention to “obedience.”

1)    Definition: The freedom to be creative under the protection of divinely appointed authority.  (Just a note: This is Gothard’s definition.  His definitions were not theological nor from the dictionary but were what I call “functional.”  In this case, “obedience” is seen in the NT context of “freedom in Christ” as we live in a society full of God’s established authorities.  Proverbs also views obedience in the context of these authorities.  In the end, all obedience is to our Creator.  He established the authorities.  Our obedience to the authorities is to be obedience to the Lord, Eph. 6:5-8).

2)    Scripture: Prov. 1:8f,24-27,30-31; 2:7,21f; 3:1,11f; 4:2-4; 6:20-24; 7:1f; 8:33; 10:13,17; 12:1; 13:24; 15:10; 17:10; 19:18,20; 20:30; 21:2f; 22:6,8; 27:11; 28:4; Jas. 1:22.  This list obviously is not exhaustive of Scripture but highlights Proverbs.  Obedience is prominent in Scripture from the Garden of Eden to the return of Christ.

3)    Underlying Principle: In creation God built in certain relationships of authority-submission for the honor and protection of all.

a)    In family life:

i)      Gen. 2; 1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Pt. 3:1-7: Husband/wife.

ii)   Eph. 6:1: Parent/child.

b)    Also:

i)      Titus 3:1: Government/citizen.

ii)   Col. 3:22: Master/slave.

iii)            Heb. 13:17: Church Shepherds/church members.

4)    Illustrations:

a)    1 Sam. 15: This is the story of King Saul.  He lost the kingdom because of his disobedience.  To obey is better than sacrifice (15:22).

b)    Heb. 5:8; 12:2: The life of Christ was one of obedience.