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1 Samuel 15:22
Verse
Context
Samuel Denounces Saul
21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” 22But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Hath the Lord as great delight, etc. - This was a very proper answer to, and refutation of Saul's excuse. Is not obedience to the will of God the end of all religion, of its rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices?
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
Without entering, therefore, into any discussion of the meaning of the ban, as Saul only wanted to cover over his own wrong-doings by giving this turn to the affair, Samuel put a stop to any further excuses, by saying, "Hath Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and slain-offerings as in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? (i.e., in obedience to His word.) Behold, hearing (obeying) is better than slain-offerings, attending better than fat of rams." By saying this, Samuel did not reject sacrifices as worthless; he did not say that God took no pleasure in burnt-offerings and slain-offerings, but simply compared sacrifice with obedience to the command of God, and pronounced the latter of greater worth than the former. "It was as much as to say that the sum and substance of divine worship consisted in obedience, with which it should always begin, and that sacrifices were, so to speak, simple appendices, the force and worth of which were not so great as of obedience to the precepts of God" (Calvin). But it necessarily follows that sacrifices without obedience to the commandments of God are utterly worthless; in fact, are displeasing to God, as Psa 50:8., Isa 1:11., Isa 66:3, Jer 6:20, and all the prophets, distinctly affirm. There was no necessity, however, to carry out this truth any further. To tear off the cloak of hypocrisy, with which Saul hoped to cover his disobedience, it was quite enough to affirm that God's first demand was obedience, and that observing His word was better than sacrifice; because, as the Berleb. Bible puts it, "in sacrifices a man offers only the strange flesh of irrational animals, whereas in obedience he offers his own will, which is rational or spiritual worship" (Rom 12:8). This spiritual worship was shadowed forth in the sacrificial worship of the Old Testament. In the sacrificial animal the Israelite was to give up and sanctify his own person and life to the Lord. (For an examination of the meaning of the different sacrifices, see Pent. pp. 505ff., and Keil's Bibl Archol. 41ff.) But if this were the design of the sacrifices, it was clear enough that God did not desire the animal sacrifice in itself, but first and chiefly obedience to His own word. In Sa1 15:22, טּוב is not to be connected as an adjective with זבח, "more than good sacrifice," as the Sept. and Thenius render it; it is rather to be taken as a predicate, "better than slain-offerings," and מזּבח is placed first simply for the sake of emphasis. Any contrast between good and bad sacrifices, such as the former construction would introduce into the words, is not only foreign to the context, but also opposed to the parallelism. For אילים חלב does not mean fat rams, but the fat of rams; the fat portions taken from the ram, which were placed upon the altar in the case of the slain-offerings, and for which חלב is the technical expression (compare Lev 3:9, Lev 3:16, with Lev 3:4, Lev 3:11, etc.). "For," continued Samuel (Sa1 15:23), "rebellion is the sin of soothsaying, and opposition is heathenism and idolatry." מרי and הפצר are the subjects, and synonymous in their meaning. קסם חטּאת, the sin of soothsaying, i.e., of divination in connection with the worship of idolatrous and demoniacal powers. In the second clause idols are mentioned instead of idolatry, and compared to resistance, but without any particle of comparison. Opposition is keeping idols and teraphim, i.e., it is like worshipping idols and teraphim. און, nothingness, then an idol or image (vid., Isa 66:3; Hos 4:15; Hos 10:5, Hos 10:8). On the teraphim as domestic and oracular deities, see at Gen 31:19. Opposition to God is compared by Samuel to soothsaying and oracles, because idolatry was manifested in both of them. All conscious disobedience is actually idolatry, because it makes self-will, the human I, into a god. So that all manifest opposition to the word and commandment of God is, like idolatry, a rejection of the true God. "Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He hath rejected thee, that thou mayst be no longer king." ממּלך = מלך מהיוה (Sa1 15:26), away from being king.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And Samuel said,.... In reply to Saul: hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? no, certainly, the one being merely ceremonial, the other moral; the one supposes sin committed, for which sacrifice is offered; the other moral, and is a compliance with the will of God, and is neither sinful, nor supposes anything sinful, and therefore must be the more acceptable: behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams; which always was claimed by the Lord as his right and due; or the fattest rams or best sacrifices, of whatever sort, whether burnt offerings, or sin offerings, or peace offerings; for had man obeyed the will of God, and not sinned, there would have been no need of sacrifice; and that was only acceptable to God when offered with a heart truly sensible of sin, and penitent for it, and in the faith of the great sacrifice of Christ, of which all sacrifices under the law were typical, and led unto.
