When To Interpret and When Not To

1 Samuel 15:1-3(NKJV)

1Samuel also said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the Lord. 

2Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 

3Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

Wow, I'd say those are pretty detailed and explicit instructions.  First God tells Samuel why He wants it done this way.  God is using the Israelites to inflict punishment on Amalek.  So in the instance, the Israelites are literally the hand of God.

But look at the instructions that God gives.  He basically says kill every living things to teach them a lesson.  That seems kind of harsh doesn't it?  I mean we go to extreme lengths today to minimize collateral damage and injury or death to civilians, etc.  But here God said Kill them all. 

Which brings up a question.  When do you interpret the Word of God and when do you just follow those directions as given?  As I wrote yesterday, this can sometimes be hard because even God seems to deviate from His own standards occasionally.  But I think I have come up with a general rule that will work in many cases.

The more specific God's instructions are, the more you need to follow those instructions in detail.  Why do I say that?  Well because in most of the cases God deals pretty severely with those who don't follow the instructions in detail.  Let's look at what happens in this case.
 

1 Samuel 15:22-23(NKJV)

22So Samuel said:      “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,     As in obeying the voice of the Lord?     Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,     And to heed than the fat of rams.

23    For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,     And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.     Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,      He also has rejected you from being king.”

Because Saul didn't follow God's detailed instructions he lost his kingdom!

So as you live your faith walk just keep in mind this thought, "If God when to the trouble of providing me detailed instructions it must be important to Him.  And if it is important to God, that makes it important that I listen!" and do it God's way, in detail!