ANSWER: This phrase is found in I Samuel 15:22. In verse three of this chapter Saul had been directed by God to “utterly destroy” the Amalekites. He disobeyed (did evil - vs.19) by taking King Agag alive (vs.8) and sparing the best of their herds (vs.9) which he intended to be used in sacrifice to God. Samuel told Saul that it would have been better for him to have obeyed God rather than to have sacrificed the animals he had been directed to “utterly destroy.” Because of his stubbornness and rebellion toward God in this matter, Samuel said that Saul had “rejected the word of the Lord.” As a result, God rejected him from being king (vs.23).

The lesson for us today is that true obedience to God is the important issue, not acts of worship improperly motivated!