How does 1 Samuel 28:22 demonstrate the importance of obedience to God's will? Setting the Scene • Saul has repeatedly ignored God’s clear commands (1 Samuel 13:13–14; 15:22–23). • Because of this disobedience, “the LORD did not answer him” (1 Samuel 28:6). • In desperation, Saul turns to a medium—an act God had expressly forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). The Verse Itself “Now please listen to your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you so that you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.” (1 Samuel 28:22) Key Observations • The medium’s words—“please listen”—echo the very obedience Saul refused to give the Lord. • Saul, who would not “listen” to God, is now quick to obey a forbidden source; the tragic irony underscores how far he has drifted. • The offer of bread recalls covenant fellowship, highlighting how Saul has substituted counterfeit guidance for true communion with God. Why This Underscores the Vitality of Obedience • Disobedience silences divine guidance (28:6). • When God’s voice is ignored, lesser voices rush in—and we end up obeying the wrong master (Romans 6:16). • Saul’s misplaced obedience demonstrates that the heart will submit to something; the only safe submission is to God’s revealed will (James 4:7–8). • 1 Chronicles 10:13–14 sums up the cost: Saul “died for his unfaithfulness… because he consulted a medium… and did not inquire of the LORD.” Scriptural Echoes • 1 Samuel 15:22—“Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice.” • John 14:15—“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • James 1:22—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Lessons for Today • Partial or selective obedience eventually leads to outright rebellion. • Ignoring God’s Word creates a vacuum that false guidance quickly fills. • True strength and direction come only from heeding the Lord’s voice, not from human or occult substitutes. • Continual obedience keeps us sensitive to God’s leading and guards us from desperate, destructive choices. Living It Out • Regularly measure decisions against Scripture rather than feelings or outside pressures. • Cultivate the habit of immediate obedience in small matters; it prepares the heart for larger tests. • Guard against “harmless” compromises—Saul’s slide began long before Endor. • Stay anchored to God’s promises; His guidance comes to those who honor His Word (Psalm 25:14). |
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