1 Samuel 15:22
Samuel Denounces Saul
21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” 22But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Witchcraft in the Church
By David Wilkerson10K58:421SA 15:22PSA 107:9MAT 21:33In this sermon, the preacher discusses the dangers of seeking power and position in the work of God without paying the right price. He uses the story of Simon in the book of Acts as an example of someone who tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit with money. The preacher emphasizes the importance of having a servant's heart and humility in order to be used by God. He also highlights the consequences of rejecting and mistreating God's messengers, using the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21. The sermon concludes with a call to repentance and a warning against bitterness and iniquity.
Ark Error
By Leonard Ravenhill9.6K52:55Holiness1SA 7:11SA 15:22In this sermon, the preacher expresses concern about the mechanical and superficial nature of preaching the gospel. He criticizes the reliance on books and conferences, emphasizing the need for a genuine demonstration of God's power. The preacher highlights the vast amount of money spent on radio and TV preaching in America, but laments the low percentage of people reached. He suggests that instead of focusing on expanding preaching platforms, Christians should focus on obeying God's commands and building mission stations and churches in other countries. The sermon concludes with a warning about the consequences of withholding God's truth and falling out of His hands.
The Greatest Sin in the Church
By Stephen Olford6.6K28:37Obedience1SA 15:221SA 16:1MAT 6:33ROM 6:16JAS 1:221JN 2:3REV 3:20In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the greatest sin in the Church and aims to uncover what it is. The sermon begins by referencing 1 Samuel 15:22, where Samuel questions the importance of burnt offerings and sacrifices compared to obeying the voice of the Lord. The preacher highlights the significance of obedience over sacrifice and recounts the story of Samuel, who was initially small in his own eyes but later elected to choose his own terms of obedience. The sermon emphasizes the importance of wholehearted obedience and its impact on one's spiritual life and salvation.
Prevailing Prayer
By Gerhard Du Toit4.3K59:33Prevailing Prayer1SA 15:22PSA 46:10PRO 3:5ISA 37:3MAT 6:33JHN 7:17JAS 5:16In this sermon, the speaker shares his experience of evangelism in Africa and Scotland, where they would spend several weeks before making any invitations to allow people to be convicted by the Word of God. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit works through the communication of God's Word to fertilize and manifest a life of the Word in ordinary people. The speaker also shares a personal story of his time in the military and as a chaplain, highlighting the importance of prayer and intercession for the souls of others. He concludes by sharing a story of an old man who prayed fervently for his town, and how God answered his prayers, emphasizing the power of prayer in bringing about revival.
K-197 the Anatomy of Sin Part One
By Art Katz2.8K1:29:54Sin1SA 15:22PSA 19:13MAT 7:21ROM 8:71CO 5:121PE 4:17REV 2:5In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of removing a television from their home due to the negative influence it had on their children. They emphasize the importance of not being swayed by worldly values and instead focusing on the foundation of sin, judgment, and redemption. The speaker also discusses the audience's reaction to talks about the Holocaust, noting a reluctance to fully accept and embrace the judgments of God. They then mention the theologian Karl Barth and his profound insights on sin, judgment, and redemption, which are not widely known or appreciated in the evangelical community. The sermon concludes with a challenge to truly understand and confront the nature of sin.
