Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 28 and Psalm 74

While Saul was desperate to hear from God in the face of a huge enemy army, all he heard was silence. Why would that have been? It seems to be generally true, in the experience of God’s people, that when God has told us something consistently and we refuse to obey it, God remains silent. Why, after all, would God give us guidance and direction when we have consistently refused to obey God in the past? What a pointless exercise that would be.

Saul should not even have been in this position. He knew that he was no longer the rightful king of Israel. He knew that the throne had been given to David by God’s anointing. He knew that he was being utterly sinful in hunting David down with murderous intention (See both 1 Samuel 24:16-20 and 26:21) And yet he persisted in sinful rebellion against the will of God. God’s guidance had been given long ago, and Saul had refused point-blank to obey it. Now, God remained silent. God is no one’s “magic eight-ball”. He is no one’s crystal ball to be hauled out for guidance when we are afraid, and then ignored when we don’t like His commands or guidance. He is God. He is to be obeyed with reverence and awe.

Saul’s decision to consult a medium (strictly speaking a “necromancer” who consults the dead) shows the depths of depravity to which Saul has fallen. Leviticus 20:6 and other commands in the Law of Moses are clear. God’s people are never to consult the dead. Yet here Saul is – trying to get God’s guidance through sinful means.

The Saul we see in this chapter is pitiful. But he is also a warning to us. For we are no better than Saul when we are left to our own devices. Only by the grace of God, the salvation that Jesus brings, and the in-dwelling power of the Holy Spirit can we overcome the inherent human tendencies to pride, greed, selfishness, arrogance and wilful disobedience that so often tripped Saul up, and which threaten to do the same to us.

Lord our Saviour, our Rock and our Redeemer, deliver us from temptation and guide us by Your grace. Then grant us the power of Your Spirit to enable us to obey Your guidance and walk in Your ways. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.