Why did God not answer Saul in 1 Samuel 28:6? The Text in Question “When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.” (1 Samuel 28:6) Historical Backdrop: A King in Decline Saul is facing the Philistine army at Shunem (1 Samuel 28:4). Samuel, the prophet who had guided him, is dead (28:3). David—God’s chosen successor—has fled. Saul’s earlier victories have given way to paranoia, disobedience, and murderous rage (1 Samuel 18–26). By chapter 28 he stands isolated, spiritually bankrupt, and terrified (28:5). Ordained Channels of Revelation 1 Samuel 28:6 lists the three normal conduits of divine guidance under the Mosaic covenant: • Dreams—personal revelations while asleep (Numbers 12:6). • Urim—sacred lots kept in the high-priestly ephod for yes/no answers (Exodus 28:30). • Prophets—Spirit-inspired spokesmen (Deuteronomy 18:18). When God withholds all three, covenant-breaking is assumed (Proverbs 1:24-28; Micah 3:4). Saul’s Progressive Rebellion 1. Presumptuous sacrifice (1 Samuel 13:8-14). 2. Incomplete obedience against Amalek (15:1-29). 3. Jealous pursuit of David, God’s anointed (18–26). 4. Massacre of Yahweh’s priests at Nob (22:11-19). Each episode carried explicit prophetic warnings. The kingdom was “torn” from Saul (15:28), yet no genuine repentance followed (contrast David, 2 Samuel 12:13). Covenant Legalities and Deuteronomy 18 The Torah forbade necromancy, divination, and witchcraft (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Saul himself had earlier expelled mediums (1 Samuel 28:3). By turning to one at Endor (28:7), he violates the very statute that defined Israel’s distinctiveness and forfeits covenant blessings (Leviticus 20:6). Divine Silence as Judicial Act Silence is itself a judgment (Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 66:18). Yahweh’s refusal to answer underscores that the covenant is relational: persistent, unrepentant sin severs communion. Saul’s inquiry is driven by fear, not faith (28:5, 15)—seeking relief, not reconciliation. The Practical Loss of the Urim After Saul ordered the slaughter at Nob, Abiathar fled to David with the ephod (1 Samuel 22:20; 23:6-9). Saul literally no longer possesses the instrument he seeks. His earlier violence now blocks the very avenue of revelation. Comparison with David While Saul gropes in darkness, David in the parallel narrative repeatedly “inquires of the LORD” and receives clear answers via the same ephod (23:2, 4; 30:7-8). Obedience, not office, grants access (Psalm 25:14). Patterns of Divine Silence Elsewhere • Achan’s secret sin halted victory at Ai (Joshua 7). • King Uzziah, proud and leprous, was cut off from temple worship (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). • Israel in the Judges era experienced cycles of oppression when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). New-Covenant Echoes Jesus warns, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter…” (Matthew 7:21-23). Persistent disobedience still blocks fellowship (John 14:21-24; 1 John 1:6). The cross, resurrection, and indwelling Spirit now provide believers direct access, but unrepentant sin quenches that fellowship (Ephesians 4:30). Pastoral and Behavioral Insight Fear drives Saul; perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). His utilitarian view of God reduces prayer to crisis management. The episode teaches that God is a Person to be obeyed, not a mechanism to be manipulated. Why God Did Not Answer Saul 1. Judicial silence in response to entrenched rebellion. 2. Violation of covenant law, climaxing in necromancy. 3. Loss of legitimate mediators (priests, Urim) through his own violence. 4. Absence of authentic repentance or faith. 5. Providential shift to David as the next anointed king. Application Divine silence remains a sober warning. The remedy is humble repentance and faith in the risen Christ, the only mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). “Seek the LORD while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6–7). Conclusion God’s refusal to answer Saul in 1 Samuel 28:6 is the culmination of a pattern: deliberate disobedience leads to divine silence and, ultimately, judgment (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). The episode underscores the holiness of God, the seriousness of covenant loyalty, and the necessity of a heart surrendered to Him through the salvation provided in Jesus Christ. |
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