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# The Sin of Failing in Worship (1 Samuel 13:8–15)
- URL: https://www.onemindchurch.org/the-sin-of-failing-in-worship-1-samuel-13-8-15/
- Published: 2026-11-01T04:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-01T19:28:19.000Z
- Author: Dong Lee
- Tags: sermons

Last week's message was about “The Sin of Ceasing to Pray.” The message from the week before that was about “The Sin of Failing in Worship.” Unless someone has been saved or has had their spiritual eyes opened, these two messages may be difficult to understand.

A person may choose not to pray, or may find themselves unable to pray. Whatever the reason, if a believer who has been saved ceases to pray, the Bible calls that sin.

**The same principle applies to today's passage. Because King Saul failed in worship, God declared that his kingdom would not endure (verse 14).**

Because of another failure, which we will discuss next week, God regretted making Saul king (1 Samuel 15:11) and declared that He had rejected him (1 Samuel 15:23). Saul was no longer able to be used by God, and his life ultimately came to a tragic end.

**Does this mean that God rejects someone simply because they fail in worship? We might wonder, “Would anyone be able to serve God if we had to be afraid of that?” or “Isn't that too extreme?”**

The most important point is that when we fail in worship and our relationship with God that we are to enjoy through worship is disrupted, Satan's attacks begin. Satan begins working in that very place.

**This is what happened to Adam and Eve, the first human beings.** What did Satan come and deceive them with? He told them, “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (verse 5).

**Human beings were created to worship God, who created them and the world, to delight in Him, and to enjoy the blessings He gives.** But humanity began living as though it could take God's place (this was the original sin described in Genesis 3).When Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan, lost sight of God's covenant and Word, and disobeyed Him, what happened? Their relationship with God was broken, and they lost the right to enjoy all of God's blessings. From that point on, human beings became enslaved to their own desires, the fallen world, and the devil (Ephesians 2:1–3; John 8:44).

**The failure of Cain, a descendant of Adam and Eve, was the same.** Although the first human beings had failed, God could not give up on humanity. 

**This is God's unchanging love, His love that never gives up—the Hebrew word *hesed*.** God opened a way for humanity to restore its relationship with Him. This is the covenant of the Gospel found in Genesis 3:15 and 3:21\. The Son of God would come and crush the serpent's head. Through His sacrifice, He would resolve our sin, shame, and curse and open the way for us to recover God's blessings.

**Abel held firmly to this covenant and offered a sacrifice of atonement, but Cain worshiped without holding on to the covenant (Hebrews 11:4).** **This was the beginning of religion. It was the belief that we can approach God through our own methods, our own standards, and our own efforts. This became one of Satan's deceptions.**

In today's passage, we will examine three ways in which Saul failed. Through them, we must discover what true worship is and what it means to worship successfully.

## I. Every worship service we offer must contain the covenant of salvation that God gives us by His grace.

**1) This is why Saul had to wait until Samuel the priest arrived.** Samuel’s role prophesizes Christ, who came as our eternal High Priest. By His own blood, Christ eternally redeemed us from Adam's original sin, the sins of our families, and our sin (Hebrews 9:12). Without His blood, there can be no forgiveness of sins, and we cannot stand before God (Hebrews 9:22).This was not simply a matter of a king daring to challenge the authority of a priest. Although the incident itself may have seemed small, Saul had lost sight of the covenant contained within it.

**2) When we are in Christ, no one can condemn us, and no enemy can bring us down.** The Bible says that Christ continues to intercede for us at the heavenly throne (Romans 8:34). To “intercede” means that He serves as our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), our Advocate (1 John 2:1), and our Helper (John 14:16). **Without experiencing this blessing, every human being is bound to fall.** That is why the Bible declares that nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38–39).

**3) Every time you worship, reaffirm His love and grace. Do not give up, receive new strength.** Worship has been described as coming before the King and taking hold of His merciful hand when He extends it to us (the Greek word for worship is *proskuneo)*.What problems or failures are you facing? Now, always, every day, and throughout your entire life, hold on to His hand of grace, love, and mercy (Hebrews 4:16).

## II. **Every worship service we offer must contain our faith that holds firmly to God's covenant.**

**1) Our salvation begins when we confess our faith in Christ (Romans 10:10).** This is why we pray a prayer of acceptance when we first believe in Jesus Christ. We can make this confession every day.It is possible to believe in our hearts alone, but we also confess with our mouths, allowing Him to truly become our Lord (John 1:12; Revelation 3:20).The word “receive” or “accept” means to welcome His love and believe in Him.

**2) What is important here is that God never gives up on someone who has received Christ and been saved.** To be precise, Christ who redeemed us continues to bring our salvation to completion (Philippians 1:6, 3:12). **Then why did God reject Saul, whom He had already chosen? This is a difficult theological question, but it does not mean that Saul's salvation was invalidated.** Rather, Saul's life became one in which he could no longer be used by God. The result was tragic. It is important to remember the attitude David demonstrated toward Saul. Even though Saul later became tormented by an evil spirit, tried to kill David, and eventually died on the battlefield, David mourned him and composed a lament for him in tears (2 Samuel 1:7).

**3) God desires to work throughout every part of our lives with His blessings and answers. When does this happen?** It happens when we hold firmly to His covenant and believe.That is why worship offered in faith that is in the God who gives us His covenant and fulfills it is so important (Hebrews 11:6).Saul's decision to offer the sacrifice before Samuel arrived began with his unbelief. Samuel did not arrive within the expected time, and the anxious people began to scatter. Saul, their king, became shaken along with them. This was likely a test from God.At that moment, Saul should have prayed with the faith befitting a king, but he failed to do so (in verse 12, Saul says that he had not sought the Lord's favor).In the end, although the formalities of worship was present, Saul had lost both the covenant and his faith, and it became worship that God could not accept.

## **III. Our worship must always include the mission God desires to accomplish through us.**

**1) Through His love, God saves us and blesses us so that everything in our lives become evidence.** So what is the work God desires to accomplish? He want to restore His glory and wants to save all those He has chosen through us (this is evangelism and missions).If Saul had been clear about the covenant and had restored his faith, this would have been a battle Israel could not help but win. God's covenant was that He Himself would be their bartizan and that Christ would fight on their behalf.Saul eventually realized this, and even with only the remaining 600 men, Israel ultimately gained victory (verse 15).

**2) Hold firmly to the covenant that God will give you evidence in every circumstance, and discover your mission.** It must become a covenant that contains God’s desires and our faith must become faith that has a reason. God will establish us as His witness.Whether you are at home, in church, or at work, even the smallest task becomes meaningful when it is done as a commitment to God's glory.That is why another word associated with worship carries the meaning of “service” or “ministry.” The Greek word is *leitourgia*.

**3) God remembers even our smallest prayers, acts of devotion, efforts, and perseverance when they are offered in faith and out of love for Him (Revelation 2:2).** Especially, evangelism and missions that change an individual's life are crucial."These will become our eternal inheritance and rewards in the new heaven and new earth—the new Eden—that will be fully established when Christ returns.

**Conclusion -** The first four commandments of the Ten Commandments, given as the highest priority, are commandments about serving God, in other words, about worship.Success in worship is success in life, and failure in worship leads to failure in life.May you be blessed to live a life of one who succeeds in true worship.

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