How does Saul's fear in 1 Samuel 28:15 relate to Proverbs 1:7? Setting the Scene • Israel’s first king once enjoyed God’s favor, but repeated disobedience cost him the kingdom (1 Samuel 13:13-14; 15:22-23). • “The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 16:14), leaving him spiritually adrift. • By chapter 28 he is facing a massive Philistine force, yet heaven is silent. In desperation, he seeks a medium—something he himself had outlawed (1 Samuel 28:3). Saul’s Fear Exposed • 1 Samuel 28:15: “I am in serious trouble… God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams.” • His fear is horizontal—focused on enemies, outcomes, and personal loss. • It is a panic born of distance from God, not the reverent awe Scripture commends. • Instead of repentance, Saul doubles down on disobedience by consulting the occult, compounding his dread. The Principle of Proverbs 1:7 • Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” • “Fear” here is reverent, worshipful awe that submits to God’s authority. • This fear is foundational; it unlocks true knowledge and steady confidence (Psalm 111:10). • Rejecting that fear brands a person a “fool,” cutting him off from wisdom’s guidance. Connecting the Dots • Saul illustrates the flip side of Proverbs 1:7. – He once knew God’s directives but “despised” them, proving himself foolish. – Without fear of the LORD, he forfeited the “beginning of knowledge,” so when crisis struck he had no divine insight. • His dread of the Philistines is what remains when reverent fear is lost—an empty, paralyzing terror. • God’s silence in 1 Samuel 28 is the outworking of Proverbs 1:7: contempt for wisdom leads to darkness and confusion. Takeaways for Today • Reverent fear anchors the heart; without it, lesser fears rush in. • Knowledge and guidance are tied to submission; when we ignore God’s word we should not expect fresh direction (Isaiah 59:1-2). • The remedy is not frantic solutions but humble repentance and renewed awe (James 4:7-10). • Cultivating the fear of the LORD guards us from Saul’s path and grants the clear, confident wisdom promised in James 1:5. |
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