And Samuel said, "Do you think that the Lord has as much pleasure in sacrifice as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king."
And as Samuel sorrowfully turned away, he knew that he should never see Saul's face again.
This is a very sad and solemn story, children.
Let us all be aware of little disobediences, lest they should grow into greater ones.
God will dwell in the humble and contrite heart, which trembles at his word. He will give grace to the lowly.
Let us pray, as David did in Psalm cxix., "With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments!"
And then this promise shall be ours: "He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever!"