1Sam. 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. 4The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all the Israelites and set up camp at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7Saul then said to his attendants, Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her. There is one in Endor, they said. 8So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. Consult a spirit for me, he said, and bring up for me the one I name. 9But the woman said to him, Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death? 10Saul swore to her by the LORD, As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this. 11Then the woman asked, Whom shall I bring up for you? Bring up Samuel, he said. 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, Why have you deceived me? You are Saul! 13The king said to her, Dont be afraid. What do you see? The woman said, I see a spirit coming up out of the ground. 14What does he look like? he asked. An old man wearing a robe is coming up, she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 15Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? I am in great distress, Saul said. The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do. 16Samuel said, Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors --to David. 18Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 19The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines. 20Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuels words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night. 21When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, Look, your maidservant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way. 23He refused and said, I will not eat. But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch. 24The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left. Commentary: In this most tragic story, Saul, the king who had been previously Gods anointed, turned toward the spirit realm for guidance. Demonic agencies cannot foretell the future. However, they know what God has prophesied in the past, and can repeat it with modifications if they desire. God had told Saul that He was withdrawing His Spirit from him due to Sauls continual rejection of God. 1Chr. 10:13, 14 says Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. Demonic agencies will always try to discourage, decimate, destroy and encourage death or suicide. The spirit posing as Samuel did just that, as we see that Saul lost all of his courage and strength. Subsequently, he did die in the battle with Philistines that ensued. How much different it would have been if he had turn with whole heart and soul to God, in repentance and humility. God may have responded and let Sauls kingdom continue on for a few more years. 1Sam. 31:6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day. 7When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them. 8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 03:58:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015