To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice

I was watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Jude the other day when a scene resonated with something I had read in I Samuel. In the scene, two children were told to stay hidden in the cellar by a woman as she left to find food for them. She had told them to stay hidden because if they were seen, they could be captured and put in prison by an evil ruler. After she left, an agent of the ruler came by disguised as a ice cream and sweets dealer who was offering everything for free today. One kid began heading for the door immediately, but the other one reminded him that they were told to stay inside. The boy turned around and said that they would get her some as well.

They were quickly captured, even though they were going to get some for the woman.

King Saul did the same. King Saul was told to totally destroy the Amelekites, but he kept the best of the sheep and cattle, as well as sparing King Agag's life. When he was rebuked by Samuel, he made the excuse that he was going to sacrifice the sheep and cattle to God. Samuel replied,

"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king."

The phrase, "To obey is better than sacrifice," used to confuse me because part of obedience was adhering to the sacrificial system, right? I mean how can you say obeying this command of God is better than obeying that command of God?

The problem is in how I interpreted "to obey". I thought of obedience as an isolated act of carrying out a command. For instance, if Sarah asks me to carry out the trash and I do it, then I have obeyed my wife.

However, the Hebrew there means, "to hearken to the voice of". There are two different ways of saying that someone heard the voice of someone. "Shema et qol David" means, "He heard David's voice." This is used when Saul is hunting for David in the wilderness and David comes out to address Saul. "Saul Shema et qol David" Saul heard the voice of David.

The other way is "Shema beqol ADONAI"or "he hearkened to the voice of the LORD." This is not just the ears picking up the sound waves, nor is it just doing what is requested, it means following the voice of Yahweh. Just as a sheep follows the voice of the shepherd, or a child listens for and follows the voice of his mother, so when somone hearkens to the voice the LORD, he seeks to follow in His footsteps for fear of losing his way, and out of trust that the LORD knows what is best for him. There is a vast difference between an act of obedience and a life of seeking the ways of God. My prayer for myself and for you, is that we will choose the latter.

The children in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang didn't understand this.

Saul didn't understand this.

Understand this!
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.