How can we avoid Saul's mistakes and trust God's plan in difficult times? A Snapshot of the Scene “When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was terrified, she said to him, ‘Look, your maidservant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me.’ ” (1 Samuel 28:21) Saul has slipped so far from God that he now leans on a medium he once outlawed. Terror rules his heart, not faith. From this single verse—and the larger chapter—we learn what happens when we abandon God’s voice for human fixes. What Drove Saul to This Point • Repeated disobedience (1 Samuel 13:13–14; 15:22) • Shallow repentance motivated by fear of people, not love for God (1 Samuel 15:30) • Silence from heaven because Saul would not surrender (1 Samuel 28:6) • A choice to break God’s law by consulting the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10–12) The result: “he was terrified.” Fear fills the vacuum when faith is evicted. Lessons for Dodging Saul’s Detours 1. Stay anchored in clear obedience • “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). • One small compromise invites bigger ones; Saul’s partial obedience in earlier battles paved the path to Endor. 2. Seek God first, not last • “Trust in the LORD with all your heart…in all your ways acknowledge Him” (Proverbs 3:5–6). • Make prayer and Scripture your reflex, not your backup. 3. Accept God’s silence as a call to deeper surrender, not a cue to grasp control • David “strengthened himself in the LORD” when God felt distant (1 Samuel 30:6). • Wait rather than manufacture shortcuts: “Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong” (Psalm 27:14). 4. Flee forbidden counsel • God condemns occult shortcuts (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). • Replace curiosity about the unknown with confidence in the Known One. 5. Cultivate continual repentance • When confronted, David cried, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13). Saul excused himself. • Keep short accounts with God; lingering sin deadens spiritual hearing. 6. Remember past deliverances • Jonathan once said, “Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6). • Rehearsing God’s history with you fuels courage for today. Practical Ways to Trust God in Tough Seasons • Read a portion of Scripture daily—let His voice drown out fear. • Journal specific ways God has provided before; revisit the list when panic rises. • Surround yourself with believers who speak truth, not just sympathy (Hebrews 10:24–25). • Ask for wisdom instead of answers: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God…it will be given” (James 1:5). • Fix your gaze on Christ’s finished work: “Let us run with endurance…fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1–2). Turning the Verse Around 1 Samuel 28:21 shows a woman risking her life to obey a faithless king. Her courage contrasts Saul’s cowardice. When fear tempts us to seize forbidden solutions, remember: • Obedience may look risky, but disobedience is deadly. • God never leaves His children without lawful options. • True safety lies in submission, not manipulation. Walking Forward Saul’s story warns but also guides. By choosing humble obedience, patient trust, and holy counsel, we refuse the path to Endor and rest in the unshakable plan of God—especially when nights grow long and answers seem delayed. |
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