The importance of this chapter is that it explains why Yahweh and the prophet Samuel rejected Saul. It is a frequent human error to think that God will overlook and forgive all one’s sins so long as one is careful to attend church. Several OT prophets had to attack this false reasoning; Amos could even describe God as saying that he ‘hated’ and ‘despised’ religious feasts, sacrifices and offerings. In the same way, we tend to think false worship is the worst possible sin against God; Samuel said that arrogant disobedience was just as bad.