“For rebellion is like the sin of sorcery,
stubbornness like the crime of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of Adonai,
he too has rejected you as king.”
-1 Samuel 15:23
I find verse 23 fascinating.
We have Samuel equating sin and rebellion to two specific crimes that require the death penalty per the Torah: Sorcery and idolatry.
Isn’t that interesting?
Here’s a perspective you might find eyebrow-raising.
All deliberate disobedience to the Lord is idolatry.
Why?
Simply because you’re exalting your will above His…
You’re saying you know better than Him when it comes to how to live your life.
So when Samuel boils all sin down to either idolatry or sorcery, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration.
And it ties in nicely with Yeshua’s answer when he was asked what the most important commandment of all is.
“You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding, and with all your strength.”
Seriously, compare what Yeshua said with what Samuel declared.
They’re both speaking about the same foundational idea that supports ALL of the Lord’s commands which is to love God and love your fellow man.
The beginning of all evil including the so-called petty sins we commit is rooted in idolatry and sorcery.
When you disobey your Creator, you’re making yourself out to be your own god.
There ain’t no better definition of idolatry than that.
Idolatry is putting your will over God’s.
And that’s EXACTLY what King Saul did when he decided to NOT destroy all the war booty and allowed Agag, the leader of the Amalekites to live.
Are you feeling me here?
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Father, if you are willing,
take this cup from me;
yet not my will,
but yours be done.”
-Luke 22:42
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