READ: 1 Samuel 27 & 28
Tired of fleeing Saul
throughout Israel, David and his men take refuge with the Philistines. But
David wasn’t the type to sit around and twiddle his thumbs; he and his men
would band together and attack enemies of Israel. However, he would report to
King Achish that he had attacked his fellow Israelites. Thus, David gained
trust and rapport with the Philistine king. After a year, the Philistines
decide to attack Israel in order to gain control of the northern Jezreel Valley.
David, as a trusted servant of the Philistines, is expected to join in the
fight.
Meanwhile, Saul sees that an
Israelite victory would be against all odds. Grasping at straws, he decides
that the only thing he can do is find a witch and call up the spirit of Samuel,
who he knew to be a speaker of truth. It is an interesting story, and is one
that reminds us that parts of the Bible are descriptive,
not prescriptive. To call upon a
necromancer was forbidden by the Lord – Saul himself had, at one point,
apparently put all mediums/witches/etc. out of Israel. This is why he went in
disguise and why the witch was so cautious. The only word the prophet gives
Saul is that his doom is quickly approaching. Saul has really lost his way. He
has lost all reverence for God, seeking the voice of a dead prophet over that
of Yahweh. God is merciful and good; if Saul would only turn to Him in humility
and repentance, the Lord would forgive him and call him His own. But Saul
continues to set himself against God, even in these last days of his life.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Saul
is clearly not on a path towards ending well. Are you? How do you know? It
seems that if we do not deal with our issues, they come back to haunt us later
in life. Is there an issue God has been asking you to deal with? A matter of
the heart, a character weakness, an area of unforgiveness, etc.? Make the
effort to start working through this issue today. What does God want to say to
you about it? What step towards restoration and wholeness can you take today?
2. Are
there people in your life who are not ending well? Intercede for them. Pray
that they would not be like King Saul, who refused to let God change his heart.
Pray that they would be delivered from lifelong issues of the heart. Pray that
God would show them mercy.
3. In
this chapter we saw Saul go against a decree that, by knowledge of God’s law,
he had instituted earlier. He slipped in an area of sin that he knew was wrong,
and that he had told others to keep away from. Spend some time in prayer for
your church leaders. Pray that they would stand firm in righteousness and
obedience. Pray that they would be able to lead with authority because they
back up their words with their own actions.
