Saul Is Rejected As King

Hi! and happy good first day of the week, GUYS.  Our "daily bread" this Monday:

THE GOOD NEWS (18 January 2016)

"Samuel then told Saul, 'Enough!  Let me tell you what YAHWEH said to me last night.'  Saul replied, 'Please tell me.'  So Samuel went on and said, 'Though you had no confidence in yourself, you became chief of the tribes of Israel, for YAHWEH wanted to anoint you king over Israel.  Then HE sent you with this command, 'Go.  Completely crush the Amalekite offenders, engaging them in battle until they are destroyed.'  Why then did you not obey the voice of YAHWEH but instead swooped down on the spoil, doing what was evil in HIS sight?'  To this, Saul replied, 'I have obeyed the voice of YAHWEH and have carried out the mission for which HE sent me.  I have captured Agag, king of Amalek and completely destroyed the Amalekites.  If my men spared the best sheep and oxen from among those to be destroyed, it was in order to sacrifice them to YAHWEH, your GOD, in Gilgal.'  Samuel then said,

'Does YAHWEH take as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to HIS command?  Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission better than the fat of rams.  Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and stubbornness like holding onto idols.  Since you have rejected the word of YAHWEH, HE too has rejected you as king'." - 1 Samuel 15:16-23 

(For a long time, it has been a subject of reflection and discussion for the people of GOD to know what, in GOD's eyes is more important:  the offering of sacrifices or keeping the Law? 

GOD is coming to judge HIS people.  HE condemns those who replace the obedience of the heart with offerings and material sacrifices, and those who recite the commandments instead of practicing them.)