What lessons can we learn from Saul's disobedience in seeking forbidden guidance? A Desperate King and a Forbidden Door “Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go and inquire of her.’ ‘There is one at Endor,’ his servants replied.” 1 Samuel 28:7 Direct Rebellion Against God’s Clear Word • Deuteronomy 18:10-12 forbids every form of divination; Saul knew this yet pursued it. • Isaiah 8:19 warns, “Should not a people consult their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?” • Saul had earlier driven mediums from the land (1 Samuel 28:3); his new request overturns his own obedience, revealing a heart no longer submitted to the Lord. The Downward Spiral of Partial Obedience • 1 Samuel 15:22-23 shows his prior refusal to fully obey in the matter of Amalek; rebellion grew unchecked. • Unrepented compromise leads to deeper sin—“each one is tempted… then desire conceives and gives birth to sin” (James 1:14-15). • By chapter 28, Saul can no longer hear God (v.6) because repeated disobedience has hardened his heart (Hebrews 3:13). Consequences Confirmed by Scripture • 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 summarizes Saul’s death: he “was unfaithful to the LORD… and consulted a medium.” • Galatians 6:7—“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, he will reap.” Saul reaped judgment and lost the kingdom and his life. Lessons for Every Believer Today • God’s guidance is exclusive; seeking supernatural direction outside His Word is sin and invites bondage. • Small compromises matter; unchecked disobedience silences spiritual discernment. • Fear and impatience tempt us to ungodly solutions; trust waits on the Lord (Psalm 27:14). • Leadership titles do not exempt anyone from obedience; influence amplifies the fallout of sin. • Scripture alone is sufficient and authoritative; the Holy Spirit never contradicts the written Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 16:13). • Genuine repentance is urgent; hardened hearts may come to a point where guidance is withdrawn (Proverbs 1:24-28). The Only Safe Source of Counsel “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Stay anchored to God’s Word, rely on His Spirit, and refuse every forbidden shortcut; obedience safeguards the soul and glorifies the King. |
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