What led to Saul's desperation and disobedience in seeking the medium's counsel? Setting the Scene Saul once stood tall as Israel’s first king, chosen and anointed to deliver the nation from its enemies. Yet by the time the Philistines mass at Shunem (1 Samuel 28:4), Saul’s inner world is collapsing. Verse 20 captures the moment of total breakdown: “Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.” Earlier Warnings Ignored • 1 Samuel 13:13–14 – Saul offers an unlawful sacrifice; Samuel declares his kingdom will not endure. • 1 Samuel 15:22–23 – Saul spares Amalekite spoils; God rejects him: “rebellion is like the sin of divination.” • 1 Samuel 16:14 – “The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul,” leaving a vacuum fear rushed to fill. • 1 Samuel 18–26 – Jealous rage toward David consumes him, further dulling his conscience. Crucial Factors Behind Saul’s Desperation • Silence from God (1 Samuel 28:6) – “He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.” • Unrepentant heart – Earlier sins were excused, not confessed; fellowship with God remained broken. • Fear of overwhelming odds (1 Samuel 28:5) – “His heart trembled greatly” on seeing the Philistine host. • Departure of spiritual counsel – Samuel, his lifelong guide, was dead (28:3). • Self-reliance hardening into disobedience – Rather than humble himself, Saul turns to forbidden means. • Direct violation of divine law – Deuteronomy 18:10–12 and Leviticus 20:6 explicitly condemned mediums. Saul had once enforced that ban (1 Samuel 28:3), yet now seeks what he had outlawed. • Influence of evil spirits – 1 Samuel 16:14 notes “a harmful spirit from the LORD” tormented him, foreshadowing deeper spiritual darkness. Scriptural Connections • Isaiah 8:19 – “Should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?” Saul embodies the warning. • Proverbs 28:9 – “If anyone turns his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.” God’s silence aligns with this principle. • Psalm 66:18 – “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Unconfessed sin explains unanswered inquiries. Resulting Collapse Physical exhaustion, spiritual terror, and complete isolation converge in 1 Samuel 28:20. The king who once stood head and shoulders above the people now lies “flat on the ground,” illustrating Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction.” Lessons for Today • Persistent disobedience clouds discernment and erodes confidence. • When Scripture is sidelined, substitutes rush in—often the very things God forbids. • God’s silence is a mercy signal calling for repentance, not an excuse to seek illicit guidance. • True refuge remains in humble submission to the Word of the Lord, whose promises stand sure. |
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