Why did Saul seek God's guidance in 1 Samuel 28:6 despite previous disobedience? Setting the Stage • Saul faces the vast Philistine army (1 Samuel 28:5). • Terror grips his heart; the man who once stood head-and-shoulders above Israel now trembles. • The king who previously ignored, twisted, or selectively obeyed God wants an answer he cannot live without. What the Verse Says “Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.” (1 Samuel 28:6) Why Saul Still Tried to Hear from God 1. Fear overpowered pride – “When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly” (1 Samuel 28:5). – Dire circumstances often strip away pretenses; a man who had been self-reliant suddenly feels small. 2. Residual memory of earlier victories – Early in his reign, God delivered Israel through Saul (1 Samuel 11:11-15; 14:6-23). – In crisis, he recalls where true help once came from, even though he has since forfeited that favor. 3. Recognition of God’s absolute sovereignty – Saul had heard Samuel say, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). – Even a disobedient heart can still acknowledge intellectually that only the LORD controls outcomes (cf. Deuteronomy 32:39). 4. Conscience screaming louder than rebellion – God had placed His law within Israel’s collective conscience (Deuteronomy 30:14). – Saul’s consultation is a last-ditch attempt to quiet guilt and uncertainty (Proverbs 28:1). 5. No alternatives satisfied the soul – Dreams, Urim, prophets—all silent (1 Samuel 28:6). – Political maneuvering, military strategy, or pagan counsel could not give the peace Saul sought (cf. Isaiah 26:3). What Was Missing • Repentance – Saul wanted guidance without surrender. Psalm 66:18 warns, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened”. • Obedience – He violated his own ban on mediums moments later (1 Samuel 28:7), proving the request for guidance was not coupled with a will to obey (James 1:22). • Relationship – Samuel had told him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom…because you have rejected the word of the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:23). Saul sought an answer, not restoration. Contrast: David and Saul • David habitually “inquired of the LORD” and received direction (1 Samuel 23:2, 4; 30:8). • David’s pattern was repentance and obedience; Saul’s was panic and self-preservation. Living Insights • Crisis reveals whether our connection to God is relational or merely utilitarian. • Seeking direction without surrender leads to silence (Proverbs 1:28-30). • God’s refusal was not abandonment but righteous judgment—a call to genuine repentance Israel’s first king never embraced. Saul’s desperate inquiry shows that even hard-hearted sinners know, deep down, where truth and safety reside. Yet without obedience and repentance, the line of communication remains broken, and fear drives the soul to darker alternatives. |
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