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1 Samuel 28 provides us with an extremely important lesson. If you missed it, you should visit YouTube @ https://youtu.be/Mx-5cLvxPSU. It was another awesome Wednesday evening message.
While the writer appears to go a bit off base, he opens with the statement reminding us that the Philistines gathered to fight against Israel. Then he reminds us that Samuel died and was buried in Ramah, his own city, just in case we forgot that he died several chapters earlier. Is that important? What follows should answer that question.
What is important is what follows in verse 3b “. . . And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.” 1 Samuel 28:3.
While Saul’s putting the mediums and the necromancers out of the land is not covered elsewhere in Scripture, here it is clear that this is one of the times that Saul obeyed the Lord. Was it out of respect for Samuel’s death? Was it out of his own cowardness and fear?
“A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 20:27 Emphasis added.
Once again, Saul was exceedingly afraid as he has shown us in the several past chapters.
“When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.” 1 Samuel 28:5–6
Saul was so fearful of the Philistines, that he forgot why he had, “put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.”
Apparently, at least one of his servants knew of a median at Endor as he told him to seek out a woman that he may inquire of her. Pastor Ted does an excellent job of covering this whole story.
However, I found the most important part of this story was answering the question, why didn’t the Lord answer Saul’s petition for help? Scripture teaches that those who consistently reject God’s leadership in their lives and refuse to follow the guidance and direction He has already supplied, should not expect Him to deliver them from strife stemming from their poor choices.
“If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.” Proverbs 1:23–28 Emphasis added.
“Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.” (Jeremiah 11:11) Emphasis added.
The story continues as Pastor Ted Dudak shared on Wednesday evening. If you missed any, some, or all of this humbling story you will find them in our play list called 1 Samuel. There are many lessons to learn from this Book. Many more lessons to learn on Wednesday evenings at our Bible Studies. Come join us!
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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