How does 1 Samuel 28:25 illustrate Saul's reliance on human solutions over God? Setting the Scene • Saul is terrified by the Philistine army (1 Samuel 28:5). • God gives him no answer—no dreams, no Urim, no prophets (28:6). • Instead of repenting, Saul seeks out a medium at Endor, an act God had clearly forbidden (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10-12). • After Samuel’s ominous prophecy of impending death (28:19), the medium prepares a meal: “Then she set it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they rose and departed.” (1 Samuel 28:25) A Plate Instead of Repentance • Saul’s first response to divine silence is to fill his stomach, not humble his heart. • Fasting would have been a fitting sign of contrition (Joel 2:12-13), but he chooses food offered by a forbidden source. • The meal symbolizes a quick, visible fix—physical strength for battle—while his spiritual bankruptcy remains unaddressed. Human Help, Not Divine Guidance • Saul trusts a medium’s cooking after trusting her séance. Both choices lean on human—and forbidden—means. • He departs the house armed with bread, not with the presence of God. Compare: – David “strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). – Asa “turned to physicians and not to the LORD” (2 Chronicles 16:12). • Isaiah 31:1 warns, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel.” Saul embodies that warning. Patterns of Reliance Throughout Saul’s Reign • Impatience at Gilgal—offering unauthorized sacrifices (1 Samuel 13:8-14). • Pragmatic obedience—sparing Agag and the best livestock (1 Samuel 15:9-23). • Consulting the medium—seeking forbidden knowledge (1 Samuel 28:7-20). • Each incident shows a preference for immediate, visible solutions over trusting God’s word. Lessons for Today • Seeking quick relief—whether advice, resources, or physical comfort—can distract from the deeper need to return to God (Psalm 34:8-10). • Even small acts (sharing a meal) reveal where trust really lies. Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” • God’s silence is an invitation to repentance and renewed dependence, not a license to seek substitutes. |
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