1 Samuel 28 today..... 1_Samuel 29 tomorrow....

Read it.
Sandj


Chapter 28: verse 1-2... I wonder what David's plans/thoughts were? he was like one of those undercover cops that you see on movies, who have to 'get inside' and 'become' one of the bad guys in order to bust their operation... was David planning something like that?... he must have been pretty convincing of his loyalty, if the king was willing to take a previously crazy enemy Isrealite to be his bodygaurd for life
verse 3... the background set up for the things to come...
verse 4-7... I have to give Saul credit here... he tried to do what was right... he sought the Lord's help and advice first... my first question is why God didn't answer him... but as I ask it, two possible answers come to mind. First, maybe Saul already had been given the answer... he knew that God had already numbered his days, and it could be that God did not need to tell him that He was about to wipe him out. Another possible reason for God's lack of answer could be because Saul was so far removed from God at this point (by his own doing), that God was trying to answer him, but Saul could not hear Him... sometime we assume God has moved away from us, when in fact, we have moved away from God, and the rituals of worship is not what brings us back to God... it is our hearts... full of repentence (not selfish desires or fears). Saul's decision to seek the advise of evil, instead of persevering in seeking answers from God, makes me think that Saul was not so sure he would hear from God, did not really want to hear from God, or maybe didn't like the answer he knew would (or had) come from God previously.... sometimes I think we turn to things/people we know will give us what we want, not necessarily what we need to hear.
verse 8-9... Saul is consummed by evil at this point... not only does he have no regard for his soul, but he doesn't care who else he brings down in the process... the exact opposite of God, because it is the exact opposite of love (1 John 3:10)... PS the woman is scared for her life because of Saul's decree (see whys behind decree in Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:9-13), but also because of the laws/consequences set in place in Leviticus 20:27
verse 10... I think Saul has a lot of guts... not only did he break God's laws, but then he swore by God's name to uphold his sins... how rude!... I hope we never get entangled by sin that we can't even recognize what is right and wrong... when lines begin to blur, we better take that as a sign to not walk, but run, back to God... we are headed for a heap of trouble if we don't!... the study notes point out that the pagan witch fears God more than the Isrealite king.
verse 11, 15... I find it so interesting that even in his dark state, Saul is still trying to find reconcilliation, yet he is unwilling to follow the ways God has set up for it to happen... I think this is just another proof that humans are made to be in the presence of God... when we are absent from God, we can't help but try to find ways to get back to Him, even if we don't recognize that that is what we are doing... Saul could have asked her to summon up anyone, yet, he chose Samuel, Saul's last known direct link to God... here is another image of hell here... to know that you are meant to be with God, yet completely unable to do so... God tells us that that day is a very viable reality... if we chose to not acknowledge God in our lives here, He will not acknowledge us on the day of judgement (Luke 12:8-10)... if we think our misery without God is bad now, it can only be hell to say that we will know that we are eternally separated from Him... without God... without grace... without love... forever
verse 12-14... I find it interesting that there is truth to the occult's claim to be able to raise the dead... at least in the past... I do wonder if that is still true today, though, since Jesus has now conquered death?... either way, it is just one more reason to take very seriously the negative effects of 'playing' with occult things, like the Ouija board, tarot cards, seances (spelling?), etc... for whether the dead is still able to return or not, at this point in time, we must be certain that they are coming back under the call of Satan, who we know is the father of lies, so whatever happens is NOT to be trusted! really, do we want to talk to Satan or be face-to-face with him and his power? if such things are factual, and evil power exists, then that must mean there is good, as one cannot, by rights and definition, exist without the other... and since I have a choice, I would totally rather be in the power of good/truth (God), than in the power of evil/deceit (satan)... and God says we can have that power, in Him(2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7)... it also reminds me of how Paul was sent to tell people about just that, how to turn from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:15-18), and Jesus, as well as other New Testament writers, talk about moving from 'darkness' to 'light' many many times... we all have the option to renounce the darkness of sin that so easily entangles us (Hebrews 12:1), and embrace the healing light of truth in Jesus (Acts 10:38, Romans 10:9-11)
verse 16-19... I am reminded of the Parable of "The Rich Man and Lazarus" (Luke 16:19-31), and how the rich man wanted someone to come back from the dead to tell his family to believe in God, yet he is told that ''If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'... I think that is true here of Saul... even though Samuel rises from the dead, Saul still does not believe what God has already told him enough to repent while he still has time... it is too late for Saul because he has chosen not to listen
verse 20-25... I don't think it really has all that much to do with how much food he had eaten that day.... don't we sometimes blame physical things when we don't want to face the reality that it is our spiritual life that is causing us pain... it is easier to pop some asprin that it is to confess our sins, yet, the healing of confession and repentence far outweighs the power of a few asprin, to be sure!

The study notes make a final question point: "How do you suppose the fattened calf tasted to one who now knew he was about to die?"... something to reflect on in our own lives and ways, I think.

sandJ