He who gives his will, his heart, to the Lord, gives all; he who gives not his will, who comes not in obedience of heart unto the Lord, can offer no sacrifice to the Lord that could be acceptable. "Behold to obey is better than sacrifice" is a lesson which should be deeply engraved upon the hearts of all the sanctified in Christ Jesus. To have the spirit of obedience is necessary, too, and whoever has the spirit of obedience will not only obey the Divine will but also will seek to know the Divine will more and more that he may obey it. It is of this class that the Scriptures declare, "His word was found and I did eat it"; and again, in the words of our Lord, "I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart".
Mercy is compassion relieving the unfortunate. Sacrifice and burnt offering in this passage are a feverish activity contrary to the Truth and its Spirit. The knowledge of God is the Divine Truth. We are not to understand the Lord to mean that He does not desire our service; rather the thought is that the Lord prefers by far to have us keep the Truth and its spirit of sympathy in our hearts even apart from service, rather than to have us serve ever so diligently contrary to the Truth and its Spirit. A merciful and intelligent saint is more pleasing to the Lord than an active and ignorant worker who is unsaintly in his character. Mercy, service and knowledge blended are the ideals to be sought.
REPRINTS
1 Sam. 15:22; Psa. 50:7-15; Eccles. 5:1; Isa. 1:10-20; 58; Matt. 12:7; Mic. 6:6-8; Jer. 7:21-28; Dan. 4:27; Amos 5:21-26; Matt. 5:7; 9:13; Prov. 21:3; Mark 12:33; Hosea 4:1; 6:6; 1 Chron. 29:9; Jer. 22:16; 1 John 2:3; 3:6.
