Because Thou Obeyest Not the Voice
The sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking forgiveness for both positive transgressions and negative omissions, lest they weigh heavily on the conscience in times of death and judgment.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the consequences of Saul's disobedience to God's voice, illustrating how unforgiven sin can haunt an individual, particularly in moments of crisis. He reflects on Saul's failure to execute God's command against Amalek, which ultimately led to his downfall, highlighting that God's mercy was still available to him had he sought it. Meyer contrasts Saul's situation with the assurance of the new covenant, where God promises to forget our sins when we repent. He warns that sins of omission can weigh heavily on our consciences, just as much as active transgressions, and stresses the importance of seeking forgiveness for both. The sermon serves as a reminder of the need for humility and repentance in the face of our failures.
Text
Because thou obeyest not the voice
of the Lord, therefore . . . 1 Sam. xxviii. 18.
THUS unforgiven sin comes back to a man. We cannot explain the mysteries that lie around this incident; but it is clear that in that supreme hour of Saul's fate, that early sin, which had never been confessed and put away, came surging back on the mind and heart of the terror‑stricken monarch. "Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, and didst not execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee This day. Moreover the Lord will deliver Israel also with thee into the hands of the Philistines" (R.V.). But Saul did not realize that even then the gates of God's love stood open to him, if only he would pass through them by humble penitence and faith. If instead of applying to the witch, he had sought God's mercy, light would have burst on his darkened path, and he had never perished by his own hand on Mount Gilboa.
In strong contrast with this, let us put the assurance of the new covenant: "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." When God forgives, He blots out from the book of his remembrance. The sin is gone as a pebble in the ocean; as a cloud in the blue of a summer's sky.
Saul's was a sin of omission. The question was not what evil he had done, but the good be had failed to do. Let us remember that we need pardon for the sad lapses and failures of our lives, equally as for the positive transgressions. And if such things are not forgiven, they will lie heavy on our consciences when the shadows of death begin to gather around us. The New Testament especially judges those who knew and did not do ‑‑ the slothful servant, the virgin without the oil, the priest that passed by on the other side.
Sermon Outline
- The Consequences of Unforgiven Sin
- The Assurance of the New Covenant
- The Importance of Pardon for Omissions
- The Need for Pardon for Lapses and Failures
- The Consequences of Unforgiven Sin in Death
- The Gates of God's Love
Key Quotes
“Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” — F.B. Meyer
“The sin is gone as a pebble in the ocean; as a cloud in the blue of a summer's sky.” — F.B. Meyer
“The New Testament especially judges those who knew and did not do” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We need to seek pardon for both positive transgressions and negative omissions in our lives.
- Unforgiven sin can return to us in times of crisis, affecting our lives and fate.
- The new covenant offers forgiveness and remembrance, blotting out our sins and giving us a fresh start.