1 Samuel Chapter 28
Saul Consults a Medium
This chapter records that after Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly (v5). As Samuel had passed away at this point, he tried to consult God but to no avail. Out of desperation, he commanded his servants to find him a medium whom he could consult. This was something he previously made forbidden (v3), but under the threat of being sieged, he did not care about right or wrong and only wanted to solve the problem before him, so he acted against God’s command.
We need to consider why God did not answer Saul’s request. This is because he no longer heeded the voice of God. We also know this was not the first time he behaved like that. Under the threat of the Philistines, he could not wait for Samuel to offer up the sacrifice and did so himself unlawfully. He was thus rebuked by Samuel.
“So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”
I Samuel 15:22 NKJV
Why did Saul go against the command of God?
Saul previously made it forbidden to consult mediums but in a dire situation he no longer regarded this decrees. As a person who goes against his own decrees, how can he be submissive to God’s commands?
Today, are we obedient to God? Or do we seek our own will? In desperate times will we be like Saul and do things that God forbids? Will we also go against our own words?
There are many tests in our life of faith. We must be careful to not follow in Saul’s footsteps and be disobedient lest we be rejected by God. Moreover we must not do things forbidden by God and offend Him, as God will mete out judgement on these people. Eventually, Saul was severely wounded by Philistines and chose to die by falling on his own sword. Though it seems like he and the Philistines caused his death, the Bible clearly stated that it was God who pronounced judgement on him.
“So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.”
I Chronicles 10:13-14 NKJV
Today we Christians must be careful to not go against God’s commandments lest we face His punishment. Being submissive to God requires hearing and acting on His commandments. Have we done so?
““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV
Many Christians today think that as long as we are zealous for God we will please Him, but these Christians actually are being zealous out of their own will, and are not acting in accordance to God’s will. The Lord Jesus tells us, if we do not act according to God’s will, nor His words or commandments, then we are acting against God’s will. In that case will God be pleased with us? May God help us, that we may not be people who go against His commandments.