Satan's Steps in Temptation
By Dwight Pentecost2.4K41:091SA 15:22MAT 4:7LUK 4:13ROM 13:14GAL 5:161JN 2:16In this sermon, the preacher discusses the steps of temptation that led David to disgrace and how Satan uses these same steps to lead individuals away from God's will. The preacher emphasizes that Satan can only appeal to the fleshly, selfish, and prideful nature within us. The sermon also highlights the importance of understanding the nature of temptation and using the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to resist it. The preacher concludes by offering Jesus Christ as the savior who can break sin's bondage and make individuals children of God, but emphasizes the need for personal acceptance of Christ.
(Through the Bible) Esther
By Chuck Smith2.2K1:09:141SA 15:22ROM 8:8ROM 8:132CO 5:17GAL 2:20GAL 5:24COL 3:5In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of Esther from the Bible. He begins by explaining the background of the story, including the king's unsuccessful adventure against Greece and his return home. The king decides to hold a beauty contest to find a new queen, as he misses his previous queen, Vastai. The speaker emphasizes the importance of obeying God's command to put our flesh to death and not making provisions for our sinful desires. He also highlights Esther's complete commitment to God, as she gathers the Jews to fast and pray before going to the king, saying, "If I perish, I perish." The speaker encourages the audience to have the same level of commitment in their own lives.
Sin Crouching at the Door
By Richard Owen Roberts2.2K1:04:04GEN 4:71SA 15:221SA 16:7ISA 1:18HEB 11:4JAS 3:16JAS 4:71JN 1:91JN 3:12This sermon delves into the urgent need to address the issue of sin as a barrier to revival, emphasizing the importance of mastering sin through Christ. It explores the story of Cain and Abel, highlighting the significance of faith and righteousness in offerings. The sermon challenges listeners to examine their countenance before God, emphasizing the need to conquer sin as it desires mastery over individuals. It calls for repentance and a deep reflection on personal sin and the corporate sins of churches, stressing the critical need for revival in the face of widespread carelessness towards sin.
The Laughing Ministry (God Is Not Laughing)
By Carter Conlon2.0K08:441SA 15:22MAT 6:241TI 6:10HEB 12:15JAS 4:7This sermon reflects on a pastor who has strayed from the true gospel, once rooted in holiness but now engulfed in confusion and mockery. It questions the causes of his spiritual blindness, whether it be the love of money, bitterness, unforgiveness, or rebellion. The speaker emphasizes the importance of fleeing from worldly desires and following after righteousness, faith, love, and patience.
Revival Conference Victoria 2010
By Edgar Reich1.6K05:011SA 15:22EZR 9:3EZR 10:1EZR 10:4EZR 10:14PSA 51:10JHN 14:15ACT 3:19JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of personal revival as a precursor to seeking revival for others. Drawing from the example of Ezra in the Bible, it highlights the need for confession, weeping, and trembling at the word of God as essential elements of revival. Obedience to God's commandments is stressed as a key factor in experiencing personal transformation and preparing for revival.
Being a Witness by Obedience
By Zac Poonen1.5K58:241SA 15:22MAT 5:14JHN 14:15ACT 1:8ROM 8:28EPH 3:101TH 5:181JN 2:17This sermon emphasizes the importance of being true witnesses for Christ by doing God's will in every aspect of our lives. It highlights the significance of giving thanks in all situations, obeying God's commands, and living a life that reflects Christ's character. The speaker challenges listeners to be radical disciples who prioritize obedience to God over personal desires and worldly influences.
Our Attitude Toward God
By Chuck Smith1.4K25:05AttitudeJOS 3:51SA 15:22NEH 8:8PSA 37:5ECC 4:4ECC 5:1MAT 6:33In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the emptiness of a life lived solely for material possessions and temporal things. He emphasizes the importance of living for Christ and the eternal inheritance that awaits believers. Solomon's observations in the book of Ecclesiastes highlight the futility of pursuing wealth and success without God. Pastor Chuck encourages listeners to focus on the eternal and not be consumed by the temporary pleasures of this world.
