Calendar

GOD’S PROPHECY AGAINST SAUL AND HIS SONS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24
1 Samuel 28:9-25

Deuteronomy 18:9-13

 

“Thou shalt be perfect

with the LORD thy God.”

 

GOD’S PROPHECY AGAINST SAUL AND HIS SONS
 
Saul’s fight to retain the throne of Israel was failing. His reign was coming to an end. His act of seeking help from a witch was an act of desperation that displeased God.
 
The woman was concerned that the men were laying up a snare for her, and were plotting to cause her death (1 Sam 28:9). At this point, the king swore to her “…by the LORD…” (1 Sam 28:10) that she would not be punished. She then consented to divine for him. The use of the LORD’s name would have implied that both the woman and Saul knew that divination was nothing, but in their sinful way they chose to look at it with some hope. The belief in witchcraft had existed for generations and up till then many had been deceived to think that there was some supernatural power in it. It is a tool of Satan to keep people away from trusting the One, True God.
 
In reply to the woman’s question, Saul asked for the dead Samuel to be brought up. Then “…when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice…” (1 Sam 28:12). This showed that she did not expect to see Samuel. Then she suddenly saw through Saul’s disguise and realized that she was talking to King Saul. When she described the person that she saw, Saul “…perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself ” (1 Sam 28:14). And Samuel talked with Saul.
 
Although God forbids communion with the dead (Deut 18:10-11), God brought Samuel back from the dead as an indictment of Saul. Samuel’s message to Saul was that God would deliver him and his sons into the hand of the Philistines, and they would die under the Philistines. Saul fainted upon hearing Samuel’s prophecy.
 
As children of God, we must never resort to wizardry or sorcery, or have anything to do with it. Our help comes from the Lord only.
 
THOUGHT: When men reject God, God will also reject them.
PRAYER: Father, may I come to Thee on Thy terms, and never turn away from Thee.

Search