How can we avoid Saul's mistakes when facing fear and uncertainty? Saul’s Dark Night: 1 Samuel 28:25 in Context “Then she set the meal before Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that same night they got up and left.” • The king eats, rises, and walks into the darkness—physically strengthened yet spiritually empty. • His fear of the Philistine army (28:5) and God’s silence (28:6) drove him to the forbidden medium (28:7). • The verse captures the tragic result: no guidance, no peace, only a long night of dread. Spotting the Roots of Saul’s Collapse • Unconfessed sin (1 Samuel 15:24–26) hardened his heart. • Impatience with God’s timing (1 Samuel 13:8–14) trained him to trust his own solutions. • Rejection of clear commands (“Do not turn to mediums,” Leviticus 19:31) led to spiritual compromise. • Isolation from godly voices—Samuel was dead, David exiled—left him without counsel. Principle 1: Run Toward God, Not Away • Psalm 34:4: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” • When God seems silent, double back to Him through repentance and worship—never toward forbidden shortcuts. • Bullet steps: – Confront hidden sin immediately (1 John 1:9). – Rehearse God’s past faithfulness aloud (Psalm 77:11–12). – Stay in the Scriptures daily even when feelings lag. Principle 2: Submit to the Word, Even When It Stings • James 1:22: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” • Saul heard God’s directives yet redefined obedience (1 Samuel 15:13–15). • Guardrails: – Ask, “What does this text plainly command?” – Refuse to negotiate partial obedience—small compromises snowball. – Invite trusted believers to speak truth into your blind spots (Proverbs 27:6). Principle 3: Reject Counterfeit Counsel • Isaiah 8:19: “Should not a people consult their God?” • Modern “mediums” appear as horoscopes, fortune-telling apps, or self-made spirituality. • Practical filters: – Does this source exalt Christ or sideline Him? (Colossians 2:8) – Does it contradict Scripture, even subtly? (Galatians 1:8) – Does it promise instant relief rather than faith-building dependence? (Hebrews 11:6) Principle 4: Fight Fear with Reverent Trust • Philippians 4:6–7 offers the alternative to panic: prayer plus thanksgiving produces peace. • Fear is displaced, not merely suppressed. Fill the mind with: – God’s sovereignty (Psalm 46:10). – Christ’s intercession (Hebrews 7:25). – The Spirit’s presence (2 Timothy 1:7). Principle 5: Stay in Community • Hebrews 10:24–25 urges gathering for mutual encouragement—Saul walked alone into tragedy. • Action points: – Share struggles early; secrecy breeds desperation. – Celebrate answered prayers together, reinforcing collective memory of God’s help. – Bear one another’s burdens to lighten the load of uncertainty (Galatians 6:2). Walking Out of the Night Unlike Saul, believers have a risen King who conquered death and darkness. By seeking the Lord first, clinging to His Word, and standing with His people, we can step into uncertainty with courage rather than collapse. |
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