Frustrations Can Be Fatal
By Ralph Sexton1.3K42:15NUM 20:7DEU 34:4JOS 24:151SA 15:22MAT 6:33ROM 8:282CO 5:17In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of following God's commandments and word, even in the midst of adversity. He references Moses, who remained faithful and strong until his death at the age of 120. The preacher encourages the audience to be determined and unwavering in their faith, choosing to serve the Lord and make a difference in their lives and communities. He also highlights the implications of spiritual death and the need for salvation through God's grace. Additionally, the preacher emphasizes the importance of destiny and how our decisions and actions can impact not only ourselves but also future generations.
The Rich and the Poor Part 1
By Chuck Smith1.3K25:05Poor1SA 15:22PRO 3:5PRO 14:12PRO 16:2PRO 17:9PRO 21:1MAT 6:33The video is a sermon by Pastor Chuck Smith on the book of Proverbs, specifically focusing on Proverbs 21:1. Pastor Chuck explains that the purpose of Proverbs is to impart wisdom and instruction. He emphasizes that God is sovereign and in control, even over the hearts of kings. He encourages listeners to live in a way that honors God, knowing that He sees everything we do. The video also mentions a DVD called "The Power of Forgiveness" which tells the story of Charles Tex Watson and his search for fulfillment, ultimately leading him to Charles Manson.
When God Answers No More
By Jack Hyles1.2K46:39Silence Of God1SA 15:22PSA 51:17PRO 3:5MAT 7:21In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Saul from the Bible. He starts by describing a blind and bound man grinding at the mill, emphasizing the importance of obeying God completely. He then highlights Saul's disobedience and lies when he spared some animals instead of following God's command to destroy everything. The preacher points out that Saul's sins led to a decline in his character, with pride, weakness, vengeance, and selfishness creeping in. Ultimately, God departed from Saul, and he spent the majority of his reign as king without God's favor.
1 Samuel 15
By Robert F. Adcock1.0K38:53EXO 22:18DEU 28:11SA 15:22PRO 28:14MAT 6:33ROM 8:1JAS 1:22In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of obeying God's commands and not taking them lightly. He uses the example of Saul, who was given the task of executing justice on a group of people with a bad reputation. However, Saul failed to fully obey God's command and suffered the consequences. The preacher warns that disobedience to God's will can lead to condemnation and judgment, and urges listeners to share this message with others who may be on a destructive path.
Priorities
By Don McClure89437:231SA 15:22PSA 37:4MAT 6:33MRK 3:21JHN 14:15In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of following the will of God above all else. He highlights the tragedy that occurs when people prioritize their own ideas of what is good or noble over God's will. Drawing from the story of Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness, he emphasizes the need to clearly communicate and prioritize our spiritual values to our loved ones. The speaker also shares a personal anecdote about witnessing a tense conversation between two women, highlighting the challenges of navigating relationships and discerning when to intervene.
Hardcore Christianity - Part 3
By Jose Muniz88314:591SA 15:22PSA 51:17PRO 28:13ISA 57:15JHN 14:15ACT 3:19HEB 5:9JAS 1:221JN 2:3This sermon emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commandments as a demonstration of love for Jesus. It delves into the significance of keeping God's word as a reflection of genuine love for Him, contrasting mere belief with true obedience. The message highlights the value of obedience over sacrifices and the need for a contrite and humble spirit to experience revival in one's faith.
Christian, Are You Refusing God?
By Tim Conway8001:08:231SA 15:22JOB 9:4ECC 8:11ISA 40:15MAT 15:8LUK 14:17PHP 2:9HEB 2:2HEB 10:28HEB 12:25JAS 1:22This sermon emphasizes the importance of not refusing God's voice, drawing parallels between the consequences faced by those who rejected God's warnings in the past and the greater accountability for those who reject Him today. The message highlights the unshakable nature of God's Kingdom and the need for gratitude, acceptable worship, reverence, and awe towards Him. The urgency to cling to Christ, heed His voice, and run the race faithfully is emphasized, warning against the dangers of drifting away and the necessity of surrendering all to follow Him.
