What can we learn from Saul's actions about seeking guidance outside God's will? Setting the Scene: Saul’s Final Desperation Saul had repeatedly rejected God’s clear commands (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Now, facing the Philistines and terrified, he “inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him” (1 Samuel 28:6). Instead of repenting, he disguised himself and sought a forbidden medium, directly violating Deuteronomy 18:10-12 and Isaiah 8:19. Verse Spotlight: 1 Samuel 28:23 “He refused, saying, ‘I will not eat.’ But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to them. He rose from the ground and sat on the bed.” What a picture: a king who once knew God’s voice now taking orders from a necromancer, drained, afraid, and empty. Key Observations from Saul’s Choice • Disobedience clouds discernment. When Saul shut out God’s Word, every other voice grew louder. • Wrong counsel replaces right counsel. He listened to a medium yet ignored Samuel’s lifetime of prophetic truth. • Spiritual rebellion leads to physical depletion. His refusal to eat mirrors the famine of his soul (cf. Amos 8:11). • Partial submission is still rebellion. Rising at the medium’s urging proves he could still obey—he simply chose the wrong master. Biblical Principles About Guidance • God forbids alternative spiritual sources (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Leviticus 19:31). • “Rebellion is like the sin of divination” (1 Samuel 15:23). Ignoring God inevitably pushes a heart toward counterfeit answers. • “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). God promises direction when we rely on Him alone. • When wisdom is lacking, “ask God, who gives generously” (James 1:5). The Father never withholds guidance from a humble seeker. • “Do not be deceived… whatever a man sows, he will reap” (Galatians 6:7). Consulting darkness eventually harvests darkness. • Saul’s epitaph: “He even consulted a medium for guidance… Therefore He killed him” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). The cost is real and final. Consequences of Ignoring God’s Voice 1. Silence from heaven (1 Samuel 28:6). 2. Attraction to forbidden counsel (28:7). 3. Greater fear, not peace (28:20). 4. Temporary relief that cannot change the verdict (28:25). 5. Ultimate loss of life, legacy, and kingdom (1 Samuel 31:1-4). Steps Toward Godly Decision-Making Today • Begin with submission: confess known sin quickly (1 John 1:9). • Search Scripture first; God’s will is revealed in His Word (Psalm 119:105). • Seek prayerful counsel from mature believers, not mystical substitutes (Proverbs 11:14). • Wait for God’s timing; silence may call for patience, not panic (Psalm 27:14). • Stay accountable; let trusted friends ask hard questions before choices are made (Hebrews 3:13). • Guard your heart from curiosity about the occult—close the door entirely (Ephesians 5:11). Saul’s tragic example shouts a sober lesson: the moment we step outside God’s will to find answers, we step into darkness that can only rob, weaken, and destroy. Lasting guidance comes from the Living God, never from the shadows. |
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