How do we know that God demands obedience?

Throughout Scripture, God underscores the significance of obedience. In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel declares, 'To obey is better than sacrifice,' indicating that ritualistic worship means little if it is not matched with genuine obedience to God's commands. Saul's failure to obey God's explicit command to destroy the Amalekites serves as a powerful illustration of this principle, reinforcing that disobedience leads to dire consequences, as seen with Saul’s rejection by God. The story serves as a warning that merely performing religious acts without following God's directives is unacceptable.