Psalms 81-84
By W.F. Anderson72830:38EXO 24:81SA 15:222CH 7:14PSA 31:6MAT 6:33In this sermon, the speaker discusses Psalm 81 and its three sections: the call to rejoice, the division, and the call to regret. The speaker emphasizes the importance of obedience and listening to God's word for experiencing His blessings and deliverance. The sermon also highlights the significance of Jesus Christ's obedience and sacrifice on the cross for our salvation and sanctification. The speaker encourages the audience to reflect on their own obedience and attitude towards God's word and to seek a closer relationship with Him.
Sin a Thief of God's Glory
By Richard Owen Roberts6011:01:171SA 15:221SA 16:72CH 7:14PSA 51:10MIC 6:8MAT 21:13MRK 12:30JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking God's work in our hearts, asking for a clean heart and a right spirit. It delves into the significance of loving God above all else and the need to focus on personal love for God. The sermon also explores the consequences of sin as a hindrance to God's glory and the importance of seeking God's will and worshiping Him in humility.
Can We Really Know God's Will?
By Shane Idleman56449:281SA 15:22ISA 1:18MAT 25:31ACT 21:10ROM 3:221TH 5:12JAS 4:72PE 3:9This sermon delves into the topic of understanding God's will, emphasizing the importance of focusing on what is revealed in His word. It highlights the principles of righteousness, self-control, and the impending judgment to come. The speaker encourages waiting in God's will, dealing with besetting sin, and the need for repentance and trust in Christ for salvation. The message underscores the significance of obedience, gratitude, and being filled with the Holy Spirit as key aspects of living in alignment with God's will.
Making a King
By G.W. North1341:17:00Christian Life1SA 9:271SA 10:21SA 10:91SA 15:221SA 16:131SA 16:231SA 17:45In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being a living representation of the word of God. He criticizes the idea of relying on physical objects or books to show people the word of God, stating that our actions and character should reflect the truth of God. The speaker highlights the need for love and the ability to demonstrate the love of God, rather than just preaching words or knowledge. He also discusses the story of Samuel in the Bible, noting that he was a transitional figure during a time when there was no open vision from God in Israel. The speaker encourages listeners to seek a deeper love for Jesus and to find encouragement in times of darkness.
Sauls Disobedience 1 Sam 15
By Phil Beach Jr.2835:10DisobedienceObedience to God1SA 15:22Phil Beach Jr. explores the theme of disobedience through the story of Saul in 1 Samuel 15, emphasizing the importance of understanding the root causes of our disobedience to God. He highlights that Saul's failure stemmed from his fear of people rather than a reverence for God's commands, contrasting this with the example of Samuel, who prioritized God's Word above human approval. The sermon calls believers to examine their hearts and motivations, urging them to seek a deeper relationship with God that leads to true obedience and transformation. Ultimately, Beach Jr. reminds us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and we must allow Him to work in our lives to overcome sin.
Overview of David's Life (1 Sam. 13:14)
By Mike Bickle2156:38LeadershipGod's Heart1SA 13:141SA 15:221SA 16:71KI 8:25PSA 27:4PSA 86:17ISA 55:3JER 3:15ZEC 12:8ACT 13:22Mike Bickle explores the life of David, emphasizing that he is a model of what God desires in His people—faithful, resilient, and obedient despite weaknesses. David's journey illustrates the importance of pursuing God's heart and the extravagant mercy available to those who seek Him. Bickle highlights that David's life serves as a standard for leadership and obedience, showing that even flawed individuals can be used powerfully by God. The sermon encourages believers to see themselves as shepherds after God's own heart, reflecting on David's commitment to God through all seasons of life.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Hath the Lord as great delight, etc. - This was a very proper answer to, and refutation of Saul's excuse. Is not obedience to the will of God the end of all religion, of its rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices?
