What can we learn from Saul's actions about seeking guidance in difficult times? Setting the Scene 1 Samuel 28:25: “Then she set it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. And they rose and departed that night.” • Saul has disguised himself, consulted a medium, and now receives a final meal from the very source God had forbidden. • This short verse caps a night of desperate, misguided searching for guidance. What Saul Teaches Us about Seeking Guidance • When God seems silent, cling to His past words rather than substitute voices. – Deuteronomy 18:10-12 warns against mediums; Saul ignored the warning. – Isaiah 8:19: “Should not a people consult their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?” – Staying with Scripture guards the heart when immediate answers feel absent. • Quick fixes can dull urgency but leave the soul empty. – The bread and calf satisfied Saul’s stomach yet could not restore his fellowship with God. – Matthew 4:4: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” • Disobedience today narrows hearing tomorrow. – 1 Samuel 28:6 records that the LORD “answered him not.” Earlier compromises (1 Samuel 15) had hardened Saul. – Psalm 66:18: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” • True guidance requires humble repentance, not frantic activity. – 2 Chronicles 7:14 links hearing from heaven with turning from wicked ways. – James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” • God’s Word remains sure even when judgment falls. – 1 Samuel 28:19’s prophecy of defeat came exactly as spoken (1 Samuel 31:1-6). – Numbers 23:19 affirms His reliability; we can seek, trust, and obey Him even in hard providences. Constructive Paths for Us Today • Anchor decisions in Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 urges wholehearted trust and promises straight paths. • Seek wisdom through prayerful dependence: James 1:5 guarantees it to the single-minded believer. • Surround yourself with godly counsel, not forbidden voices: Proverbs 11:14 highlights safety in wise advisers. • Wait patiently when answers delay: Psalm 27:14 exhorts, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Closing Takeaways • Saul’s midnight meal shows how far desperation can carry a believer who neglects repentance. • In every trial, the safest, surest counsel flows from God’s unchanged Word, sought with a surrendered heart. |
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