How does 1 Samuel 28:17 demonstrate God's sovereignty over Israel's leadership changes? Verse in focus “The LORD has done what He spoke through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.” (1 Samuel 28:17) Setting the stage • Saul sought guidance from a medium at Endor after God had stopped answering him (1 Samuel 28:6–7). • God allows Samuel—now deceased—to relay the unaltered message he had given Saul years earlier (1 Samuel 15:26–28). • The repeated verdict underscores that nothing about Israel’s throne is ultimately decided by human maneuvering; every shift is God-ordained. Key phrase: “The LORD has torn the kingdom…” • “Torn” is the same verb Samuel used when Saul’s robe ripped (1 Samuel 15:27–28). • The physical tearing symbolized a settled heavenly decree: leadership is God’s property to give or remove. God’s absolute authority highlighted • God foretold David’s rise long before David knew it (1 Samuel 13:13–14; 16:1). • Daniel 2:21 echoes the same truth: “He removes kings and establishes them.” • Psalm 75:6-7 affirms, “Exaltation does not come from the east or the west… God is the Judge; He brings one down and exalts another.” Consequences of disobedience • Saul’s refusal to obey concerning the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15) led to irreversible judgment. • 1 Samuel 28:17 shows God’s word is so sure that even in a forbidden séance, it cannot be altered or watered down. • Romans 13:1 later states the principle plainly: “There is no authority except from God.” Continuity of the biblical theme • Moses warned, “The LORD will raise up for you a prophet” (Deuteronomy 18:15)—foreshadowing God’s ongoing right to appoint leaders. • After David, the same pattern repeats: Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:5-7), the divided kingdom (1 Kings 11:31), the exile (Jeremiah 27:5-7). • Each transition showcases the same sovereign hand first spotlighted in 1 Samuel 28:17. Takeaway for today • Leadership changes are never random; they unfold under the meticulous rule of God. • Obedience aligns us with His enduring plan, while rebellion cannot thwart His purposes. • The verse invites trust: the One who “tore the kingdom” can also establish, guide, and sustain every sphere of authority—for Israel then and for us now. |
    |