7 Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.
Saul and his men did not destroy all the plunder as they had been instructed to do. Anything under God’s ban was to be completely destroyed. Why? This was set up, so idol worship would not take hold of Israel. Many of the valuables were idols and were to be destroyed. Breaking this law was punishable by death. This partial obedience was disrespect and disregard for God. It violated his command to destroy everything. Partial obedience is sin. If you gloss over sin to protect material gain or what you have, you are not being shrewd. You are disobeying. Do not get into a bad habit of selective obedience. Look at your choices and be objective. If you have been selectively obedient, make a change today to fully commit yourself to fully obeying God. When you do, you will have a peace that surpasses anything you have ever known before.