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
Without entering, therefore, into any discussion of the meaning of the ban, as Saul only wanted to cover over his own wrong-doings by giving this turn to the affair, Samuel put a stop to any further excuses, by saying, "Hath Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and slain-offerings as in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? (i.e., in obedience to His word.) Behold, hearing (obeying) is better than slain-offerings, attending better than fat of rams." By saying this, Samuel did not reject sacrifices as worthless; he did not say that God took no pleasure in burnt-offerings and slain-offerings, but simply compared sacrifice with obedience to the command of God, and pronounced the latter of greater worth than the former. "It was as much as to say that the sum and substance of divine worship consisted in obedience, with which it should always begin, and that sacrifices were, so to speak, simple appendices, the force and worth of which were not so great as of obedience to the precepts of God" (Calvin). But it necessarily follows that sacrifices without obedience to the commandments of God are utterly worthless; in fact, are displeasing to God, as Psa 50:8., Isa 1:11., Isa 66:3, Jer 6:20, and all the prophets, distinctly affirm. There was no necessity, however, to carry out this truth any further. To tear off the cloak of hypocrisy, with which Saul hoped to cover his disobedience, it was quite enough to affirm that God's first demand was obedience, and that observing His word was better than sacrifice; because, as the Berleb. Bible puts it, "in sacrifices a man offers only the strange flesh of irrational animals, whereas in obedience he offers his own will, which is rational or spiritual worship" (Rom 12:8). This spiritual worship was shadowed forth in the sacrificial worship of the Old Testament. In the sacrificial animal the Israelite was to give up and sanctify his own person and life to the Lord. (For an examination of the meaning of the different sacrifices, see Pent. pp. 505ff., and Keil's Bibl Archol. 41ff.) But if this were the design of the sacrifices, it was clear enough that God did not desire the animal sacrifice in itself, but first and chiefly obedience to His own word. In Sa1 15:22, טּוב is not to be connected as an adjective with זבח, "more than good sacrifice," as the Sept. and Thenius render it; it is rather to be taken as a predicate, "better than slain-offerings," and מזּבח is placed first simply for the sake of emphasis. Any contrast between good and bad sacrifices, such as the former construction would introduce into the words, is not only foreign to the context, but also opposed to the parallelism. For אילים חלב does not mean fat rams, but the fat of rams; the fat portions taken from the ram, which were placed upon the altar in the case of the slain-offerings, and for which חלב is the technical expression (compare Lev 3:9, Lev 3:16, with Lev 3:4, Lev 3:11, etc.). "For," continued Samuel (Sa1 15:23), "rebellion is the sin of soothsaying, and opposition is heathenism and idolatry." מרי and הפצר are the subjects, and synonymous in their meaning. קסם חטּאת, the sin of soothsaying, i.e., of divination in connection with the worship of idolatrous and demoniacal powers. In the second clause idols are mentioned instead of idolatry, and compared to resistance, but without any particle of comparison. Opposition is keeping idols and teraphim, i.e., it is like worshipping idols and teraphim. און, nothingness, then an idol or image (vid., Isa 66:3; Hos 4:15; Hos 10:5, Hos 10:8). On the teraphim as domestic and oracular deities, see at Gen 31:19. Opposition to God is compared by Samuel to soothsaying and oracles, because idolatry was manifested in both of them. All conscious disobedience is actually idolatry, because it makes self-will, the human I, into a god. So that all manifest opposition to the word and commandment of God is, like idolatry, a rejection of the true God. "Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He hath rejected thee, that thou mayst be no longer king." ממּלך = מלך מהיוה (Sa1 15:26), away from being king.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And Samuel said,.... In reply to Saul: hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? no, certainly, the one being merely ceremonial, the other moral; the one supposes sin committed, for which sacrifice is offered; the other moral, and is a compliance with the will of God, and is neither sinful, nor supposes anything sinful, and therefore must be the more acceptable: behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams; which always was claimed by the Lord as his right and due; or the fattest rams or best sacrifices, of whatever sort, whether burnt offerings, or sin offerings, or peace offerings; for had man obeyed the will of God, and not sinned, there would have been no need of sacrifice; and that was only acceptable to God when offered with a heart truly sensible of sin, and penitent for it, and in the faith of the great sacrifice of Christ, of which all sacrifices under the law were typical, and led unto.