The Bible is just amazing. And the
power it has to speak into our lives daily is beyond. Just beyond. I
am literally brought to tears today with the story of Saul, the
cautionary tale, and the relevance to my world, and my life.
Saul. He was appointed and
anointed-by God. But for some time, he has been operating out of
the will of God. He has gotten rid of anyone in his life that would
bring conviction. However in doing so, he has also
eliminated his connection to God and therefore His peace. He is without
both, and desperate for answers and comfort.
In this chapter we are reminded that
Samuel is dead and buried. Samuel was likely Saul's last connection
to what was right and noble and true. When he died, Saul had
completely lost his way.
6 And
when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by
dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
This verse gave me chills. What a
terrifying place to be. He had cut himself off from anything godly,
and had gotten just what he wanted. Silence.
Now, in total despair and confusion,
Saul was left to his own devices. So what did he do? He went back to
the sin he knew.
When he was following God, Saul had
established accountability. He had Samuel to keep him in check. And
scripture tells us this:
Back when Saul was following God he had established safe guards in
his life. He had actually banished all fortune tellers, mediums and
the like because they had no place in a godly kingdom.
But
that was then. And this is now. He was anxiety ridden and desperate
for answers. So he sought out a fortune teller. But notice the word
used in this passage.
Familiar.
Familiar.
We all have things that are "familiar" to us, things that
comfort. Comfort food. Comfort tv. Comfort conversation. Southern
Comfort. You get the drift. When things get stressful, when our brain
is in over drive, where do you turn for comfort?
Saul sought the things of this world to bring him comfort. And the
enemy was ready and waiting to take advantage of this exact moment.
Saul
goes to a "fortune teller" to ask for advice. But he goes
in disguise because no medium would admit to being just that to the
king that expelled all mediums from the land. Not knowing with whom
she is talking, she agrees to conjure up the Spirit of Samuel so
Saul can ask him some questions about what to do now. This medium
then conjures up a spirit disguised
as Samuel. We know this is not really Samuel. Matthew Henry had this
to say. And it just blew my mind.
We have here the conference
between Saul and Satan. Saul came in disguise (1
Sam. 28:8), but Satan soon discovered him, 1
Sam. 28:12. Satan comes in disguise, in the disguise of Samuel’s
mantle, and Saul cannot discover him. Such is the disadvantage we
labour under, in wrestling with the rulers of the darkness of this
world, that they know us, while we are ignorant of their wiles and
devices.
You might need to read that again. This part:
Such is the disadvantage we
labour under, in wrestling with the rulers of the darkness of this
world, that they know us, while we are ignorant of their wiles and
devices.
The devil's tricks are not new. We should expect them. But we are
distracted. And we forget that this fight is not against flesh and blood
but against the rulers, against the powers, against the spiritual
forces of wickedness. And instead of fighting Satan, we fight each
other. But I digress.
How do we know it's a "fake" Samuel?
Matthew Henry had some more great insight!
Had it been the true Samuel, when
Saul desired to be told what he should do he would have told him to
repent and make his peace with God, and recall David from his
banishment, and would then have told him that he might hope in this
way to find mercy with God; but, instead of that, he represents
his case as helpless and hopeless, serving him as he did Judas, to
whom he was first a tempter and then a tormentor, persuading him
first to sell his master and then to hang himself.
This is Satan's typical technique. His calling card. He lures you
into sin, into anxiety, into deception, and then, when you give in,
he humiliates you, and tells you that you are hopeless and worthless.
Saul sought comfort from that which was familiar. And in the end, it
brought nothing but despair.
But God.
Saul did not have to have this ending. Maybe the reason that he heard
nothing from God was because he already knew what he was supposed to
do, yet he refused to do it. I once heard a pastor say that when you
feel that God has become silent, think back to the last thing He told
you to do, and do it. Saul was not the only one who felt the Lord was
quiet, however. This is one of my favorite Psalms.
Psalms 13
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
BUT........Here is the difference. Here is the response we need:
5 But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
I pray that we would seek God, and that even when He seems "silent,"
I pray that instead of going to what seems "familiar" for
comfort, that we would trust in His mercy, That our hearts would
rejoice in His Salvation. That we would sing to the Lord. Because He
Has Dealt Bountifully With Us! Amen!!
