Saul refused, saying, "I will not eat." But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.”Saul’s refusal arose from overwhelming terror and grief after Samuel announced that the kingdom would be given to David and that Saul and his sons would die the next day. He had sought forbidden counsel because he would not seek the Lord in repentance. His fasting reflected despair rather than humble dependence on God. 2Sa 12:17 The elders of his household stood beside him… But his servants joined the woman in urging him, Saul’s servants and the woman recognized that he was physically exhausted after fasting all day and night. Though the woman had practiced what God forbade, she showed practical mercy by preparing food for the distressed king. Saul’s servants sought to preserve his strength before the coming battle. 2Ki 4:8 One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman… and he heeded their voice. Saul listened to human counsel when he had repeatedly rejected God’s word through Samuel. His willingness to eat did not alter the judgment already announced, but it enabled him to return to his army for the final events of his reign. 1Sa 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned;… He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. Saul rose from the ground where fear had overwhelmed him and accepted the temporary comfort offered in the woman’s house. The bed provided a brief place of rest, yet Saul’s outward recovery stood in sharp contrast to the irreversible ruin brought by his persistent rebellion against the Lord. Gen 48:2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,”… Persons / Places / Events 1. SaulThe first king of Israel, who is in a state of desperation and fear as he faces the Philistine army. His refusal to eat signifies his deep distress and hopelessness. 2. The Woman (Medium of Endor) A medium whom Saul consults to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel, despite having previously banned such practices in Israel. Her role is pivotal in this account as she provides Saul with the message from Samuel. 3. Servants of Saul They accompany Saul to Endor and play a role in persuading him to eat, showing their concern for his well-being. 4. Endor A location in ancient Israel where the medium resides. It becomes the setting for this significant and controversial event in Saul's life. 5. Philistines The enemy force that Saul is preparing to face, contributing to his fear and desperation. Teaching Points The Consequences of DisobedienceSaul's actions demonstrate the spiritual decline that results from persistent disobedience to God. His desperation leads him to seek guidance from forbidden sources, illustrating the dangers of straying from God's commands. The Importance of Godly Counsel Saul's reliance on a medium rather than seeking Godly counsel highlights the importance of surrounding oneself with advisors who encourage obedience to God. Desperation and Fear Fear can drive individuals to make poor decisions. Saul's fear of the Philistines leads him to act against God's law. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty rather than succumbing to fear. The Role of Community The servants' concern for Saul's physical well-being shows the importance of community in times of distress. Believers should support one another, encouraging faithfulness to God. Repentance and Restoration Saul's account serves as a cautionary tale about the need for repentance. Believers are reminded of the opportunity for restoration through genuine repentance and turning back to God. Bible Study Questions 1. What does Saul's refusal to eat reveal about his state of mind and spiritual condition at this point in the account?2. How does Saul's decision to consult a medium contrast with God's commands in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, and what can we learn from this about obedience? 3. In what ways can fear lead us away from trusting in God, and how can we combat this tendency in our own lives? 4. How can we ensure that we are seeking Godly counsel in our decision-making processes, and what role does community play in this? 5. Reflecting on Saul's account, what steps can we take to ensure that we remain obedient to God and open to repentance when we fall short? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 18:10-12This passage condemns the practice of consulting mediums and spiritists, highlighting Saul's disobedience to God's commands. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 Samuel's earlier rebuke of Saul for disobedience, emphasizing that rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, which connects to Saul's current actions. Psalm 23:4 Contrasts Saul's fear and lack of trust in God with the psalmist's confidence in God's protection even in the valley of the shadow of death.
People Achish, Amalek, Amalekites, David, Israelites, Samuel, SaulPlaces Amalek, En-dor, Gath, Gilboa, Ramah, ShunemTopics Bed, Compelled, Constrained, Couch, Desire, Eat, Got, Ground, Hearkened, Hearkeneth, However, Joined, Listened, Refused, Refuseth, Riseth, Sat, Saying, Seat, Servants, Sitteth, Urge, Urged, Urging, VoiceDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 28:21-25Library So Then we must Confess that the Dead Indeed do not Know what Is...18. So then we must confess that the dead indeed do not know what is doing here, but while it is in doing here: afterwards, however, they hear it from those who from hence go to them at their death; not indeed every thing, but what things those are allowed to make known who are suffered also to remember these things; and which it is meet for those to hear, whom they inform of the same. It may be also, that from the Angels, who are present in the things which are doing here, the dead do hear somewhat, … St. Augustine—On Care to Be Had for the Dead. An Exhortation to Love God There is a Blessedness in Reversion The Covenant of Grace Samuel Links 1 Samuel 28:23 NIV1 Samuel 28:23 NLT 1 Samuel 28:23 ESV 1 Samuel 28:23 NASB 1 Samuel 28:23 KJV 1 Samuel 28:23 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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